Baradine suffered a 26-22 loss in last year's grand final but ran in five tries to three in a 26-18 victory on Saturday.

With both teams going in to Saturday's game at Baradine undefeated and locked together at the top of the table there was plenty of interest around the fixture.

But Baradine now sits alone at the top after the win, which featured a double for Maria Nagy.

The Dunedoo club did not leave Baradine empty-handed, however, with their first grade side fending off a sturdy challenge from the hosts to score a 28-14 win.

The result kept the defending premiers' unbeaten record intact this year.

At Gilgandra it was to be a Shian Chatfield field goal that got the Pink Panthers home in the league tag fixture against the Coonamble Bears, the home side holding on for an exciting 21-20 victory.

The hosts also claimed the competition points in the first grade encounter, but it was no walk in the park.

The youthful Bears produced a gallant second-half effort but it wasn't enough as Gilgandra won 34-18.

The Panthers shot out of the blocks and led 24-0 at the break and managed to hold off the Bears in second half to get another win.

Panthers full back DJ Smith scored three of his side's tries, while halfback Luke Ritchie grabbed a double in the win, while for the Bears Neville Nixon scored two of his teams three tries and fullback Jake Fernando handed in a strong performance in a team that will most certainly test their opposition in the second half of the competition.

In the other first grade game, a Brad James-inspired Gulgong Terriers were too good for Trangie and scored a 44-10 win.

Lock James scored three tries and kicked six goals in the match.

There will be a general bye this coming long weekend before round 10 is played out on Saturday, June 19 with the feature match in that round will be the Boronia Cup challenge match played at Coonabarabran between the Unicorns and the Dunedoo Swans.