Roosters finish as runners-up at Rankins Springs 9’s comp

The Cobar Roosters took a combined First Grade/Under 18s side to the Rankins Springs 9’s competition on Saturday with the Cobar side finishing as the overall runners-up to Narrandera.

The 100 years knockout ‘Ultimate Ressies’ 9s Day was contested by the Rankins Springs

Sharks and the Cobar Roosters teams.

Cobar drew Narrandera in their first game and took a little while to settle into the quick 9s style of play, including making fast substitutions.

They made a comeback in the second half but ran out of time with Narrandera narrowly

In the second game against Yenda, the Cobar boys used their newfound knowledge and skills and won the match 18-10. Ash Davies 2, Zane Taylor and Tom Plater were Cobar’s try scorers.

They also won their next game, a semi final against their hosts Rankins Springs, 18-4, with Plater, Taylor, Jacob King and Haymish McLeod recording tries.

Plater and Taylor crossed for a try each in the final against Narrandera but Cobar lacked opportunities to improve on the score and the Lizards ran out 20-10 winners to claim the winners’trophy and prizemoney.

Rams butt out!

With the start of the 2023 Christie and Hood Castlereagh Rugby League season fast approaching, the competition has been dealt a major blow with the Trangie Rams indicating that they will not be fielding any teams this year!

A few weeks ago, the Rams gave notice they would not have a Ladies League Tag side this year, as did the Coonabarabran Unicorns, but while the Unicorns will be fielding a firstgrade side this season after sitting out last year, Trangie has now announced they will not be taking the field in any grade.

Their withdrawal has sent Castlereagh officialdom into a frenzy as they scramble to arrive at a solution for what now becomes a very complex situation in regard to the 2023 competition draw.

Castlereagh secretary Bryson Luff explained it’s simply not a matter of having a bye when a club was drawn to play the Rams.

“As per the wishes of the clubs, we had a 14round draw in place for our 10 clubs.

“The clubs were randomly drawn into two pools of five, with each club playing the other clubs in their same pool twice, and the clubs from the other pool once!” Luff explained.

“Now, with the withdrawal of the Rams, we have a situation that the clubs drawn in the same pool as Trangie will get two byes throughout the year, whilst the clubs in the other pool will only get one bye each.

“This is hardly an ideal or equitable situation!” he said.

The Castlereagh board of directors met on Monday night to see what could be done. They determined that it was too late to change the draw as the competition is due to kick off in a fortnight with the annual knockout competition. Luff said they also considered that many clubs had already made bookings for grounds and organised events based on the original draw.