The fact that both games were dress rehearsals for the forthcoming semi-finals may have contributed to the interest in matches with Gilgandra versus Baradine having the added inducement of the winner picking up the right to host the minor semi-final.

At Warren the seemingly unstoppable Coonamble Bears continued on their winning way with a sizeable victory over the Warren Bulldogs as well as giving their opponents something to think about as the two teams prepare to meet again in the major semi-final in a fortnight’s time.

The Bears had to come from behind with the Bulldogs leading 12-nil after 20 minutes before the score was locked at 12-all at the 30-minute mark.

The Bears then put the pedal down and at half time had created a 28-12 scoreline.

They went on with the job after the break to secure a 62- 30 victory being best served by half Jason Baker, second rower Josh Cock and Nathan Finn up front. For the Doggies fullback Luke Gibson, five-eight Adam Walker and second rower Daniel Pratt handed in good displays.

The crowd at Gilgandra’s Panther Park was treated to an intriguing and entertaining affair with the home side racing to a 16-nil lead before trooping to half time as 16-6 leaders. With their centre Mark Batten creating all sorts of problems for the Baradine defence the Panthers were looking the goods to go on with the game at the break, and this appeared to be endorsed when they raced in three tries in the opening 11 minutes of the second stanza to career away to a 32 -6 lead.

Maybe it was the fact the teams were playing in the inaugural Noonan-Campbell Cup game that lifted the visiting Magpies, but lift they most certainly did, scoring a rapidfire four converted tries against a shell-shocked Gilgandra defence and incredibly with 15 minutes to go it was game on with the scoreboard reading 32 -30.

Sadly for the Magpies their resurgence suffered badly when some sloppy defence, combined with a strong run from Gilgandra’s hard working second rower Anthony ‘Ned’ Kelly allowed him to score directly from a penalty tap 10 metres out from the line and it was a six-point game at 36-30.

With a Baradine player dispatched to the bin with nine minutes to go the Panthers were able to capitalise and with just three on the clock centre Bobby Wright completed proceedings for the afternoon with a try out wide to make the final score 40 points to 30.

There will be a general bye this week with Coonamble’s Gavin Robinson and Steve Rowarth, and Gilgandra’s Adam Hazelton and Adam Chapman from Dunedoo playing in the NSW Cups representative side that will take on Outback Queensland in Winton.

o Scores: Coonamble 62 (Nathan Finn, Jason Baker 2, Steve Roworth, Anthony Thurston, Mitchell Smith 2, Scott Fulton, Gavin Robinson, Nathan Walker, Kirby Chapman tries Rowarth 9 goals) defeated Warren 30 (Adam Walker 2, Curtis Ebsworth, Adam Pascoe, Dean Miller tries Walker 4 and Ebsworth goals). Gilgandra 40 (Mark Batten 2, James Dougan 2, Chris Herbig, Curtis Carr, Anthony Kelly, Bobby Wright tries Dwayne McEwen 3 Graham Bugmy goals) defeated Baradine 30 (Bryce Daniels 2, James Campbell, Rob Hammond, Edward Campbell tries, Tom Cooney 5 goals). Dunedoo had the bye.

Final competition ladder: Coonamble 20, Warren 13, Gilgandra 10, Baradine 8 and Dunedoo 3. This week is a general bye.

Semi-finals: Saturday August 2 Minor semi Gilgandra versus Baradine at Gilgandra and Sunday August 3 Major semi final Coonamble versus Warren at Coonamble.