Sport
1 August, 2025
Pink Panthers go against Gulgong
Gilgandra’s Pink Panthers went close to grabbing an elusive Castlereagh League win against Gulgong on Saturday, July 26 in their best performance of the 2025 League Tag season.
Played in wet conditions at Billy Dunn Oval, Gulgong scored four-tries-to-two to win 20-10, but were never comfortable.
A sign of Gilgandra’s intensity and effort was that when the sides first played this season at Gilgandra, Gulgong won 38-6 back in May.
Pink Panthers co-coach and Panthers president believes Gulgong were a better side and played much improved football this time around in one of their best efforts of the year, which shows how far the Pink Panthers have progressed late in the season.
“It was a good game … we went really well,” Byrne said.
“We held the ball well in wet conditions and that kept us in the game. It was an improved effort.”
Gulgong scored first, and Gilgandra replied to make it 4-all.
The Terriers were able to get away to a 12-point lead at 16-4 before Gilgandra replied with a converted try to make it 16-10 before Gulgong scored a late sealer to win by 10 points.
Byrne was happy that Gilgandra “kept in the fight” and never gave up.
“I was really happy with the effort. Gulgong had a lot of ball on our try-line and we held them out a lot,” Byrne said.
In defence, Eva and Trista Raines and Mackaylah Ross had big games for Gilgandra.
In attack, Camella Hazelton and Kiara Brown both set up a lot of Gilgandra’s attack and made inroads into the Gulgong defence.
Brown was rewarded with a try, along with Skye Doherty, who grabbed Gilgandra’s other four-pointer.
Ross received the three points and players player, while fellow forward Eva Raines picked up two points.
Playing at fullback, Brown received one point.
“It was probably our best effort of the year,” Byrne said.
“We focused on being more clinical at dummy-half and around first receiver, and we dropped a lot less ball.
“When we changed angles in attack, we went forward. We can spread the ball wide well, but we have to make the metres forward first.”
Byrne said the key focus is to compete in the final round against Dunedoo at Dunedoo to conclude the 2025 season.
Gulgong 20 defeated Gilgandra 10 (Kiara Brown, Skye Doherty tries; Mackaylah Ross goal).
