Many’s Contractors win top-of-the-table thriller

There are now three weeks remaining in Narrabri Touch’s 2025 season ladies’ competition before the finals kick off in December, and the minor premiership race is set to entertain following Monday’s top-of-the-table round 12 clash at Cooma Oval.

Specialised Civil Services entered the evening undefeated after 11 rounds, with a draw against second-placed side Many’s Contractors the only blemish on an otherwise perfect record.

Many’s Contractors were searching for their first win over the ladder leaders following a loss and a draw earlier in the season, and they got the job done with a 5-3 victory to finish the night locked on 33 points with the Specialised Civil Services team.

Lidia Richards led her side to victory with a hat-trick, and Many’s Contractrors’ other two tries were scored by Alex Bennett and Rya Knox.

Toni Rae crossed twice for Specialised Civil Services and Gerri Rumsby went over for the other as their side fell two tries short.

With neither of those two top-ranked teams having lost against any of the other four sides in the competition so far this season, they look set to end the campaign locked at the top on 44 points after 15 rounds.

Should that occur, the minor premiership will be decided based on for and against difference, with Specialised Civil Services currently in the box seat in that department on 64 compared to Many’s Contractors’ 57.

The two teams will both be looking to produce some explosive touch footy across the last three weeks of the season in both attack and defence.

The two other sides in the top four of the ladies’ competition were also victorious in round 12 on Monday as Hounddogs beat Golfie Gobblers 6-2 while TJC Steelers downed The FAFs 6-0.

Hounddogs (24), TJC Steelers (22), the Golfie Gobblers (20) and The FAFs (12) are ranked third to sixth, respectively, after 12 rounds.

The men’s teams played the third round of their graded regular season campaign on Monday evening, with the A-grade division’s defending champions Grumley Builders finally getting a chance to take the field following a bye in round one and a forfeit victory in round two.

They met Lations in round three and prevailed 6-3 to end the night on top of the table.

The other match saw Win Or Booze and Up The Middle enter the round searching for their first win of the graded campaign, but neither team was able to secure it as they contested a 5-all draw.

The A-grade men’s ladder is still tight after three rounds, with Grumley Builders (6) only a point clear of second-placed Gee Bangers (5) and third-placed Win Or Booze (5), and just two points clear of fourth-placed Lations (4) and fifth-placed Up The Middle (4).

The B-grade matches were won by the two top-ranked sides as the first-placed Ballbusters outscored JWG Livewires 6-2 and Cougars took down Reg Reagans 9-2.

Those results saw Ballbusters (7) and Cougars (6) finish the night in first and second as they overtook DTA Timber Lumberjacks (6), who had the bye in  round three.

JWG Livewires (3) and Reg Reagans (2) make up the bottom two teams in the men’s B-grade competition.

There are two more rounds in the men’s season before their finals begin on Monday, November 24, for a four-week playoff series.