Narrabri Rugby Club’s first XV put up an admirable fight at Weebolla Oval on Saturday but the Moree Bulls were too good in round two of the Central North Rugby Union season.
The defending champions and the Narrabri men were both playing their first games of the season after being dealt round one byes, and Moree held on against a resurgent Blue Boars side to win 32-20.
Todd Nichols kicked Narrabri out to an early 3-0 lead when he slotted a penalty goal in the eighth minute, but the Bulls kicked one of their own in the 11th to level it up at 3-all.
Moree Bulls winger Asesela Ravuvu scored the first try of the game in the 26th minute and Williams kicked his second goal to make the score 10-3 in favour of the hosts, but that lead was cut to four points in the 31st minute when Nichols kicked the Blue Boars’ second penalty goal.
The hosts hit back in the 33rd minute through Ravuvu to establish a 15-6 lead that they took into half-time, and the winger crossed again five minutes after play restarted to claim a hat-trick. Williams converted that try to make the score 22-6.
Narrabri finally crossed the stripe in the 50th minute when Joe Baker ran onto a Will McDonnell grubber kick and grounded. Nichols kicked the conversion but Moree scored another converted try four minutes later to go back ahead by 16 points.
It then became 29-20 when the Blue Boars found their second try through Jack Maunder and Nichols added the extras, and it was either side’s game to win even as Moree kicked a penalty goal on the hour mark to lead 32-20.
Neither side was able to add to the scoreboard in the final 20 minutes as Moree held on to win by 12 points.
Narrabri’s coach Craig Gleeson told The Courier he thought his side were well and truly in the match until the final whistle but the hosts just made better use of their chances.
“I think both teams were evenly matched, to be honest,” Gleeson said.
“There were just a couple of turnover errors from us that led to points for them and put us under pressure.
“When we got back to within nine, we felt we had a bit of the ascendancy at that stage and our attack was really gelling better. But that penalty kick they got sapped that momentum just enough.
“I still think we were the stronger side finishing, but I think that goal put the flame out.
“We pressed hard, and in the last 10 minutes we had a lot of ball. If we could’ve cracked one more try I think it would have really gone down to the wire.
“All in all, I thought it was an even game, but Moree made a bit better use of their opportunities I would say.
“I think our defence, even though the scoreline doesn’t indicate it, was strong, especially in the second half. We have a few little areas to work on for our defence on the turnovers, but I thought the boys stood strong and made a lot of good one-on-one tackles.
“Our scrum was really strong too. We won three tightheads with the final 15 minutes with the dominant scrum, and that’s a big positive for us.”
Despite the Blue Boars’ loss, Gleeson said it was fantastic that rugby season is finally underway and he added that the quality of the three games was of a high standard, especially considering how early in the year it is.
Narrabri kicked off the day with a 53-5 win in the women’s competition but went down 29-12 in second grade.
Charlie Radford and Rhys Orman scored a try each for the Blue Boars in the second grade clash. Moree led 17-7 at the break and then outscored Narrabri 12 points to five in the second stanza.
The Blue Boars face another tough task this Saturday when they travel to Gunnedah to take on the Red Devils in round three in all three grades.
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