Narrabri Rugby League Football Club hosted two trial games on Sunday afternoon as senior rugby league and league tag finally returned to Collins Park.

In front of a massive Collins Park crowd, the Blues were downed 26-10 by their 2021 Group 4 Rugby League competition round one opponents Moree Boars in what was a full senior squad trial for the clubs.

The match was played across four 20-minute quarters, three of which the Boars outscored the home side.

Narrabri started the contest with close to a full strength team and quickly established a 10-0 lead after Daniel Jobson crashed over for a try which was converted by Todd Nichols and Damon Gleeson registered another four-pointer.

That was the way the score remained at quarter-time, however, the Blues were unable to register another point for the remaining 60 minutes.

Moree scored a converted try just six minutes into the second term, then levelled the score at 10-all with a try on the three-quarter time siren.

The visitors then ran home 16 unanswered points in the final quarter to win the match by that many points.

Earlier in the day, the Narrabri Blue Birds ladies’ league tag team went down 28-6.

The travelling Moree side was short on numbers which led to the hosts lending them a player for the match.

That was Annie Wenner who went over for the first try of the game to put her Blue Birds teammates behind 4-0.

That match was played across three 15-minute thirds and at the end of the first period it was Moree which led 10-0 after Shai-Lee Smith scored then converted a try.

Narrabri’s Becky Thornberry was a standout for the home side throughout the contest and she was rewarded with the only try of the second third.

She made a line break inside her own half before racing 60 metres to cross between the posts.

Telisha Hilderson added the extras off the boot as the scoreboard read 10-6 to Moree at the start of the final third.

The home side was determined to give a large home crowd something to cheer about, however, Wenner and her Moree Boars teammates spoiled the party.

The visitors ran home three more tries in the final period, one of which was claimed by Wenner who finished the match with a double.

Ellie Capewell and Sheldyn Briggs crossed for the other two tries and Moree converted on all three occasions to run away with a 28-6 victory.

The two clubs will meet again at Narrabri two weeks from this weekend when the Group 4 Rugby League season kicks off on Saturday and Sunday, May 1 and 2.

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