Narrabri Blue Boars beat Pirates at Dangar Park in round three

Narrabri Rugby Club’s first grade head coach Hunter Harley told The Courier last week that he wanted his men to turn Dangar Park into a fortress this season.

So when the full-time bell sounded in Narrabri on Saturday afternoon and skipper Matt Schwager booted the ball into orbit over the clubhouse to complete a 24-17 win, the players had well and truly made a statement of their own – ‘message received coach’.

The Narrabri men rose to the occasion against the Central North Rugby Union defending champions Pirates on Saturday at Dangar Park in round three.

Pirates went into the contest with a for and against points differential of 110, having won 57-6 and 64-5 in their first two games. However, the Blue Boars restricted them to just 17 points and kept them scoreless in the second stanza.

A Will McDonnell try on the 50-minute mark was the difference between the two sides after they were locked at 17 apiece at the half-time break.

The past four of five weekends have seen rugby union return to Dangar Park with gusto after a 2020 season that never eventuated due to COVID-19.

The 24-17 win by the club’s first grade team in front of a vocal crowd on Saturday highlighted just how much the Blue Boars mean to the social fabric of the town.

Narrabri Rugby Club president Mick Coffey told The Courier that it was a day the club would remember for a long time.

“That was one to keep in the memory bank,” said Mick Coffey.

“While we weren’t quite at 100 per cent player availability-wise and a few combinations are pretty fresh we weren’t overawed by a bigger, more experienced team.

“The game plan and patterns that the players executed were spot on and it emphasises the work done in pre-season and now in team training sessions has been worthwhile.”

Reluctant to single anyone out individually after such a strong team performance, Coffey did praise Jed Brennan for his efforts in his first grade run-on debut after which he was named players’ player.

“I’ve coached Jed in the colts and know he’s got miles of potential,” Coffey said.

“He showed that up front today. There’s no bigger challenge than the Pirates’ front row for your ‘welcome to first grade’.

“He should be proud of himself.”

The full-time whistle saw Blue Boars’ supporters smiling with content around the ground.

“We’ve needed this,” said Coffey.

“People have missed Saturday afternoons at the rugby.

“There are people here who aren’t necessarily rusted on rugby fans, but they just want somewhere safe and welcoming to go with their family and friends after a pretty long time of nothing.

“It’s a big joint effort of players, sponsors, members, referees and volunteers to run a rugby club game these days.

“I’m extremely grateful to everyone involved and feel very honoured to be part of what promises to be a great season on and off the field.

“There’s still lots to come for people at Dangar Park too. We’re got first grade under lights against both Gunnedah and Moree later in the season, plus a family fun day round against Inverell. The Gunnedah fixture also includes ladies’ day as a twilight event which is selling out fast, so if anyone wants to go but hasn’t bought tickets yet I suggest they get onto that via our website pronto.

“As a club we want to make sure everyone is happy and enjoying themselves when they come to Dangar Park. Our focus is very much on-field success, but achieving that is only made possible by having a vibrant, well-supported club overall.”

On a warm afternoon on Saturday, Pirates had a 52-11 victory in second grade but Coffey was still positive after the game.

“That scoreline doesn’t read well, but it’s April,” he said.

“There’s some good things to take out of that game, and I know talking to the players they’re aware of what needs addressing.

“The lineup that goes to Walcha this weekend will look pretty different due to a few blokes going up to first grade to fill positions with blokes out, but one thing is for sure – no matter who Grub (coach Craig Summers) has out on the field at Walcha they will be ready to fire.

“He’s too competitive and been around the place forever so he knows the best way to bounce back is get on the paddock and go again.

“He’ll have them organised this Saturday without a doubt.”

Coffey also commended the club’s women’s sevens side which went down against Pirates on Saturday.

“If you want to see enthusiasm look no further than our ladies’ team,” he said.

“While most aren’t overly experienced they are keen and most importantly are enjoying themselves.

“Will Guest is doing a fantastic job, they are improving in leaps and bounds and undoubtedly will be keen to turn the tables on the Pirates women’s team next time around.”

With the busy cotton picking and winter crop planting season beginning, Coffey suggested that player stocks may be tested.

“Work will, and should always come first,” he said.

“But we are a proud club that meets its obligations when it comes to putting teams on the paddock, where there’s a will there’s a way.

“We have enough players registered for the club to do the job.

“Players away working isn’t something that’s an excuse not to field teams, a challenge at times yes, but not an excuse.

“We want the points in every grade, every week and that mindset will never change.”

In the first grade fixture, Pirates struck first on Saturday when hooker Tim Collins broke the deadlock with a 16th-minute try to make the score 5-0 which quickly became 5-3 after the Blue Boars won a penalty and Henri Knight kicked the goal.

Pirates then established a 12-3 lead when Brendan Rixon converted a Nick McCrohon try in the 29th minute.

Knight’s kicking and running game were both outstanding for the home side throughout the contest and it was a combination of the two that helped create the Blue Boars’s first try.

Knight created pressure with a kick which found touch five out from Pirates’ line in the left corner, then the Pirates’ line out was not thrown straight which gave Narrabri a scrum feed 10 out from the tryline.

Knight ran onto a Schwager pass and charged at the Pirates defence, then out of the back of the ruck Schwager made a darting run towards the line, stepped a defender and went over between the sticks. Knight then converted to make the score 12-10.

Pirates’ Jack Shelton scored to make score 17-10 with seven minutes remaining in the half but the Blue Boars tied it up at 17-all at the break when McDonnell crossed for his first try of the season.

That came after Narrabri won another scrum 10 out from the line and the Pirates’ defence once again could not rise to the challenge.

Schwager fed the scrum and passed right to McDonnell who outclassed the opposition as he charged over between the two team’s forward packs and Pirates’ inside defender for a simple five-pointer.

Knight converted to make the score 17-all as the half-time bell sounded.

McDonnell then doubled up with the match-winning try in the 50th minute which was scored off the back of another set piece.

The Blue Boars threw in a line out 10 metres out from the tryline after they won a penalty and kicked for touch.

The home side’s forward pack out-muscled their opposition and got themselves within striking distance.

McDonnell capitalised, scooping up the ball from the back of the ruck and diving through a gap to score Narrabri’s third try of the contest.

Knight converted to give the Blue Boars a 24-17 lead which they would never give up.

Pirates fought desperately for their fourth try which would have locked the score up at 24-all if converted.

However, the home side’s defence was up to the challenge. It kept Pirates scoreless for the entire second half as the Blue Boars leapfrogged the Tamworth men into second spot on the ladder.

Narrabri earned four competition points which saw them move to 14 points, while the Pirates finished the round in third on 11 points.

The Gunnedah Red Devils are the new competition leaders after they demolished Quirindi 62-5 in Gunnedah.

Elsewhere, the Walcha Rams recorded their first win of the season when they travelled to Scone and downed the Brumbies 39-5, while Inverell secured its second win of the campaign with an away win at Barraba.