Narrabri and District Junior Rugby League’s under-14s team wins round one game at home

Narrabri and District Junior Rugby League’s under-14s team kicked off its 2021 North West Group 4 Junior Rugby League season with a comfortable 14-point victory at Cooma Oval on Saturday morning.

The junior Blues defeated Kootingal 24-10 in the sides’ round one fixture after outscoring the visitors four tries to two and four goals to one.

It took the home side less than 90 seconds to score its first try of the season.

Narrabri kicked off and won possession after the ball bounced favourably for the junior Blues.

On the last play of the ensuing set, Jack Anderson kicked to the left edge for winger David Biles who won the contest against his opposing winger and was able to hold onto the ball and ground it.

Jack added the extras from the tee to make the score 6-0.

He then extended the lead seven minutes later when he raced 80 metres to go over between the sticks for a try which Declan Rooney converted to make the score 12-0.

The junior Blues led by 12 at the break but that lead was reduced to eight points just three minutes into the second stanza when Kootingal finally crossed for its first try of the game to make the score 12-4.

Narrabri regrouped and hit back with a try five minutes later when Nate Browning charged through the defence after running onto a pass 20 metres out from the tryline following a short stoppage for an injury. Jack Anderson converted to add the extras and make the score 18-4.

Nate then made it a double when he scored seconds after coming off the bench midway through the second half. The back rower made a line break deep inside his own half after Narrabri fed a scrum 10 out from its own line and Nate charged 90 metres up-field to score his team’s fourth try. Jack Anderson kicked his third conversion to make the score 24-4.

The visitors scored a converted try with eight minutes left to play which made the score final score 24-10 to the junior Blues.

Narrabri and District Junior Rugby League has fielded only an under-14s team this year in the internationals age groups.

There are six teams in the junior Blues’ competition which includes their round one opponent Kootingal as well as Farrer Gold, Farrer Green, Gunnedah and North Tamworth.

This Saturday, the junior Blues side will return to Cooma Oval where it will challenge North Tamworth from 11am.