Narrabri Blues win second golden point thriller in as many games

Narrabri Rugby League Football Club scored its second golden point extra time victory in as many matches in the seventh round of the 2021 Group 4 Rugby League first grade season on Sunday afternoon when it came from behind to beat the North Tamworth Bears 24-22 at Jack Woolaston Oval.

In doing so, the Blues broke a sensational Bears winning streak that has been snowballing for more than five years.

The North Tamworth men had previously won 47 straight matches on home soil, but despite leading 16-6 at the half-time break in Sunday’s contest they were unable to hold out a determined Narrabri outfit that continues to win gritty and overturn deficits in 2021.

It was Todd Nichols who secured the win for Narrabri with a penalty goal early in golden point.

The Blues received the ball from the kick-off to begin the overtime period and they went the length of the field after Dennis Gordon put Harry Pattison through a hole down the left edge with a crafty pass deep in the Blues’ half. Pattison made his way into Bears territory before drawing the fullback and throwing a pass inside to a supporting Daniel Howe who took off towards the tryline. Howe was eventually stopped two metres out, 10 in from the sideline, but won a penalty for his side in the play-the-ball.

Naturally, the Blues opted to take the two points and Nichols made no mistake from a tricky angle, swinging a kick between the uprights as his team swarmed him to celebrate a famous Blues victory.

The winning kick continued a remarkable comeback season for Nichols who is enjoying his time back on the field following four years on the sidelines dealing with knee injuries.

The halfback told The Courier it was a special feeling to kick the winning goal for his hometown club.

“It feels good,” he said.

“I wish it didn’t have to come down to golden point but we got the job done.

“It was a good game. 47 games (the amount North Tamworth had previously won at Jack Woolaston Oval) and we just busted their streak.

“We had a couple of injuries and things go against us but we came back.

“We dug in for each other, Narrabri of old probably didn’t win games like that but we’ve won two golden points this year and come from behind late twice in other games.

“I’m pretty proud of the boys.

“We are winning ugly but we’ve had a rough training run I guess with washouts the past two weeks, and injuries and shift work this year have hurt too.

“But if we can get this crew together and start scoring points the easy way, and if we can keep the same 13 on the field, we’ll start to do it a lot easier.”

Nichols said that beating the defending champions on their home soil gave the Blues “heaps” of confidence.

“In previous years we’ve challenged the big teams but we just don’t quite get there, but this year we are beating them,” he added.

“Coming away with it ugly but we are getting it done.

“Obviously now we are three points clear of third place and sitting up the top with Kootingal which is good.”

When Nichols said that his team “won ugly” he meant coming from behind and only leading for four minutes during regulation time.

The Bears came out of the blocks flying with two quick tries to Tevita Peceli and Livianai Tuicakau which gave the hosts a 10-0 lead after just seven minutes of play.

The Blues remained under the pump for the majority of the first quarter of the contest and in the 19th minute almost conceded a third try. The Bears created another overlap down their left edge and a grubber kick looked set to be pounced on by Peceli, however, Blues fullback Damon Gleeson saved the day by batting the ball over the sideline after reading the play perfectly and getting to the loose ball first.

The Blues then got on the board less than two minutes later when captain-coach Jake Rumsby charged over from close range after the Blues won possession from a Bears mistake and marched up-field off the back of a penalty.

Todd Nichols added the extras to make the score 10-6.

With 14 minutes left to play in the first half, referee James Brown called out both captains and discussed the repeated infringements which had begun to plague the contest.

The Bears then coughed up another penalty during the following set which saw Brock Wadwell sent to the sin bin and the hosts were forced to play the majority of the remainder of the half with 12 men.

The Blues were unable to capitalise on the one-man advantage as a mistake, a penalty and some solid North Tamworth defense starved the visitors of decent field possession during that period.

The hosts went into the break with a 16-6 lead after crossing for a converted try seconds before the siren sounded when debutant Amachai Roberts crossed for his maiden first grade try which was converted by Bailey Taylor who kicked his second two-pointer of the contest.

The Blues erased all of the 10-point deficit by the 55-minute mark after Rumsby scored his second 10 minutes into the second stanza and Gordon dived over in the left corner five minutes later.

Nichols converted the first of those two tries and the score was locked at 16-all with 25 minutes left to play.

Both sides were forced to play with 12 men for the subsequent 10 minutes after the teams came together for a scuffle following Gordon’s try which resulted in North Tamworth’s James Cooper and Narrabri’s Kalab McMillan being sent to the sin bin.

The sides were then forced to play the final 15 minutes with 12 players each after they came together again for more push and shove and Narrabri’s Daniel Jobson and North Tamworth’s Wadwell were sent from the field.

Realising they had a game to win, both sides composed themselves and set their sights on finding the match-winning points.

The Bears then had the perfect opportunity to take the lead with 11 minutes remaining but they missed a penalty goal from almost directly in front and the score remained 16-all.

With six minutes left to play the Blues hit the lead for the first time in the match.

Hayden Bell, who came on late in the contest to replace an injured Jacob Nichols, produced a moment of magic to put his side ahead. After receiving a pass 15 out from the line on the last he grubber kicked the ball into the right upright and threw himself at the loose ball, grounding it before two Bears defenders could get their hands to it.

Todd Nichols added the extras to make the score 22-16, but that became 22-all with just two minutes to play when McManus slotted a conversion from the sideline after debutant Roberts scored his second of the day when he dived into the right corner.

Narrabri won a penalty just inside its attacking half as the full-time siren sounded but opted to kick for touch as it was just out of range for any of its players to kick a penalty goal.

The Blues kicked for touch and had one final play. They threw the ball around like a hot potato before Rumsby eventually kicked for the dead-ball line. Norths recovered it and sent it over the sideline to send the game into golden point.

The hosts never touched the ball in golden point as Narrabri won the match when Nichols kicked the winning penalty goal to complete a memorable contest between the second and third-placed sides.

Gordon earned the three Group 4 Rugby League best and fairest points for his outstanding performance in Narrabri’s win, while Blues captain-coach Rumsby was recognised for his impressive showing with one point. North Tamworth’s Tom Woolaston earned the other two.

Meanwhile, the other round seven matches were won by Boggabri Kangaroos, Moree Boars and Kootingal Roosters who all scored home ground victories.

On Saturday, Boggabri downed Dungowan Cowboys 34-20 at Jubilee Oval and Moree edged out Werris Creek Magpies 26-24 at Boughton Oval. Kootingal then smashed the Gunnedah Bulldogs 48-6 at Kootingal Oval on Sunday.

The 2021 season reached its halfway point when Nichols slotted his match-winning two-pointer at Jack Woolaston Oval on Sunday.

The Blues are currently ranked second on 12 points, trailing Kootingal on for and against difference.

The Blues and the Roosters have both won six of their seven matches this year and are three points clear of defending champions North Tamworth Bears which are third.

Narrabri now turns its attention to its round eight fixture against Moree Boars this Sunday in Moree.