Blue Boars extend lead at the top of the table with a six-point win in Quirindi

Narrabri Rugby Club’s first grade side scored a hard-fought 25-19 victory away from home against Quirindi Lions in the 10th round of the 2021 Central North Rugby Union season on Saturday afternoon.

However, an eighth victory in nine matches came at a cost to the Blue Boars which are now sweating on the extent of injuries suffered to skipper and halfback Matt Schwager (bicep) and fellow first XV regular Matt McDonnell (head injury).

Inside centre Jacob Nichols could also be missing the side’s next match after he suffered an elbow injury the following day in the Narrabri Blues’ golden point rugby league victory.

“We’ve probably lost Matt Schwager for the season and Macca got a blue card, he was pretty crook,” Harley said.

“He’ll qualify under the 12-day protocol for our next game against Pirates because we have a bye next up.

“But it’ll depend on what they say. We have to be careful with it and listen to the medical advice.

“For [Schwager] it’s a suspected torn bicep. He’s going to get some scans and he’ll go and see someone about it so we’ll know more soon.”

Schwager and McDonnell made sure Narrabri stood in good stead before they left the field in Saturday’s win. Schwager scored the Blue Boars’ first try before McDonnell crossed for their second.

Henri Knight converted both of those but the Lions hit back with two tries of their own to make the score 14-12 at the break.

Just after half-time, Will McDonnell crossed for Narrabri’s third to make the score 19-12. The Blue Boars then scored two penalty goals either side of a Quirindi converted try later in the second half as the Narrabri men held on to win by six points.

Harley told The Courier he was pleased that his men were able to hold Quirindi out.

“There’s been a few times this year we’ve been under pressure and we seem to find a way to win,” Harley said.

“They are maturing, they’re not hitting the panic button like they might have in previous years, keeping in mind we are still a relatively young side.

“On Saturday we had patches of as good of footy as we have played this year.

“Quirindi scored 14 points against the run of play on the back of intercepts.

“We were in front the whole day and the closest the gap got was two points in the first half, but we just couldn’t put them away.

“We started well and probably the first 15 minutes were brilliant.

“But we got two tries up and we were sort of pressing for that third try and it just didn’t come, we were probably guilty of pushing the pass a little bit.

“I’m not into ref bashing but [Quirindi’s] defenders were almost in our line at times which probably hindered us getting a third or fourth try and the game would have broken open.

“Quirindi were willing, don’t worry about that, they’ve got big heart, they’ve given us trouble twice now this year.

“They didn’t go away, the whole game we felt like we were going to win but it was too close for comfort.”

Harley said Joe and Jack Maunder both had standout games for the side and he added that Todd Farrer and Sam Knight’s leadership after Schwager left the field were instrumental in the victory.

Narrabri Rugby Club president Mick Coffey also told The Courier that he was impressed with stand-in skipper Knight’s leadership after Schwager left the field.

The Blue Boars entered the first match of the second half of the campaign leading second-placed Walcha Rams by three points and third-placed Gunnedah Red Devils by four points. However, those two teams both suffered round 10 losses and were overtaken by defending champions Tamworth Pirates as Narrabri created a six-point lead at the top of the table. The Pirates outscored Walcha 40-23 in Tamworth, while Gunnedah went down 38-32 away from home against Inverell.

The other match saw Moree Bulls score a 55-26 away win against Barraba.

Walcha fell from second to fourth following its loss. Not only was it overtaken by its round 10 opponent, it was also leapfrogged by Gunnedah. Despite the Red Devils losing their match they managed to secure two bonus points – one for scoring four tries and another for losing by seven points or less – which saw them finish the round with 37 points.

Walcha remained on 36 in fourth spot while Narrabri (43 points) and Pirates (37 points, leading Gunnedah on for and against difference) occupy the top two spots.

The Blues Boars will remain at least five points clear at the top of the table for another week.

They have the round 11 bye which will see them finish next weekend with 48 points.

They will then return to the field on Saturday, July 3, when they take on the Pirates in what is likely to be a top-of-the-table round 12 clash in Tamworth.

Meanwhile, the Blue Boars’ second grade side downed Quirindi 16-0 on Saturday.

They led 5-0 at the break after Daniel Kahl scored a try in the first half.

Toby Keys then crossed for a try in the second stanza and kicked two penalty goals to finish with 11 of his team’s 16 points.

The Blue Boars are currently fifth on the ladder, equal on 34 points with fourth-placed Gunnedah.