Blue Boars downed by the Brumbies in Scone

For the first time since kick off in round eight back on Saturday, May 29, Narrabri Rugby Club is no longer on top of Central North Rugby Union’s 2021 first grade ladder.

The Blue Boars beat the Gunnedah Red Devils that night to go top, but the Red Devils reclaimed the desired ladder position at the completion of Saturday’s round 14 games.

Narrabri suffered its third loss of the season when it went down 15-10 away from home at Sir Owen Glenn Rugby Park against Scone Brumbies.

Scone entered the half-time break with that five-point lead and neither side was able to add to the scoreboard in the second stanza.

The Brumbies struck first with a fifth-minute try to winger Edward Goff which made the score 5-0 to the hosts after they missed the conversion from the right sideline.

Narrabri scored its first points in the 17th minute when Alex Pay slotted a penalty goal from close range to make the score 5-3, then the Blue Boars hit the lead in the 23rd minute when Will McDonnell crossed for a try which Pay converted to make the score 10-5 to the visitors.

Scone’s Jack Thomas kicked his side into the lead on the half-hour mark when he converted a Dale Robinson try, then he added three more points with a 39th-minute penalty goal to put his side ahead 15-10 at the break which was the way the score remained at full time.

The Blue Boars earned a bonus point from that game for losing by a margin of seven points or less, however, it was not enough to deny an in-form Gunnedah outfit from leapfrogging the Narrabri men into first.

In Tamworth, Gunnedah scored its third consecutive victory and its fourth in five matches when it beat Pirates for the second time this season on Saturday.

The Red Devils established a an early lead at Ken Chillingworth Oval through a try to former Blue Boar Ben Maunder.

It was an advantage that they would never surrender.

They led 35-7 with 15 minutes left to play but conceded two late tries which made the final score 35-19.

The Red Devils secured all five points on offer after earning a bonus point which saw it finish the round on 57 competition points, three more than the second-placed Blue Boars.

In the other two matches played in round 14 on Saturday, Walcha Rams scored a 30-14 home ground victory against Moree, while Quirindi Lions travelled to Inverell where they downed the Highlanders 26-15.

Those results saw Walcha jump from fifth to third, overtaking the now fourth-placed Pirates and fifth-placed Highlanders.

There was no movement at the bottom of the ladder as Moree (sixth), Quirindi (seventh), Scone (eighth) and Barraba (ninth) all remained in the same ladder positions in which they entered the round.

Meanwhile, Narrabri’s second grade side returned home winners on Saturday when it scored its sixth consecutive win in that competition by downing the Brumbies 17-5.

The visitors scored all 17 of their points in the first half through tries to Chris Watkins, Jacob Booby and Angus Turner and a Toby Keys conversion.

Scone scored its only try of the match seven minutes into the second stanza but Narrabri held strong to earn the four points.

That victory saw the Blue Boars inch close to first-placed Inverell and second-placed Pirates which both lost on home soil on Saturday.

Inverell was beaten 19-10 by Quirindi while Pirates were thumped 42-0 by Gunnedah.

Narrabri (53 points) is now just four points behind the Highlanders and two points behind the Pirates.

Narrabri Rugby Club’s women’s sevens side had another weekend on the sideline but will return to action this Saturday when it challenges Barraba-Gwydir and Inverell at Bingara.

The Blue Boars will host Inverell at Dangar Park in the senior men’s grades in their respective round 15 games.