Boggabri Kangaroos off to a flying start in 2022

It’s only early yet, but Boggabri and District Rugby League Football Club is certainly flying high following the completion of the first two rounds of the 2022 Group 4 Rugby League first grade campaign.

The Kangaroos scored a 44-24 home ground victory against the Dungowan Cowboys on Saturday, just two weeks after they kicked off their campaign with an 18-point win against the 2021 minor premiers Narrabri.

The hosts outscored the Cowboys eight tries to five and six conversions to two at Jubilee Oval as they became the first and only team to score back-to-back wins this season.

That saw them finish the round in the outright first position at the top of the table on four points.

In the round two game, Boggabri produced an attacking masterclass in front of a large home crowd.

The forward pack was dominant, especially in the opening 30 minutes, as it made an abundance of metres set after set to get the hosts in striking distance.

Boggabri’s backline was then clinical in the attacking third as it combined for six of the eight tries.

Josh Trindall set up three of those off the boot, and Rob Doolan assisted two as the former Narrabri Blues duo both continued their sensational start to the season.

Boggabri fullback Isaiah Adams was a standout as he scored a try either side of half-time before earning the three Group 4 best and fairest points.

Former Queensland Cup player Didymus Blankett bagged a double on debut, while teammates Seksitino Penisoni, Liam Doyle, Cameron Kerr and Matthew Avendano all crossed for a try each.

Doolan also added 12 extra points off the boot.

Kangaroos skipper Matt Gillham received two Group 4 best and fairest points following a dominant game on both sides of the ball, which included brilliant service out of dummy half as well as an abundance of tackles.

His coach, Shane Rampling, told Group 4 Media that he was delighted with the win.

“It was almost a carbon copy of that first round win,” he said.

“We were good very early again, but then we let them score just before half-time and just after the break too.

“That was on the back of giving away penalties and making some mistakes.

“Once we controlled the ball, we controlled the game and played some good footy.”

“Josh (Trindall) and Didymus (Blankett) created plenty of opportunities and worked in well together too. Rob (Doolan) and Isaiah (Adams) were very good too, but when we play as a team, and everyone is on the same page, we go all right.”

Boggabri led from the fifth minute until the final whistle sounded in the round two contest.

The Kangaroos started on the front foot and spent the majority of the first five minutes in their attacking half before left winger Penisoni went over in the corner to make the score 4-0.

Blankett scored his first of the day on the 20-minute mark, then teammates Adams and Avendano crossed in the 28th and 33rd minutes, respectively.

Doolan converted all three of those tries to boot his side into a 22-0 lead, which looked set to be the half-time score.

However, Dungowan’s left winger Bradley Brooks crossed for a double in the final three-and-a-half minutes of the first half, and that made the score 22-8 at the break.

Dungowan came out firing in the second half and reduced its deficit to eight points with a converted try in the 42nd minute to make the score 22-14.

But the Kangaroos kicked back into gear six minutes later with their fifth try of the match when right winger Doyle dived on a loose ball after the in-form Trindall grubber kicked to the corner, which made the score 26-14.

The Trindall kicking master class continued as the halfback set up tries for Adams and Blankett, either side of a Kerr four-pointer that the second rower scored out of dummy half close to the line.

Doolan converted all three of those to add six more points.

Dungowan scored the final try of the game, but it was too little, too late, as Boggabri ran away with a 22-24 win.

Earlier in the day, Boggabri went down 68-0 in the ladies’ league tag match and lost 34-10 in the reserve grade game.

The Kangaroos will return home on Saturday when they host Moree Boars in first grade, reserve grade and ladies’ league tag.