Nichols stars again as Narrabri Blues down Dungowan on the road

They had to do it the hard way and in tough conditions at that, but Narrabri Rugby League Football Club’s first grade side was victorious in the third round of the Group 4 Rugby League season on Saturday after beating the Dungowan Cowboys 32-24 on a cold and rainy day away from home.

The Blues trailed 18-12 at the break before they outscored the Cowboys 20 points to six in the second stanza to bring home the two points.

It was Narrabri’s second straight win following an opening round loss against the Boggabri Kangaroos that Blues coach Jake Rumsby told The Courier he and his men had learnt from.

“You’ve got to be on your game in Group 4 this year. There’s definitely no easy teams,” the lock forward said.

“We were complacent against Boggi and although we were missing a few, there was no excuse for the way that we played.

“If we want to win a comp this year we need to be on for every game.

“Boggi’s got a few new players and they look pretty good this year, but against them, we were not at our best.

“Then the way we backed up against Gunnedah was good.”

Narrabri’s halfback Todd Nichols continued his electric form against the Dungowan Cowboys with another man-of-the-match performance on Saturday that saw him cross for two tries, kick four goals and earn three more Group 4 best and fairest points.

He now sits atop the best and fairest leader board after accumulating eight of a possible nine points from the first three rounds.

Hooker Joss Cleal bagged a double in his third game for Narrabri Blues on Saturday, while Rumsby and the side’s fullback Damon Gleeson also scored a try each.

Rumsby acknowledged that it was not the best game to watch for the dedicated fans of both clubs who braved the conditions, but said he was proud of his men for getting the job done.

“It was terrible conditions to play footy in, so to compete the way we did was pleasing,” Rumsby said.

“It was wet and muddy and just very miserable.

“There were a few mistakes from us and also back-to-back penalties. We have to stop the ill-discipline.

“But it was pleasing to come from behind after half-time, and to put a good second half performance in like that was good. I was proud.

“We knew we were competing with them and at half-time we said if we controlled the ball a bit better we’d be in the contest, and we did that.

“We scored a couple of tries by about 10 minutes into the second half and we held the lead from there.”

The win left the Blues in fourth place on the nine-team ladder after three rounds.

North Tamworth Bears are currently on top of the table following a bye and two wins after they beat Gunnedah Bulldogs 40-10 at Kitchener Park on Saturday.

Moree Boars have also picked up a maximum six points in the opening three rounds following two wins and a bye. They travelled to Boggabri on Saturday to take on the Kangaroos in round three and scored a 36-16 win.

That result saw Boggabri finish the round ranked third on four points, leading the Narrabri Blues only by for and against difference.

The other round three match was won by Werris Creek Magpies, which won their first game of the season when they scored a 46-24 home ground win against Manilla Tigers.

The Tigers finished the round at the bottom of the table and are the only winless side after three rounds of play in 2022.

Meanwhile, the Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters had the bye in round three.

In round four, the Blues will return to Collins Park for their second home game of the season on Sunday when they host the Moree Boars.

The Boggabri Kangaroos will also be in action on Sunday but will travel away from home for the first time this season when they take on Manilla Tigers at North Tamworth’s Jack Woolaston Oval.

In the other round four matches, North Tamworth will host Kootingal on Saturday and Gunnedah will host Dungowan on Sunday.

Narrabri Blues downed in the lower grades at Dungowan

While the Narrabri Blues scored a win in the first grade contest in Dungowan, the club’s other three sides went down earlier in the day.

Narrabri lost the reserve grade game 22-16, went down 30-6 in the under-18s match, and lost the ladies’ league tag contest 68-8.

Bluebirds duo Tashanny Clark and Demi Winter crossed for a try each in the league tag loss, and no Narrabri players earned Group 4 best and fairest points.

In the 18s game, Ashton Smith scored the Blues’ only try, which Bernard O’Connor converted. Their teammate Tim Shields was awarded two Group 4 best and fairest points.

In reserve grade, Trent Keeler Lucas Middleton and Tom Bruce all scored a try each and Darren Mason and Cameron Yates kicked a conversion each. Bruce was awarded two Group 4 best and fairest points.

Narrabri returns to Collins Park this Sunday, where it will take on Moree in three grades.