Bluebirds win at home

Narrabri Rugby League Football Club kicked off Sunday’s matchday at Collins Park in style as the Bluebirds scored a home ground ladies’ league tag win.

The Narrabri side outscored the Boggabri and District Rugby League Football Club team 16-8 to record its first win of the campaign in round 10.

Narrabri endured a difficult first half of the campaign, during which it went down in all eight of its games.

However, the Kristie Toomey-coached side is a new-look one in 2022 that features several youngsters and has been building towards something bigger.

The players’ individual development and the team’s progression as a whole was evident on Sunday as the Bluebirds scored an eight-point victory against a side that it was beaten 28-10 by back in round one.

Toomey told The Courier that she was proud of her side.

“It was a really tough and hard game. The girls really dug deep,” Toomey said.

“I am so proud of each and every girl and it definitely showed in our game.

“All the girls played awesome. Our tagging was on point and we played as a team.

“It was so rewarding to win at home and even more special to see the hard work paying off.

“The girls put in all the hard work at training and on the field. It’s good to get a win. Definitely can’t wipe the smile off the girls’ faces.

“Our goal is to keep learning and working on the little things at training and keep enjoying our great friendship and team.”

Narrabri opened the scoring midway through the first half when Demi Winter broke through the Boggabri line and ran 40 metres to cross in the right corner and make the score 4-0.

Her teammate Amelie Johnson ran even further for the second try of the game when she broke the line in her own half and ran 60 metres to score with five minutes remaining in the first half.

Tashanny Clark added the extras to make the score 10-0, however, Boggabri reduced its deficit to six points a minute out from half-time when Sophie Hendrie planted the ball down for the Roos’ first try.

Boggabri made the score 10-8 in the 33rd minute of the 50-minute match when Ashlee Haire broke the Bluebirds line and ran 25 metres to score the visiting side’s second try.

Narrabri won the ball back when it went short off the following kick-off and capitalised on good field possession when it scored during that set. Clark fooled the Boggabri defence with a cheeky dummy and an explosive step close to the line, which created a hole that she charged through and then dived over to score. She then converted that try to make the score 16-8.

That was the way it remained at full time as the hosts held on to win for the first time in 2022.

Johnson and Clark were both standouts in that match and earned Group 4 Rugby League best and fairest points. Johnson was awarded three and Clark picked up one, while two went to the Roos’ Haire.

The Bluebirds face a tough challenge this weekend in round 11 when they travel to Jack Woolaston Oval to take on ladder leaders North Tamworth, while Boggabri will play at home against Gunnedah at Jubilee Oval.