Narrabri charges back to the top of the CNRU women’s 10s competition ladder

Narrabri Rugby Club’s women’s side jumped to the top of Central North Rugby Union’s 10s competition table following a 72-point demolition on home soil on Saturday.

The Blue Boars beat Scone 82-10 at Dangar Park to mark their return to their home ground in style.

They had not played at home since beating Pirates 50-21 back on May 14, and in the 11th round of the 2022 season on Saturday, they extended their Dangar Park winning streak to four as they remained unbeaten at their home ground this year.

The victory was their eighth in nine matches across all venues this season and saw them leapfrog Pirates into first on the ladder.

Pirates led the competition going into round 11, and although the two rivals ended the weekend locked on 50 points following the Pirates’ bye and the Blue Boars’ win, Narrabri moved up to first due to having more wins than the Tamworth side.

Narrabri’s dominant win also saw it earn its eighth bonus point of the year. In all of the Blue Boars’ eight wins this season, they have scored four or more tries. In fact, they have piled on 50 or more points in six of those eight matches and their for and against difference is now an impressive 358.

The Blue Boars’ dominance in 2022 is a testament to the hard work and leadership shown by coaches Will Guest, Peta Cox and Kate Brown, the dedication of the team as a whole and the leadership of the side’s captain Toni Gale.

Gale is the Blue Boars’ leading try-scorer with 15 five-pointers in the eight games she has played so far this season. However, it has been on the other side of the ball that she has been most impressive this season. In her side’s big win on Saturday, Gale made tackle after tackle and set the standard that the side is looking for in defence.

That laid the platform for her and her teammates to pile on 82 points.

Shona McFarland scored four of the Blue Boars’ 14 tries, Tenayah Woodward claimed a hat-trick, Bella Cruickshank, Natalia Smith and Gale all bagged doubles, and Anni Wenner scored the side’s other try.

Narrabri also added 12 points from conversions as Gale slotted four and McFarland kicked two.

There was one other women’s 10s match scheduled to be contested on Saturday, but it did not go ahead after third-placed Gunnedah forfeited against last-placed Barraba/Gwydir.

Like Pirates, fourth-placed Quirindi had a bye in round 11. The Lionesses will be back in action this Saturday when they hosts the in-form Narrabri Blue Boars.

Fifth-placed Scone will also play at home on Saturday when it hosts Gunnedah, while Pirates and Barraba/Gwydir have byes in round 12.

That means that Narrabri will need to score a bonus point victory to stay on top of the table.

The Blue Boars’ next home game is scheduled for Saturday, July 30, when they host Pirates in round 15.