Blue Boars to host 2022 CNRU preliminary final matches

Central North Rugby Union’s 2022 grand final games will be hosted by Gunnedah Rugby Club after the Red Devils scored a 17-0 qualifying final victory against Narrabri Rugby Club’s first XV on Saturday.

Gunnedah finished as the minor premiers at the end of the first grade regular season, which saw the club earn the right to host Saturday’s three matches.

Grand final spots were on the line in all three grades, and it was Tamworth Pirates, Moree Bulls and Gunnedah Red Devils that all claimed their places in the September 17 deciders.

The Pirates kicked off the day with a victory when they downed Narrabri 24-10 in the women’s 10s match. The Bulls then defeated Pirates 8-5 in the second grade contest before the hosts scored a shutout win against the Blue Boars in the main game.

While the losing sides may have gone down, they are certainly not out. They all get a second chance at grand final qualification this Saturday when they run out onto Dangar Park.

It will be second versus fourth in all three preliminary finals at the home of Narrabri Rugby Club after Pirates (first grade), Barraba/Gwydir (second grade) and Gunnedah (women’s 10s) all beat the respective third-placed teams in their competitions in the elimination finals at Inverell back on Saturday, August 27.

In Gunnedah on Saturday, Narrabri was behind 24-0 with just 10 minutes left in the women’s 10s game after the Pirates’ Phoebe McLoughlin crossed for four tries for the minor premiers and teammate Erika Maslen slotted two conversions.

Narrabri finally got on the board in the 33rd minute when Toni Gale went over for her 26th try in 13 matches this season to make the score 24-5.

That became 25-10 just two minutes later when Shona McFarland crossed for Narrabri’s second of the day.

Suddenly it was game on, however, Narrabri could not get over again and was forced to settle for a spot in the preliminary final.

In the first grade match, the Blue Boars went behind 5-0 in the 15th minute when Gunnedah’s Emori Waqavulagi scored the only try of the game.

James Perrett then booted the hosts into a 17-point lead with successful penalty goal attempts in the 34th, 39th, 45th and 53rd minutes. His last goal made the score 17-0, which was the way it remained for the final 27 minutes of the match.