The Narrabri Blues Boars travelled to Weebolla Oval to challenge the Moree Bulls in the fourth round of the 2023 Central North Rugby Union first grade season on Saturday where they came up short in just about every area of the contest, including the scoreboard.
The Bulls won the match 52-14 after outscoring the Blue Boars 24-0 in the second stanza.
The score was 28-14 at half-time, but the visitors struggled their way through the second 40-minute period on their way to a 38-point loss.
Coach Jake Packer told The Courier that the performance and the result were both unexpected.
“It was very disappointing,” he said.
“Credit to Moree, they played well, but we didn’t show up.
“From the warm up, it didn’t feel like we wanted to play.
“Usually the boys are up for that match.
“It frustrates me because, and I’m not discrediting Moree here at all, but what they threw at us, I don’t think we should be losing to that.
“To get 50 points put on us was very disappointing.
“It’s probably one of the worst games I’ve seen from us.
“We didn’t have a lot of the ball in the first half, and I thought that if we could play smart in the second half, Moree would crack.
“But we came out in that second half and didn’t fire.”
Packer said he thought that Morgan Jones played well in his first start in the top grade this season, and added that Will McDonnell led by example with a classy captain’s performance on the day.
The Bulls’ backline carved Narrabri up as it scored all 52 of the home side’s points.
Alex Barker and Percy Duncan both bagged doubles for their side, while Mitch Copeman and Mitchell Adams scored a try each.
Ben Williams converted four times and kicked three penalty goals, and Jono Spain kicked a conversion and a penalty goal.
For Narrabri, Linton Grumley and Jacob Nichols crossed for tries and Toby Knight kicked three conversions.
The Blue Boars are determined to bounce back this weekend when they challenge Quirindi Lions in round five on Saturday at Dangar Park.
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