Boggabri Kangaroos bounce back with a big win against the Bulldogs

Boggabri Kangaroos scored a crucial first grade win that kept them within striking distance of the top four when they downed local rivals Gunnedah Bulldogs 48-16 at Jubilee Oval in the seventh round of the Group 4 Rugby League season on Saturday.

The home side went into the match coming off the back of a 56-22 loss at the hands of Moree Boars, and they were well aware that another defeat could have seen them slip two wins back from the top four at the halfway point of the season.

However, they produced a brilliant performance in front of a home crowd on family day to send their fans home happy.

Boggabri outscored the Bulldogs by eight tries to three and eight goals to two in the 32-point victory.

The hosts opened the scoring in the 12th minute and then led 18-4 at the half-time break.

They were dominant for most of the second stanza as they outscored the Dogs 30 points to nothing until there was five minutes left to play when the visitors went over for the final two tries of the contest.

Kangaroos centre Rob Doolan had another impressive game as he scored two of his side’s tries and slotted all eight of his conversion attempts to finish the match with 24 points alone. His teammates Dylan Lake, Thomas Bruce, Matt Avendano, Jay Urquhart, Pauli Dinauvoli and Andrew Wallace all scored a try each, which accounted four the other 24 points.

Wallace, who joined the Kangaroos this year and has led the team around superbly from halfback, earned the three Group 4 best and fairest points as well as a wrap from his side’s coach, Shane Rampling.

“He took the game by the scruff of the neck,” Rampling told Group 4 Media after the match.

“He’s got great vision.

“He and Dylan (Lake) have got a great combination. Dylan’s scored a couple of tries from his great little kicks.”

Rampling was impressed with the way his side bounced back from the 34-point loss against Moree in round six.

“All in all, it was good to see the same intensity from the week before,” he told Group 4 Media.

“Our defence was pretty good for the majority of the game.

“They had four or five sets on our line in the first half and we kept them out. That was good for our mental strength. When we defend well, our attack follows.

“We got off our line pretty quick too. The line speed was there and we forced four dropped balls from that line speed.”

The Kangaroos are still sixth but can climb at least to fifth this Saturday as they travel to Jack Woolaston Oval for their round eight match against North Tamworth Bears.

The Bears went down 30-14 against Moree on Saturday to finish the round in fifth spot.

Like Boggabri, the Bears have six competition points following three wins and four losses this season.

The two sides met in the first round of the campaign at Jubilee Oval, where the Kangaroos won 36-28.

Both teams will be determined to come out firing this weekend to start the second half of the season on the front foot and mount a strong top-four push.

Moree’s round seven victory saw the ladder leaders extend their unbeaten start to the campaign.

They are first with 14 competition points, two clear of Werris Creek after the Magpies scored their sixth win of the season on Sunday when they beat Narrabri Blues 62-26 at Collins Park.

The other round seven contest saw the fourth-placed Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters score a 34-30 away victory against the third-placed Dungowan Cowboys.

Those two sides are both on eight points, followed by the Bears and the Kangaroos on six points, the seventh-placed Bulldogs on two points and the last-placed Blues on no points.

Meanwhile, the Boggabri Kangaroos edged out Gunnedah 32-30 in reserve grade on Saturday to finish the weekend in fourth place.

Cameron Kerr bagged a double for the hosts and teammates Clayton Bruce, Keighan Woodhead, Clifford Toomey and Liam Doyle scored a try each.

Jayde Campbell slotted four goals in a game that he performed well in, for which he earned three Group 4 best and fairest points. His teammate Clifford Toomey Junior earned one best and fairest point.

In ladies’ league tag, Boggabri went down 32-6 against Gunnedah as the Roos finished the weekend in sixth spot on the ladder.

Boggabri’s Isabelle Byrne scored a try and kicked the conversion, and she was also awarded two Group 4 best and fairest points.

At Collins Park on Sunday, Narrabri Blues went down in all four grades against Werris Creek.

Harry Pattison opened the scoring for the Blues in the first grade game, but the hosts went down 62-26.

Dylan Segundo, Jeff Harvey, Jess O’Neill, and Kalab Mcmillan also scored tries for Narrabri, and Trey Doolan kicked three goals.

Mcmillan was a standout in a losing side for the Blues and he was awarded three Group 4 best and fairest points for his brilliant efforts, while Segundo picked up one.

The reserve grade match was won 52-12 by the visitors. Ashley Hynch and Izach Walters scored Narrabri’s tries and the home side’s only goal was scored by Kaleb Mowle.

Narrabri lost 38-16 in the under-18s match despite a gutsy effort from the Blues boys.

Isaiah Cochrane scored a try and he also kicked two conversions, and his teammates David Biles and Luke Shields crossed for a try each.

The ladies’ league tag match was won 24-4 by Werris Creek.

Krista Zarka scored Narrabri’s try and also picked up one Group 4 best and fairest point.

The Blues travel away to Dungowan in round eight this Sunday.