Boggabri Kangaroos win at home on old boys day

Boggabri and District Rugby League Football Club scored a memorable first grade victory on old boys day at Jubilee Oval on Saturday when they defeated the Werris Creek Magpies 34-20 in round nine of the 2023 Group 4 Rugby League season.

The hosts went into the half-time break ahead 16-10 and outscored the visitors 18-10 in the second stanza to earn the 14-point win.

Jack Gillham opened the scoring with a try and his teammates Paulie Dinauvoli and Kaylan Murray also scored a try each in the first half, with Rob Doolan kicking two of the three conversions.

Dinauvoli scored another try in the second half and then Cameron Kerr also crossed, and the score was 28-20 with five minutes to go.

The Roos had defended desperately to hold out the determined Magpies and they were rewarded at the other end when winger Liam Doyle crossed for the four-pointer that sealed the victory.

Doolan converted that try as he kicked his fifth goal of the day to make the final score 34-20.

The victory was the perfect way to bounce back for the Boggabri boys after they went down against North Tamworth Bears just before the long weekend to kick off the second half of the season.

Their coach Shane Rampling was thrilled with the way they played against Werris Creek, the team that is running second on the ladder and had only lost one game all year going into round nine.

“I’m pretty happy and excited, just knowing that the way we played in that game is the way we can play all the time,” he told The Courier.

“Our defence was really solid and our attack was sharp. We played for each other.

“Our forward pack were just great, especially considering we lost Nick Millar after 20 minutes. We aren’t the biggest forward pack going ‘round, but the boys have big hearts.

“Werris Creek actually has a massive forward pack, and we held them out.

“Our forwards won the battle in the middle, which allowed our backs to create havoc on the edges.

“It was just really satisfying to put a complete game together.

“We led all the way against one of the top-two teams.

“I’m ecstatic for the boys.”

Rampling was also pleased to get the result for the old boys, who turned out in droves to cheer the Kangaroos on.

The club’s first grade coach said that the jersey presentation from the old boys before the first grade match was quite special as the former players talked about when they played and what the club meant to them, as was singing the team song with them after the win.

Rampling added that while he was impressed with his entire team on the day, centre Dinauvoli played his best game in Boggabri colours since he joined the club in 2022, and halves partners Andrew Wallace and Kaylan Murray steered the side around the park perfectly.

Dinauvoli was awarded the three Group 4 Rugby League best and fairest points for his brilliant performance, while teammate Jack Gillham picked up two points and the Magpies’ Dylan Porter earned the one.

The Boggabri Kangaroos went into the weekend in sixth place on the eight-team ladder, and while they did not climb any higher, the victory was a crucial one.

They are now level on eight points with fifth-placed Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters and are just two points back from the North Tamworth Bears.

Boggabri travels to Kootingal Sportsground this Saturday to challenge the Roosters and could finish as high as fourth if it wins that match and the Bears lose to Narrabri at Collins Park that same day.

Every win is important with just five rounds left to play, which Rampling said he and his men were well aware of.

“We need to build on that. We can’t rest on that win,” he said.

“We need to go to Kootingal next week and keep our season alive.

“Every game is important here on out.

“As I said to the boys, we need to go into every game with a semi-final mentality during the run in.”

The Roosters went down in round nine when they were beaten 34-14 at Jack Woolaston Oval by the North Tamworth Bears.

The two Sunday games were won by the Moree Boars and the Dungowan Cowboys. The Boars hosted the Narrabri Blues and prevailed 80-18 to stay unbeaten and move to a maximum 18 points at the top of the table. The Cowboys travelled to Gunnedah where they beat the Bulldogs 26-18 to move within one win of the second-placed Magpies.