Blue Boars score a gutsy women’s tens victory in Scone

The exceptional character and spirit of Narrabri Rugby Club’s women’s tens team were on show for all to see when they made the long road trip to Scone on Saturday.

The Blue Boars only travelled with 10 players, but they chose to play a tens game with no subs rather than opt for the easy way out and force a sevens fixture.

They battled hard for 40 minutes and were one stage down to nine players after a yellow card, but they managed to get the job done as they won 40-10.

April Smith and Kate Brown bagged doubles in that 30-point victory and their teammates Esta Kalatzis and Shona McFarland crossed for a try each. Smith slotted three conversions and Brown kicked two.

Narrabri picked up five competition points in that win but the side remains three points behind the Gunnedah Red Devils after they downed Moree 55-10 on Saturday.

The Blue Boars’ victory without the team’s co-captains and two key players in Peta Cox and Toni Gale, among others, kept them in the minor premiership hunt, and if the side does finish first at the end of the regular season, it will be one that is discussed as the catalyst of that achievement.

There is still a lot of work to be done before then, though, starting this weekend with a derby against Moree Bulls at Dangar Park.

Coach Mick Coffey was thrilled with what he saw on Saturday and wants to see the same when the Blue Boars go head-to-head with their rivals.

“It was huge,” he said of the effort of all 10 players that lined up in Scone.

“We had plenty out, and coming down here with 10, it would have been a pretty easy decision to pull the lever and give up three points and play for two by just playing sevens.

“But at the start of the year, we all decided that we were good enough to win the comp and we would chuck the kitchen sink at every game.

“To their credit, the girls all played really well.

“A lot of the girls had to really step up; otherwise, we don’t win, and they did.

“Nobody had a bad game, and for some of them, it was the best game they’ve probably ever played.

“We had a good chat before we went out to warm up and then again when we went back into the sheds. The game plan was structured around managing our fatigue but still playing to our strengths.

“Every week I’ve given the girls a different game plan, they’ve executed it each time. They’ve become very smart and mature footballers.”