Blue Boars on top with one round to go after demolishing the Pirates

Narrabri Rugby Club’s women’s tens players gained even more confidence in themselves after they thrashed the defending champions on Saturday to head into the final round of the 2023 Central North Rugby Union season on top of the ladder.

Narrabri welcomed the Tamworth Pirates to Dangar Park in round 17 and the hosts kept them scoreless to earn a 52-0 victory.

The Blue Boars dominated from start to finish, piling on eight tries and kicking six conversions in their final home game of the year to finish the weekend on 80 points, just one clear of second-placed side Gunnedah as the Red Devils sat out with the bye.

Those two sides will play against one another this Saturday in the 18th and final round of the regular season, during which a win or a draw would see the Blue Boars claim their first women’s minor premiership since the comp began in 2018.

Cassidy Morley crossed for four of Narrabri’s eight tries in the big win on Saturday just one week after she went over five times against Inverell.

Miranda Hamilton bagged a double in the big win, and forward duo Esta Kalatzis and Kate Brown crossed for a try each.

Toni Gale backed up her brilliant 10-goal effort in Inverell with six more conversions on Saturday against the Pirates.

The Narrabri Blue Boars’ president and women’s team co-coach Mick Coffey told The Courier that he was impressed with his side’s effort and overall dominance on Saturday.

“Pirates were definitely short a few players, but at the same time, we were really, really good on the focuses for the game,” Coffey said.

“There were a few things that I had asked the girls to do, and I think they executed strongly all game.

“We had a chat about doing all the simple things really well for the entire 40 minutes, not just starting well and then sliding off when fatigue starts to set in.

“That win was about attitude and effort.

“They also communicated really well and they continued to put in big efforts for one another.

“It was another game where it was honestly difficult to find too much to be critical of.”

The only other women’s match played on Saturday in round 17 saw Scone score a 22-17 win on home soil against Barraba to remain in the finals hunt.

They are now on 52 points, just three behind fourth-placed Moree heading into the final round.

Tamworth (68) are guaranteed to finish third, while Narrabri (80) and Gunnedah (79) will battle it out for top spot this Saturday.