Narrabri Rugby Club’s women’s team got their Central North Rugby Union competition premiership defence off to a flying start on Saturday when they demolished the Moree Bulls 53-5 at Weebolla Oval.
The 2023 season grand final winners were playing in their first game of the season in round two after they were dealt a bye in the opening round a week earlier, and for Moree it was the second game of their season but their first on home soil.
Despite a long off-season followed by a pre-season with just one trial game, and missing a few key players from last year’s grand final-winning team including skipper Toni Gale, the Narrabri side showed no signs of rust as they picked up where they left off last year.
The 2023 minor and major premiers outscored the Bulls nine tries to one and four conversions to none in the 48-point rout, which saw them end the weekend on top of the table.
Three of those tries were scored in the opening quarter as the returning Shaine Maunder bagged a double and Esta Kalatzis also crossed in the opening 10 minutes. Skipper Bella Cruickshank converted one of those tries as the Blue Boars went into the quarter-time break with a 17-0 lead.
Moree hit back with a try through Sienna Moore in the 13th minute, but that was the only blemish on the scoreboard for Narrabri across the 40 minutes as they ran away with a 53-5 victory.
Maunder finished the game with a hat-trick, Kalatzis and Cassidy Morley scored doubles and Cruickshank and Shona McFarland crossed once each. Cruickshank finished the game with 13 points after kicking four goals to go with her try.
Narrabri Blue Boars’ women’s tens team coach Mitch Creighton told The Courier that he was pleased with what he saw from his players in their first hit-out of the season.
“Brilliant,” was how he described the team’s performance.
“There are a few little bits and pieces to work on with this new high tackle rule that’s come in though.
“It was a very exciting game to watch, and in that first quarter it looked like the girls had been playing together for the last 10 years. They’re well-drilled and gelled together, and everything we’ve done during the pre-season is starting to show now.
“There are things to work on, but they went really well.”
Creighton said he was enjoying coaching the side after he was forced to hang up his boots following the 2023 campaign in the men’s squad.
“We’ve got an exciting bunch of girls who are very keen to go back-to-back and retain the cup,” Creighton said.
“They are committed and they’re giving it 110 per cent in every aspect of their game.
“Going back-to-back is going to be a massive challenge. The target is on our back now. But we’ll take it a week at a time and we’ll get out there each week and try and set the standard.”
The Blue Boars’ women’s coach also commended the four new players who all performed well on Saturday in round two, which included Kinlee Hill, Courtney Barnes, Kavina Kumar and Emily Smith.
“They’ve adapted really well, and it’s a massive credit to our girls who have taken them under their wing,” he said.
There have been four games played so far this year in the CNRU women’s tens competition. Gunnedah Red Devils outscored the Tamworth Pirates 17-10 in round one while Barraba Rams drew 33-all with the Moree Bulls, and the other game played on Saturday in round two saw the Pirates bounce back with a 36-5 home ground victory against Scone Brumbies.
The Blue Boars are away again this Saturday when they meet Gunnedah in a grand final rematch, which will be the only women’s match played in round three.
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