By Geoff Newling
Boggabri Kangaroos celebrated their first home games of the 2024 Group 4 Rugby League season by sweeping their Narrabri Shire neighbours, the Narrabri Blues, in all three grades at Jubilee Oval on Saturday.
The Roos won a hard-fought ladies league tag game 20-12, then followed a 60-14 second grade success with a 64-24 victory over the Blues in first grade.
“It was a great day for the club,” the Kangaroos’ first grade coach Shane Rampling told Group 4 Media after his side had prevailed by 40 points.
“Winning all three grades is a great day for the club.”
While happy with the win, he wasn’t pleased with the 24 points they let in.
“We’ve got something to work on,” he said of the Roos’ defence.
“I was happy with our attack. We were good when we controlled the ball. They all played well.”
Rampling made special mention of winger Josefa Tiko-Goneduadua.
“He had a big game and was hard to contain,” Rampling said.
“He was very physical and had some strong carries.
“Isaiah Adams also had a big game,” Rampling said of his five-eighth.
“He took the line on when he had to and caused a lot of trouble. Jake Byrne was good in the middle too. Lepani (Bauuve) came off the bench and caused a lot of problems too. It was a real good game for his first hit out.
“We’re a work in progress and heading in the right direction.”
So too is the young Narrabri side.
Coach Glenn Collins thought his side did well early.
“We played well in patches,” he told Group 4 Media.
“We had nine out through injury and work and lost prop Jeff Harvey in the first half with a shoulder injury. He did come back on but wasn’t the same.
“At one stage I had four wingers on the bench.”
That his side trailed 20-12 at halftime was testament to the effort from the under siege Blues.
“We just didn’t have the depth to stop their big men,” Collins said.
“Couldn’t cope with their offloads and in the end we just ran out of puff.
“Hopefully we’ll get a few back for next week.”
He thought lock forward Sam Sadler was best for the Blues with another whole-hearted display. Sadler scored two of Narrabri’s tries and set another up.
Winger Chris Clark also excelled again. He also scored a try and one of his tackles “on one of the Fijian props” was a try-saving cracker.
“Can’t take anything away from Boggy though, they deserved it and played well,” Collins said.
“We were in it up until 38 minutes but just copped injury after injury.
“My boys played above their weight today.”
All four first grade winners in round three were the home teams.
North Tamworth Bears outscored the Dungowan Cowboys 38-18 in the other Saturday game, and then on Sunday, the Wee Waa Panthers went down 60-0 against the Werris Creek Magpies while the Moree Boars got up 38-14 against Gunnedah Bulldogs.
This weekend’s round four fixtures will see Dungowan host Gunnedah and Kootingal-Moonbi host Werris Creek on Saturday, and Wee Waa at home against Boggabri and Narrabri at home against Moree on Sunday.
The Group 4 scoreboard from the three games played at Jubilee Oval on Saturday are as follows:
First grade: Boggabri 62 (Robert Doolan 3, Iliasa Kalokalodrau 3, Josefa Tiko-Goneduadua, Epeli Volaserau, Isaiah Adams, Jack Hayes, Cameron Kerr, Matt Avendano tries, Thomas Bruce 3, Robert Doolan 3 goals) def Narrabri 24 (Sam Sadler 2, Chris Clark, Jesse Druce tries, Josh Trindall 4 goals). Group 4 best and fairest: 3 Selestino Penisoni (B), 2 Malakai Kovekalou (B), 1 Sam Sadler (N).
Second Grade: Boggabri 60 (Pita Rogosau 3, Karl Wilson 2, Kurt Bassett 2, Kolinio Nakarawa, Clayton Bruce, Ashley White, Steven Yorkshire tries, White 7 goals) def Narrabri 14 (Josh Buckthought, Bailey Toomey, Pat Hubbard tries, Buckthought goal). Group 4 best and fairest: 3 Kyle Capper (B), 2 Pita Rogosau (B), 1 Jacob Price (N).
Ladies League Tag: Boggabri 20 (Cassidy Morley 3, Zara Wise tries, Morley 2 goals) def Narrabri 12 (Olivia Verrier, Laine McCauley, Emmjay Baker tries). Group 4 best and fairest: 3 Cassidy Morley (B), 2 Georgia Hardman (N), 1 Zara Wise (B).
To order photos from this page click here
