Blue Boars women ready to make the most of second chance

The best team all year were not the best team on the day as the women’s tens major semi-final kicked off this season’s Central North Rugby Union finals series at Moree’s Weebolla Oval on Saturday.

But the beauty of winning the minor premiership is that you get a second chance if you happen to stumble at the first finals hurdle.

That is the case for Narrabri Rugby Club’s women’s side as the defending champions prepare to head back to Moree and challenge the Tamworth Pirates in the preliminary final this Saturday.

The Blue Boars met the Gunnedah Red Devils in the major semi-final and the second-placed side managed to win the game 24-10.

Gunnedah hit the lead early in the contest as Lupe Mikaele claimed the first try of the game to make the score 5-0, and they took a 12-0 lead into the first break as Holly Ford scored on the stroke of quarter-time and teammate Peta Lawrence converted it.

There was only one try scored in the second term and it was Narrabri’s Nat McInnes who claimed it as the Blue Boars entered half-time behind 12-5.

Gunnedah scored again in the 25th minute and added the extras to lead 19-5 before McInnes crossed again for the Blue Boars just before the three-quarter-time break to make the score 19-10.

The missed conversion meant it was a two-possession game going into the final quarter, and the Narrabri side pushed hard to find the try that they needed to give themselves a chance of snatching a late win.

However, Gunnedah were too good and they sealed the win in the dying moments when Ford crossed for her second try of the contest to make the score 24-10.

The Red Devils’ victory saw them book their spot in the CNRU grand final for the second time for as many years. They went down 26-12 in Tamworth against Narrabri last year but they are determined to go one better in 2024.

The defending champions can set up a grand final rematch if they are able to beat the Tamworth Pirates in Moree this Saturday.

Pirates finished third on the ladder this year and met Quirindi Lionesses in the elimination semi-final, which they won 24-12 after a Shae Partridge hat-trick saw them lead 17-0 at the half-time break.