Blue Boars women score brilliant comeback victory in top-of-the-table battle

Narrabri Rugby Club’s women’s 10s team may look a lot different to the premiership-winning sides of 2023 and 2024, but they are developing the same winning reputation in 2025 after scoring a gritty top-of-the-table victory against the Tamworth Pirates on Saturday.

The Blue Boars welcomed Tamworth Pirates to Dangar Park for their round five clash, with the Kookaburra Cup and the two sides’ undefeated streaks both on the line.

It was the Narrabri girls who got the job done as they came from behind to prevail 22-17 in front of a loud and proud home crowd.

The hosts ran in four tries to three and both sides kicked a conversion each. They both earned a bonus point as well, Narrabri for scoring four or more tries and Tamworth for losing by seven points or less, so the Blue Boars extended their lead at the top of the table by four points to finish the weekend six clear of second-placed Pirates.

The away team opened the scoring early in the first quarter through Tomi Gavin before Narrabri equalised after Briana Anderson charged over to cross following a powerful run down the right edge to even the score up at 5-all in the second quarter.

Phillippa Schoupp then put Pirates back in front by five points and the visitors entered the break with a 10-5 lead.

Narrabri’s Toni Rae crossed for the first try of the second half in the third quarter to make the score 10-all, but Tamworth hit back with a converted try through Lauren Daye, who scored it and added the extras to put her side ahead 17-10.

April Smith dived over next to get the hosts back within striking distance, and Rae then crossed for her second try of the day in the fourth quarter and added the extras off the tee from the sideline to make the score 22-17, which was the way it remained when the full-time siren sounded.

The victory was the Narrabri side’s fourth of the season, which includes a forfeit, and their coach Andrew Gale told The Courier that it was their toughest contest so far.

“It was a pretty gritty win and the hardest game we’ve had so far, to be honest,” Gale said.

“In the first half, Pirates played really well. They got a lot of good second-phase play and they also stole the ball really well.

“We panicked a bit in that first half. Things weren’t going our way and we started pushing passes, but I thought in that second half, things started clicking into gear.

“By the end of the third quarter, we’d calmed down and things just started falling into place.

“We’d been playing to their pace and letting them dominate us in the first half, but in that third quarter, the attitude really changed.

“I’m stoked for the girls. Pirates are a really strong side. They’re bigger than last year and play with a bit more structure.

“When they tried going around us out wide, we defended them really well, and it was a pretty good battle up the middle.

“Our scrum, for being a young scrum, was good again. They didn’t dominate us. We won everything we got, and we even won one against the feed.

“We also got a yellow card and we had to defend for five minutes down to nine, and to do that well against them was really good.

“We’re undefeated so far and we’re playing good rugby, and I’m really pleased with that, but we know every game is a new game.

“We’ve got Inverell next. They played their first game on the weekend and we’re really hoping they’ll give us a tough game when we go out there.

Next up for the Narrabri Blue Boars is a trip to Inverell to challenge the Highlanders in round six. That match will be contested on Saturday, June 14, following this weekend’s bye for the June long weekend.

Inverell finally played on Saturday after their first three fixtures ended in forfeits, and they went down 33-21 on home soil against the Moree Bulls.

That win was Moree’s first on the field in 2025 after they had a forfeit victory earlier in the season as well as a draw and two losses.