Race to the Group 4 finals heats up after three teams capitalise on Moree slip-up

Group 4 Rugby League is delivering one of its most unpredictable and tightly-contested first grade seasons in years, and fans are loving every minute of it as a march towards the finals turned into a full-blown sprint across the weekend.

Moree Boars entered their round eight top-of-the-table contest against ladder leaders Werris Creek Magpies on Saturday in second place, but a 42-14 loss saw them freefall all the way to fifth by the end of the weekend.

The defending champs accumulated 10 points across the first half of the season, while North Tamworth Bears, Gunnedah Bulldogs and Boggabri Kangaroos were all breathing down their necks on nine points.

That trio all took on one of the three sides out of finals contention in the bottom three and scored dominant home ground victories to climb one spot up the table.

The Bears welcomed the Dungowan Cowboys to Jack Woolaston Oval on Saturday afternoon and registered a mercy rule shoutout win after scoring 62 unanswered points in 70 minutes to climb from fourth into third.

The Bulldogs then hosted Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters at Kitchener Park on Sunday afternoon and prevailed 64-18 to rise into second from third.

Boggabri also lined up on Sunday afternoon when they welcomed the Wee Waa Panthers to Jubilee Oval, and a rampaging second stanza saw them prevail 80-20 with five minutes still remaining.

That result saw the Kangaroos go above Moree and finish the weekend ranked fourth on the ladder.

They also ended round eight as the most dominant point-scoring side so far, averaging 40 points per game with 320 to their name.

Werris Creek’s victory saw them go two wins clear at the top of the table as the undefeated Magpies moved to 15 points following seven wins and a draw.

They now look likely to remain four points clear after round nine, with a first-versus-last clash against the Wee Waa Panthers up next for them this Sunday at Cook Oval.

The Panthers are still winless this year after going down by 60 points to Boggabri on Sunday. They are anchored to the bottom of the points table with no points, while Dungowan (four points) and Kooti (two points) are sixth and seventh.

The other matches this weekend will see the Kangaroos host Dungowan at Jubilee Oval and Norths travel to take on the Roosters in Kootingal, both on Saturday, and the Boars return home to host Gunnedah at Boughton Oval on Sunday.