Blue Boars remain undefeated in CNRU women’s comp following another Dangar Park demolition

Old Boars Day was a tough one on the field for Narrabri Rugby Club as they welcomed rivals Moree to Dangar Park and were beaten in three of four grades, but the club’s women’s 10s team gave a loud and proud home crowd plenty to cheer about as they registered a 54-17 victory to remain unbeaten.

The Blue Boars outscored the Moree Bulls eight tries to three and seven conversions to one in the 37-point round seven victory.

Lidia McCauley crossed for the first Narrabri try of the day and they kept on coming as Kaitlyn Armitage added the second, Toni Rae went over between an April Smith double, and Peta Cox, Kim Bange and Briana Anderson all then added one each.

Rae impressed with the boot as she nailed all but one of the eight conversions to finish the contest with 19 points.

Moree did finally manage to get on the board in the third quarter after being held scoreless in the first half, with Lauren Appleby converting a 24th-minute Olivia Turner try and Nadia Hulsbos going over a minute later, and they added five more points when Millie Swan crossed with just five minutes left to play.

However, Narrabri had well and truly wrapped up the win by then after they led 35-0 at the half-time break.

The Blue Boars’ coach Andrew Gale told The Courier that he was once again impressed with his side’s effort and execution in both attack and defence.

“We were really good. The girls played great,” Gale said.

“It was a good, dominant game.

“There were a lot of pleasing aspects for me. We did the simple things right, we were patient, we held the ball well, although we did push a few passes, which sometimes comes with the territory when you’re playing against a team that’s not really putting it to you.

“Moree did fire a couple of good shots, but realistically, it didn’t really phase our girls too much.

“We attacked well and we also defended really well. Everything we’ve been working on in both aspects at training, the girls have been doing.

“We actually had three players on the bench, which was good. We got Claudia Penberthy back from injury and Carly Baxter is back with us too. She had been training for a marathon and now that it’s over, she wanted to come back and play. She looked like she hadn’t missed a game.

“Cass (Morley) was away and we had to pull April (Smith) at half-time because she copped a head knock, so we were down to two on the bench in the second half, but there were no dramas there.”

“Old Boars Day was good for us because we were the only team that won,” Gale added.

“Whether it’s sponsors day or old boys’ day, it always really good up there.

“Former players both men and women were up there at training on Thursday night for dinner, and everyone makes us feel welcome.

“It was a good week. It’s just a great club.”

The victory was the Blue Boars’ sixth in as many fixtures, but the first of those was a forfeit, so it extended their on-field winning streak to five in the 2025 season. They are still six points clear of second-placed Tamworth Pirates, who demolished the third-placed Gunnedah Red Devils 75-0 on home soil on Saturday.

Barraba registered the biggest win of the weekend to remain fourth as they outscored Inverell 85-5, which saw Moree fall four points outside the top four.

Narrabri now have a bye in the 10s competition this weekend.