Cassidy Morley carves up Gunnedah with five-star performance

Cassidy Morley made a rampaging return to Narrabri Rugby Club’s women’s 10s team on Saturday as she crossed for five tries in a 47-24 victory against Gunnedah Red Devils.

The Blue Boars travelled to Gunnedah for the round nine clash having won all seven of their games so far, and the ladder leaders extended their winning streak to eight matches as they outscored the hosts seven tries to four and six conversions to two.

Morley crossed for five of her team’s tries, including the first three as she notched up her second hat-trick of the season in as many games before the half-time break.

Her explosive return after missing the previous six matches due to Group 4 league tag games and representative rugby sevens duties abroad in Alaska with the Pacific Nomads had the Blue Boars ahead 21-17 at the changing of ends, and they ran away with the game in the second half.

Morley opened the scoring in style in the fourth minute when an April Smith pass on the halfway line released her down the right edge before she cut in to score between the sticks.

Gunnedah then hit back with their first try of the game through Sarah Cavanagh, but the hosts missed the conversion as Narrabri went into the quarter-time break with a 7-5 lead.

The Red Devils took the lead two minutes into the second quarter as Madisan Rogers converted a Jean Littlewood try to make the score 12-7, but Narrabri regained a two-point advantage two minutes after kicking off when Morley scooped the ball up out of a ruck close to the line and was too elusive for the Gunnedah defence.

Toni Gale slotted her second conversion of the day to make the score 14-12, but Gunnedah hit back again less than two minutes before half-time through Grace Farmer to go ahead 17-14.

There was still time left on the clock when Gunnedah missed that conversion, and Peta Cox forced a turnover before the bell sounded as Narrabri went on the hunt for another try. It came through Morley who flew onto a Gale pass 40 metres out and charged away down the left sideline to score her third of the day. She squared up to score between the sticks to give Gale a simple conversion, which she made no mistake with as Narrabri went ahead 21-17.

The Blue Boars came out firing as Smith made a linebreak on halfway just 30 seconds after play had restarted and stormed away to score their fourth try of the day, and Gale slotted the goal from out wide on the left to make it 28-17.

Morley then went over between the sticks for her fourth of the day with five to play in the third quarter, which put Narrabri ahead 35-17 after Gale nailed the kick, before she scored another runaway try before the final break, which Gale converted to make the score 42-17.

The Blue Boars suffered a blow when they lost skipper Peta Cox to an injury at the end of the third quarter, but they managed to score their seventh try of the day early in the fourth when Belle Byrne broke the line inside her own half and ran 70 metres to score.

Gunnedah refused to give up despite being down 30 points, and they were rewarded in the final minute when Malama Leatigaga crossed for their fourth try to earn a bonus point. Another conversion to Rogers made the final score 47-24.

Narrabri are now six points clear at the top of the table and have a bye this Saturday, which means they will remain at least a win out ahead. Their next game is in round 11 on Saturday, July 19, when they host Barraba Rams at Dangar Park.