Finals starting early for Blue Boars

The Narrabri Rugby Club’s first grade side will go head-to-head with rivals Moree Bulls on Saturday at Dangar Park in the 18th and final round of the 2019 Central North Rugby Union season.

The Blue Boars will definitely play finals footy this year after securing a top four spot with a 29-10 win on the road against Quirindi in round 17 last Saturday.

What is not certain is exactly where the Blue Boars will finish from second to fourth on the ladder – their result and possibly the results of other round 18 games this weekend will determine that (see above).

What is certain is that the Narrabri men will be treating the round 18 contest like a finals match in their pursuit of a second place finish and the chance to host a home grand final for the first time since 2014.

Narrabri played in four straight first grade grand finals from 2013 to 2016, and was crowned champions of the competition in 2014 and 2015, but has missed out on the past two deciders.

A victory on Saturday would see the Narrabri men move just one win away from securing a Dangar Park decider on September 14.

They first have to get over a huge hurdle in their Newell Highway rivals Moree.

The Blue Boars have played the Bulls once already this season in a round nine game which Moree won 12-9 at Weebolla Oval.

That was the last time Narrabri lost a game this season.

Since then the Blue Boars have enjoyed a seven-match winning streak, claiming the scalps of fellow top four sides Walcha and Gunnedah as well as defending champions and fifth-placed Pirates.

Narrabri Rugby Club first grade coach Dylan Duncan told The Courier that his team would need to produce a top performance this Saturday to beat a Bulls team also determined to bring the grand final back to their home ground for the first time since 2015.

“It’s going to be a big game, it’s always good to play a game of footy on a Saturday arvo against Moree at home,” Duncan said.

“Everyone knows the situation we are in – if we win we’ve got that shot at Walcha in two week’s time and that’s what we really want.

“We know that we are a good enough team so that’s the plan, get through this game of footy, we have to win this one first so all the focus is on Moree and how we can beat them.”