Narrabri Rugby Club’s first XV still looking down on the competition despite round 12 loss

Narrabri Rugby Club’s first XV travelled to Tamworth on Saturday for round 12 of the 2021 Central North Rugby Union season where it was downed 29-22 by Pirates at Chillingworth Oval.

The Blue Boars were outscored five tries to two as Pirates winger Oli Wright ran wild with four five-pointers for his team.

The hosts went into half-time with a 10-0 lead after an Anthony O’Connor try broke the deadlock early in the match before Wright scored his first with just five minutes left to play before the break.

Wright then made it a double just after half-time and then celebrated a hat-trick to make the score 22-3 before the hour mark.

The Blue Boars then rallied to get themselves back in the contest. Mitch Wheaton and Jydon Hill tries were both converted by Alex Pay as Narrabri cut the deficit to five points.

Trailing 22-17 late in the contest, the Blue Boars needed to score next to stay in the contest. However, Wright scored his fourth try before Wes Rooney booted the hosts to a 12-point lead.

The visitors hit back late in the game through a Matt McDonnell try but the final whistle sounded as the conversion attempt was being struck and the visitors were forced to settle for just one point which they picked up for losing by a margin of seven points or less.

Narrabri entered the weekend with an unassailable lead at the top of the table, however, is now just two points clear of second-paced Gunnedah which has the bye this Saturday in round 13 while Narrabri challenges Walcha.

The Blue Boars were the only top five team to lose in round 12, while six-placed Moree Bulls had the bye to earn an automatic five points.

Gunnedah Red Devils scored a 59-36 away victory at Quirindi, third-placed Inverell Highlanders also won away when they defeated Barraba 51-13 and the Walcha Rams hosted and demolished Scone 44-12.

Saturday’s four winning teams all moved four points closer to the Blue Boars after all three gained a bonus point in their victories.

The points gap between first and fifth is now just seven points as an exciting race to the final has really begun to heat up.

The Blue Boars had something to cheer about earlier in the day on Saturday when their second grade downed Pirates 29-26.

Toby Keys scored 19 of those points after the winger crossed for his side’s first and last tries and kicked three conversions and a penalty goal.

Narrabri’s other two tries were scored by Daniel Kahl and Clayton Pursche.

That victory saw Narrabri leapfrog round 12 losers Gunnedah into fourth spot.

Gunnedah lost 27-10 away from home against Quirindi on Saturday to drop to fifth.

Pirates were dethroned at the top of the table after Saturday’s loss, replaced by new ladder leader Inverell which had a bye.

Meanwhile, Narrabri’s women’s sevens team went down 28-21 against Pirates and 29-5 against Gunnedah at the round 12 Barraba gala day.