Blue Boars’ women’s 10s team continues unbeaten run with ladies’ day win

Narrabri Rugby Club’s women’s side continued its early-season dominance on Saturday when it celebrated ladies’ day with an impressive 56-22 victory against Quirindi in the third round of the 2022 Central North Rugby Union 10s campaign.

A light drizzle fell from the sky as the players ran out onto Dangar Park, but that could not dampen the crowd’s spirit as the hosts brought the home fans to their feet time and time again during an entertaining contest, which they led from the first minute until the last.

Narrabri piled on 24 unanswered points in the opening 10-minute quarter and then went into half-time with a 36-5 lead after scoring 12 more points in the second quarter and only conceding right on the bell.

The Blue Boars and the visitors both added seven points each in the third quarter before Narrabri registered 15 points to Quirindi’s 10 in the final 10 minutes of play to secure a 34-point victory.

Narrabri outscored Quirindi 10 tries to four and three conversions to one in that match as it remained on top of the six-team ladder.

The side has transitioned from the sevens format to 10s quite seamlessly in 2022 and is playing an impressive brand of rugby.

The attacking brilliance of the side has been on show during the opening three rounds of the season and has been made possible off the back of a trio of solid defensive displays.

The Blue Boars boast a sensational for and against total of 184 and have already secured two clean sheets and three bonus points so far this season.

Carly Baxter and Shona McFarland race in to celebrate with Tori Allison after she scored a try. Carly Baxter and Shona McFarland race in to celebrate with Tori Allison after she scored a try.

Kate Brown searches for a teammate to pass to after making a line break. Kate Brown searches for a teammate to pass to after making a line break.

Bella Cruickshank leaves a Quirindi defender behind as she races over to score her first try of the day. Bella Cruickshank leaves a Quirindi defender behind as she races over to score her first try of the day.

Martha Harvey throws a pass. Martha Harvey throws a pass.

Natalia Smith races away down the sideline to score a try. Natalia Smith races away down the sideline to score a try.

Brooke McKinnon takes the ball into the line. Brooke McKinnon takes the ball into the line.

April Smith leaves a Quirindi defender behind as she races over to score a try. April Smith leaves a Quirindi defender behind as she races over to score a try.

After their win, the team cheers the second grade side out onto the field. After their win, the team cheers the second grade side out onto the field.

Carly Baxter and Gerri Cruckshank win possession in the breakdown. Carly Baxter and Gerri Cruckshank win possession in the breakdown.

Peta Cox brushes off two Quirindi defenders and throws an offload. Peta Cox brushes off two Quirindi defenders and throws an offload.

Toni Gale palms off a defender. Toni Gale palms off a defender.

Gerri Cruckshank charges upfield. Gerri Cruckshank charges upfield.

In front of a home crowd on ladies’ day on Saturday, the Narrabri outfit continued that red-hot form.

It started on the front foot in the round three clash and established a 7-0 lead just one minute after it kicked off.

The home side defended well in the opening seconds and the pressure eventually mounted on the visitors as Tori Allison stole possession at the breakdown deep in her attacking half. Peta Cox went over to score under the sticks seconds later before April Smith added the extras.

Narrabri won back possession in an almost identical fashion two minutes later when Shona McFarland stole the ball 20 metres out to get her side back on the front foot before Bella Cruickshank raced over for her first of the day, which she converted to make the score 14-0.

The Blue Boars scored two more tries before the first break as Toni Gale went over in the sixth minute and Allison dived over in the eighth, and the hosts went into quarter-time leading 24-0.

Narrabri’s first real challenge of the day arose in the fifth minute of the second quarter when Quirindi had camped itself on the home side’s line and desperately attacked in an attempt to open its account. However, the Blue Boars’ goal-line defence was up to the task as the hosts kept Quirindi out and won back possession.

Narrabri then made its way down the other end of the field and scored its fifth try of the game when Kate Brown crossed in the 17th minute. April Smith kicked the conversion to make the score 31-0 and then went over for a try of her own a minute later to extend the Blue Boars’ lead to 36.

Quirindi had the final say in that quarter when it finally cracked the Narrabri defence on the half-time bell to make the score 36-5 at the main break.

The Blue Boars came out firing in the second stanza, and it was Brown who set up the first try after breaking the line on halfway just two minutes after play restarted. She charged 40 metres upfield before throwing an offload to the supporting Gale, who scored her second of the day as the hosts made the score 41-5.

Quirindi then scored right on the bell for the second quarter in a row and converted the try to go into the final period trailing 41-12.

Once again, Narrabri came out on top and scored an early try as Gale released Natalia Smith down the right sideline, who flew 45 metres to score.

That gave the hosts a 46-12 lead, which became 56-12 three minutes later after Cruickshank and Harvey scored tries in opposite corners.

Quirindi managed to secure a bonus point as it hit back with two late tries, but Narrabri was never troubled as the final score finished 56-22.

The Blue Boars have the round four bye this Saturday.

They will return to the park on May 14 when they take on Pirates at home in round five and will then play Pirates in Tamworth the following weekend in round six.

Meanwhile, Narrabri Rugby Club’s first and second grade sides were also victorious on Saturday. The Blue Boars’ first XV defeated Quirindi 38-12 after their second grade side won 19-5.