Brenton Cochrane and the Moree Boars continue their brilliant start to 2023 season

Moree Boars continued their red-hot start to the 2023 Group 4 Rugby League first grade campaign when they demolished Gunnedah Bulldogs 68-6 on Sunday.

The Boars travelled to Kitchener Park for the round three clash and dominated from start to finish as they scored 11 tries and brought the game to an early conclusion as the mercy rule was called with two minutes to go.

Moree led 38-0 at half-time and then outscored the Bulldogs 30-6 in the second stanza to finish the round at the top of the table.

Former Narrabri Blues captain-coach Brenton Cochrane continued his brilliant start to the season as the lock forward polled three Group 4 best and fairest points for the second time this year to finish the third round at the top of the first grade tally with six points.

His teammate Adrian Smith, the side’s fullback who scored four tries in Moree’s win against the Bulldogs, earned two points and five-eighth Jamie Sampson was awarded one.

Just as Moree leads the ladder and Cochrane heads the best and fairest tally, the Boars’ William Baker leads the try-scorers tally after three rounds.

The centre crossed for two tries at Kitchener Park to take his season tally to eight, three more than Smith, Kootingal-Moonbi’s Logan Howard, and Dungowan’s Mitch Doring, who are all next best with five. Other Moree Boars try-scorers in the win against Gunnedah were Luke Hetherington, who bagged a double, and Jake Tighe, Michael Watton and Brent McDonald, who all scored one each.

Smith kicked eight goals to finish the game with 32 points.

Moree is one of two teams to have secured a maximum six points after three rounds of Group 4 action this season, the other being the Werris Creek Magpies.

Werris Creek scored a 25-18 home-ground victory against Dungowan at David Taylor Park on Saturday.

The Moree Boars are ranked first as they boast a superior for and against difference, however, the two ladder leaders will have the chance to move into outright first place when they meet under lights at Boughton Oval this Saturday night in round four.

Other round four first grade games on Saturday see Boggabri travel to Dungowan to challenge the Cowboys and Gunnedah host North Tamworth.

Narrabri Blues will then welcome Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters to Collins Park on Sunday.

The Blues are chasing their first win of the season in round four after they went down 52-4 in North Tamworth against the Bears on Sunday.