Narrabri Shire trio suffer losses across the weekend in round 11

Boggabri Kangaroos, Narrabri Blues and Wee Waa Panthers all suffered losses in round 11 of the 2024 Group 4 Rugby League first grade campaign across the weekend and all sit outside the top four.

By far the most surprising result of the weekend unfolded at Jubilee Oval where Boggabri went down on home soil for the fourth time in two seasons as the Gunnedah Bulldogs scored a 30-14 victory to return home with the Boyde Campbell Cup on Saturday.

Boggabri entered the weekend on a huge high after beating the defending champions, North Tamworth, at the same venue a week earlier, but they were brought back down to earth as they dropped out of the top four to fifth spot after being outplayed by the Bulldogs in the first half and being unable to recover in the second.

A dominant first-half performance saw the Bulldogs enter the break with a 22-0 lead.

Aidan Davis (12’), Thomas Randall (22’), Keegan Loughrey (24’) and Toby Randall (36’) all crossed for a try each in the opening 40 minutes, while DJ Smith slotted three conversions.

Ilaisa Kalokalodrau (48’), Robert Doolan (60’) and Nick Millar (66’) all went over for Boggabri in the second half and Ash White converted Millar’s try to make the score 22-14.

It became 24-14 in the 76th minute when Smith kicked a penalty goal from right in front, and he went over for the match-sealing try in the 80th minute and kicked the conversion to make the final score 30-14.

Boggabri Kangaroos’ coach Shane Rampling was disappointed with the way his side played during the first 40 minutes.

“Our first half was embarrassing,” he told Group 4 Media.

“They (Gunnedah) ran harder and tackled harder. They were switched on and out-enthused us.

“We had a couple of players drop out before the game but that was no excuse. Gunnedah just wanted it more.

“If we didn’t concede that try just before half-time, we might have been a chance but we still had to play some footy.

“We did that and got back to 22-14 with 15 to go but did some silly things, dropped the ball and gave away some silly penalties.

“We didn’t get in the grind and an arm wrestle. We’ve got to regroup now for Narrabri next week.”

The Narrabri Blues travelled over to Werris Creek on Sunday and were beaten 46-6 at David Taylor Oval as the Magpies climbed from fifth into third and left Narrabri stranded in last place.

The hosts raced out to a 16-0 lead by the 30-minute mark but Narrabri hit back in the 34th when Aiden Butcher scored his third try in two games and Chris Clark converted it to make the score 16-6.

However, Werris Creek struck just before half-time to go into the break ahead 20-6 and they piled on 26 more points in the second stanza to win by 40.

Tyren Cloake and Mitch Doring both bagged doubles for the hosts and Nate Follington, Tyler Swift, Riley Leonard, Kaidyn Saunders and Ronin Hadden all scored a try each.

Doring added 10 extra points off the boot via five conversions.

The Wee Waa Panthers were at home on Sunday when they welcomed the Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters to Cook Oval.

The away side won the match 48-0 after they went into half-time ahead 30-0.

The Roosters finished the contest having scored 10 tries, but they were only able to convert four of them.

Anders Glew ended the game with a hat-trick, McKye Tucknott-Davis scored twice and Liam Hatch, Billy Nean, Jasper Thistle, Ben Williams and Logan Howard all went over once. Braydon Jerrard kicked three goals and Tucknott-Davis scored one.

That result saw the Roosters finish the weekend in second place with 17 points, while Wee Waa remained in seventh place with five points.

The other round 11 game was played on Saturday at Boughton Oval where the Moree Boars remained undefeated with a dominant 40-10 home victory against the North Tamworth Bears.

The score was 10-all at half-time in that match before the Boars produced a sensational second-half effort that included six converted tries to pile on 30 unanswered points.

That victory was their 10th of the season from as many matches and saw them finish the weekend on 22 points, five clear of second-placed Kootingal-Moonbi.

The Bears’ loss saw them drop from third to fourth as they remained on 15 points.

Dungowan Cowboys had the bye in round 11.

This weekend’s games will see the Narrabri Blues welcome the Boggabri Kangaroos to Collins Park, Dungowan meet North Tamworth Bears at the Dungowan Recreation Reserve, Wee Waa tackle Werris Creek on home soil at Cook Oval, and Moree travel to challenge Gunnedah.

The other round 11 results at David Taylor Oval saw Werris Creek beat the Blues 54-12 in reserve grade and 32-4 in ladies league tag. Narrabri forfeited the under-18s clash.

At Jubilee Oval, Gunnedah beat the Boggabri Kangaroos 34-16 in reserve grade and 18-0 in ladies league tag.

At Cook Oval, Wee Waa went down 50-4 against Kootingal-Moonbi in the ladies league tag match and 40-12 in under-18s.