Bonus point but no win for Blue Boars in Quirindi

Narrabri Rugby Club’s first XV made the trip to Quirindi to challenge the Lions on Saturday and they came up short as the hosts prevailed 41-26 in the penultimate round of the Central North Rugby Union campaign.

Quirindi took the lead in the seventh minute of the round 17 game and they never trailed for the remainder of the match as they scored their fourth win of the year to keep their finals hopes alive.

It was Tom Clare who put his side in front with an early penalty goal, and the Lions winger then made it 10-0 in the 18th minute when he scored and converted the first try of the contest. Ed Nankivell then scored Quirindi’s second try of the day six minutes later and Clare kicked them out to a 17-0 lead, but Narrabri reduced the deficit to 10 in the 34th minute when Charlie Radford went in for their first try and Todd Nichols added the extras with a successful conversion.

Quirindi entered the half-time break leading 17-7, which became 27-7 just 10 minutes into the second half after Daniel Calvassy and Clare scored a try each in quick succession.

Radford crossed for his second try of the day in the 54th minute to kick-start what the Blue Boars were hoping would be a game-winning comeback, and Todd Nichols kicked the goal to make the score 27-14.

Nichols was taken from the field soon after with what is expected to be a dislocated shoulder, but Narrabri powered on as Jack Maunder scored a try in the 62nd minute and Joe Baker nailed the conversion to make it a one-possession game at 27-21.

Nicholas Hooley went over for the Lions’ fifth try in the 69th minute and Clare kicked them out to a 34-21 lead before the Blue Boars’ captain Will McDonnell scored in the 74th minute off the back of a brilliant chip, chase and regather to earn his side a bonus point for the ladder and to make the score 34-26.

The visitors were out on their feet late in the game and the Lions were able to capitalise with three minutes remaining when Jye Patterson scored the match-sealing try and Clare kicked his fourth conversion of the game to make the final score 41-26.

Narrabri’s coach Craig Gleeson told The Courier that his men had trained impressively last week but were unable to take any momentum from that into Saturday’s game.

“There were some good patches there from us, but our start was poor and we were pretty ill-disciplined,” Gleeson said.

“We trained really well leading up to the game. Tuesday last week was probably the best training run we’ve had this season and Thursday was not too far behind it. I thought we were carrying a little bit of momentum from that, but we just didn’t start the game right.

“We let them get on the front foot way too easily in the first 20 minutes and they got a fair bit of ascendency from that.

“They already had their tail up with it being their old boys’ day. They were ready for it and I think they were a lot more prepared for it than we were.

“I gave the boys a bit of a serve at half-time about our efforts and energy on the field. I think they showed that when they went back out there, but their execution was poor. That invited Quirindi back down our end and they were hard to stop.

“We didn’t get off our line well. We made some good tackles but we didn’t put any pressure on in defence. We were waiting for them to come to us and not getting up and meeting them.

“They did play well, but I think we let them play well.

“When we had the ball, I thought we carried it well. We were effective when we had the ball and when we were running it, but we just didn’t have it for long enough periods.”

The result left the Blue Boars winless since July 6 following byes in rounds 14 and 15 and a 24-22 round 16 loss at home against Inverell. They are still ranked second but are now locked on 64 points with third-placed Tamworth Pirates, who sat out with a bye in round 17.

The Blue Boars and Pirates will meet at Dangar Park this Saturday in round 18, and the winner of that game will secure second place and travel to take on the Moree Bulls in the major semi-final the following weekend.

Moree are first with 73 points after they sat out with the round 17 bye and the Inverell Highlanders round out the top-four after beating the Gunnedah Red Devils 54-31in Inverell to move to 52 points.

Quirindi are also on 52 points as the race for fourth place goes down to the wire, and then Gunnedah (39) and Scone (34) are sixth and seventh.

The Blue Boars also went down in second grade on Saturday as Quirindi prevailed 30-20 in that game. Narrabri are now locked in to finish fourth and Moree are guaranteed the minor premiership.

Quirindi are two points ahead of the Pirates in the race for second place.

The Narrabri Blue Boars had a bye in the women’s tens competition and are now 12 points clear at the top. Gunnedah (61) and Pirates (61) are all square in second and third going into the final round.