Blues downed in preliminary final

The Narrabri Rugby League Football Club’s reserve grade side travelled to Werris Creek on Saturday where it took on Kootingal in the Group Four Rugby League reserve grade preliminary final.

The Blues went down 28-16 on the day as their promising season came to an end, with the Roosters advancing to this Saturday’s grand final at North Tamworth where they will take on minor premiers Manilla.

The Narrabri men finished the regular season in second place on the ladder and advanced to the qualifying final where they met Manilla.

Narrabri was beaten 40-24 in that match which saw them move on to Saturday’s preliminary final against Kootingal.

The Narrabri men fought hard for the entire 70 minutes in that game.

They went behind 6-0 early in the contest and at half-time trailed 18-6.

Robert Condran scored Narrabri’s only try in the first half which was converted by Robert Doolan.

In the second stanza Kootingal kicked a penalty goal to moved to 20 points but Narrabri’s Shaun Fogarty crossed for his team’s second try to reduce the deficit to 10 points.

That became 20-16 when David Toomey went over for the Blues’ third try which was converted by Doolan.

That is the way the scoreboard read with just 10 minutes left to play as the Blues searched for a match-winning try.

However the Roosters scored a late converted try and a penalty goal to add eight extra points and secure a 28-16 victory.

In the first grade competition the preliminary final host club Werris Creek was unable to join North Tamworth in the 2019 grand final.

The Magpies also took on Kootingal and it was the Roosters that came away with the win, downing Werris Creek 30-14.

Kootingal led 12-0 at half-time in that match before outscoring the home side 18-14 in the second stanza.

In the under-18 competition Dungowan booked a grand final showdown with North Tamworth when in smashed Kootingal 46-10 in the sides’ preliminary final showdown at Werris Creek.

The first match of the day also saw a Dungwowan team progress to grand final day.

The Cowgirls took on Gunnedah and celebrated an 18-0 win to also set up a grand final match against the North Tamworth Bears.

The Bears, which will host Saturday’s grand final day, will be represented by three teams across the four Group Four Rugby League deciders.