Moree Boars remain unbeaten with 30-14 mauling over Bears
NORTH Tamworth Bears dropped out of the WEG Toohey’s Group 4 top four when they stumbled to a 30-14 first grade loss to unbeaten Moree Boars at Jack Woolaston Oval on Saturday, reports Group 4 Media’s Geoff Newling.
It was the third successive loss for the reigning premiers after succumbing to Werris Creek (22-14) and Dungowan (32-20) in previous rounds.
For the second successive week they also gave up a half-time lead, surrendering a 10-8 advantage in their latest loss.
It was a similar second-half effort with the Bears wilting against an adversary that scored three tries in 10 minutes.
The “bearslide” started in the 18th minute of the second half when dangerous Moree centre William Baker scored after a determined run angling back into the Bears’ defence.
Three minutes later and outstanding Boar lock, Brenton Cochrane, darted from dummy-half to send little fullback Adrian Smith racing away under the posts and a 20-10 lead.
Just three minutes later and the Boars kept the ball alive for halfback Jamie Sampson to throw a great dummy and a long pass to Baker to cross for his second try.
It gave the Boars a 24-10 lead as the Bears tried to fight back.
They did that with nine minutes left on the clock and after a fabulous Jack Patterson flick pass, maybe the best of the season, kept the ball alive for Scott Blanch to finally weave a way to the line in a 10m run.
At 24-14 there was still hope for the home side but that was snuffed out when little Moree fullback Adrian Smith made taking a huge spiralling torpedo bomb from Stephan Graham look easy on his 20m line and then proceeded to stun the large crowd by running 80m to score a brilliant try.
It was the icing on the rugby league cake for the visitors who retained their unbeaten record with a great second half but left Bears coach Paul Boyce a “frustrated” man.
“We had a great first half,” the North Tamworth coach told Group 4 Media.
“We spoke about needing to do it all again in the second half. But that 10-minute period killed us. We clocked off.”
He was also frustrated with some decisions and a number of penalties against Moree for high tackles but didn’t want to “bag the referee”.
He asked them to consider using the sin-bin for repeated infringements against sides.
The Bears were also disappointed by the lack of action against a Boars player after Bear captain Scott Blanch was on the end of a high tackle and what looked like a head slam.
“Our effort was there,” Boyce said of his Bears.
“We’ve just got to finish off.”
Winger Damian Scott was one of the best for the home side. Prop Ben Jarvis was strong and rewarded with a bullocking try but too many simple errors cost the Bears dearly against a side that lit up Jack Woolaston Oval in the second half.
Dalton Desmond-Walker also produced a whole hearted 80-minute effort.
G4 FIRST GRADE TABLE: Moree 14 (344-123), *Werris Creek 10 (195-120), Kootingal 8 (224-188), Dungowan 8 (233-223), North Tamworth 6 (176-148), Boggabri 6 (192-254), Gunnedah 2 (124-284), *Narrabri 0 (112-346). * Playing today.
First Grade: MOREE 30 (Adrian Smith 2, William Baker 2, Cameron Rodgers, Jake Tighe tries, Adrian Smith 3gls) d NORTH TAMWORTH 14 (Ben Jarvis, Jone Marau, Scott Blanch tries, Mitch Sheridan gl). WEG TOOHEYS GROUP 4 B&F: 3 Adrian Smith (M), 2 Damian Scott (NT), 1 Brenton Cochrane (M).
Second Grade: MOREE 50 (Lahtrel Newman 4, Dylan Reading, David Annis-Brown, Justin Smith, Wyatt Roberts, Mark Pegus tries, Roberts 7gls) d NORTH TAMWORTH 20 (Luke Purcell 2, Hayden Cox, Jacob King tries, Stephan Graham 2gls). WEG TOOHEYS G4 B&F: 3 Mark Pegus (M), 2 Jason Saunders (M), 1 Stephan Graham (NT).
Ladies League Tag: NORTH TAMWORTH 38 (Tegan Resch 3, Tayla King 2, Jessi Le Brocq, Dhalara Knox tries, Amy Barraclough 5gls) d MOREE 0. WEG TOOHEYS G4 B&F: 3 Tegan Resch (NT), 2 Amy Barraclough (NT), 1 Dorothy Craigie (M).
