Group 4 Rugby League | Round 5 Match Recaps | 1st Grade
Werris Creek Magpies vs North Tamworth Bears
Round 5 of the Whitehaven Coal Group 4 Rugby League Season kicked off in thrilling fashion,
with Werris Creek playing host to North Tamworth Bears.
The Magpies opened the scoring but were unable to sustain the lead beyond the 10th minute when 5/8 Tristan Dickson crossed for North Tamworth. The Bears then proceeded to take a two-try buffer by the 36th minute,
with tries from Senirusi Rauqe and a second try to Tristan Dickson.
The Bears went into the half-time break leading 18-6.
Werris Creek walked out of the sheds from half-time seeming to be a team transformed,
doing precisely what The Bears did in the first term by putting three unanswered tries on North Tamworth,
clawing their way back to take the lead.
North Tamworth struck back in the 72nd minute with a second try to Senirusi Rauqe,
The match was all but looking to end in a draw until a brilliant field goal from Werris Creek sealed the win for the Magpies.
Full-Time score 25-24.
Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters vs Dungowan Cowboys
Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters were looking to bounce back from their harrowing loss to Moree last week with a solid performance this week.
Their first-half efforts were proving incredibly promising, crossing the try line four times before the end of the first half.
However, for every try the Roosters scored, Dungowan had an answer.
In the second half, The Cowboys opened the scoring just one minute after the break.
Kootingal, however, managed to stay with the Cowboys. It was the try Conversion inaccuracies that cost them the match.
Dungowan defeated the hosts 38-32.
Gunnedah Bulldogs vs WeeWaa Panthers
Sunday at Kitchener Park saw Gunnedah Bulldogs host Wee Waa Panthers,
And it was a far from ideal day to be the visiting side as the Bulldogs came for the win.
From kick-off until the final siren Gunnedah were ruthless in their pursuit of victory over The Panthers,
with their first try of the match in the opening minute to their centre Max Turner
who finished with a hat-trick of tries by full-time.
This match proved very one-sided, with WeeWaa only able to cross the try line once compared to Gunnedah’s 14 tries.
The full-time score finished up with The Bulldogs running outright victors 66-6.
Moree Boars vs Boggabri Kangaroos
Boggabri travelled to Boughton Oval to face their 2024 Grand Final foes
for the first time since their premiership loss to the Boars.
Moree coming off an astounding 62-nil victory over Kootingal, and The Kangaroos
trying to find a place back in the winners’ circle after losing to Werris Creek in their respective previous round matches.
Moree had the lion’s share of the ball for most of the game, scoring eight tries throughout the match to Boggabri’s three.
Kaedyn Smith and Steven McIntosh both grabbed doubles in the match.
The Boars proved too good yet again when facing Boggabri.
The Full-Time score ended in a resounding Moree Victory, 46-12.
Moree Boars Halfback Michael Watton, lines up to tackle Boggabri’s Pita Rogosau | Photo by Sue Haire Photography
