IT was third time unlucky for Moree on Saturday as they failed to prise the Heath Shield from Narrabri’s grasp.
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The Bulls headed into the decider having beaten the Blue Boars twice in the last three weeks but came up short in the one that mattered, going down to their arch rivals 30-20.
The defending premiers were, as Bulls skipper Ben Colley said in his speech after the game, too good for them, and they couldn’t stay with them.
After making blistering starts the last two games the Bulls found themselves on the back foot early on.
“We were probably deers in the headlights early,” co-coach Simon Hall said.
“It took us a little while to work into the game.”
“Once we got our hands on the ball at the back end of the first half we were building enough pressure to get some momentum.”
They arguably carried the momentum into the break after clawing their way back on Ben Carrigan’s boot from 10-nil down after 10 minutes to within one.
“At half-time 10-9 there was nothing to worry about,” Hall said.
They were well in it and were creating opportunities, they just couldn’t finish them.
Centre Jordan Cosh uncharacteristically twice spilled the ball when the Bulls looked to be building something.
The first he was through and about 10m out.
But he wasn’t the only culprit. Other chances were scuttled by pushing the pass or good scrambling defence from the Blue Boars.
Half-time was probably the worst thing for them.
They just couldn’t maintain that momentum in the second half, the lapses that have almost cost them the last two games hurting them.
As Hall said, at times they look like the best team in the competition but then they just fall back on their heels.
The Blue Boars did make it hard for them.
“Narrabri were able to slow the ball down at the breakdown,” Hall said.
“They did that very effectively and we couldn’t get any quick ball.”
That stifled their ability to get their big ball runners charging at an unset defensive line.
That’s where they’ve been so damaging.
Still, Hall thought they were in it until about 10 minutes to go when Michael Cain kicked them eight clear.
One of the positives was the scrum.
It has been a strong point all season for them apart from that final round game against the Blue Boars.
Hall thought Dean Cooke had a good game at half-back.
Fullback Heath Riggs was also a constant threat and cleaned up well at the back, and Adam O’Neile took his opportunities. Dan Taunton also made some good runs and had a good game up front.
