NARRABRI had viewed Saturday’s clash with Pirates as their biggest test and so it was, with the defending champions having to show all their resolve to get the points.
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They got there in the end in dramatic fashion, with fullback Michael Cain kicking a penalty after the bell to pluck the points from Pirates 29-28.
The signs of the battle to follow were there early, with the Blue Boars having most of the play and territory in the opening 15 minutes but unable to make anything of it.
That was partly Pirates’ defence and partly their own making, spilling the ball a couple of times after a few phases, or conceding penalties.
They then found themselves down 7-nil but were quick to respond, with Jydon Hill finishing off a brilliant break from five-eighth Jake Packer.
After a good lineout drive, Packer took the ball to the line and just ghosted through.
Pirates centre Andrew Mepham got to him but they were outnumbered and a quick shift to the right put Hill away.
The home side pulled away to lead 21-7 with just over five to go in the first half but, just before the hooter, after a good break from Mitch Kelly and a couple of penalties close to the line, Henry Curtin burrowed his way over.
The second half was almost a replica of the first, with the Blue Boars asserting the pressure but Pirates holding them out.
Their best chance came nine minutes in when, returning a clearing kick, Cain beat four or five defenders.
From that, they created an overlap but the pass went behind winger Tim Vaughan, and instead Pirates pushed back out to a two-try advantage with 16 to go.
As the clock ticked down inside 10 minutes, the Blue Boars’ unbeaten run looked in jeopardy but they kept grinding away and, as Pirates’ infringing resulted in them being reduced to 14, they took advantage with Jack Sharp and then Kelly scoring.
Cain added the extras to both to draw them level and then, after a surging run drew Pirates into error, completed the fightback.
For coach Nick Lennon the best thing about the win was they didn’t play to their potential but still got the result.
“Out of the 80 minutes we might have played 50 minutes,” Lennon said.
“Too much of the game we let them run the ball.”
He was particularly critical of their defence in the first half. It’s an area he’s put a lot of emphasis on and wasn’t up to their usual standard.
“We were a little bit disorganised in our ruck defence, which we are usually better at, and our tackle technique,” he said.
They were going too high and, as a result, Pirates were able to stand in the tackle and get offloads away.
“And our urgency was a bit soft and standoffish,” he said.
“We got these things right but we gave them too much advantage by not getting them right.”
