Last years grand finalists made a blistering start piling on three tries inside the first 20 minutes but the Magpies fought their way back into the game and closed  within nine with just under half an hour to play.

But a swift reply from the Blue Boars and a brilliant finish from Luke Tuckey with around 10 minutes remaining sealed a 31-10 win.

The signs looked ominous for the Magpies when they knocked on the kick-off after a couple of phases and, from the scrum Blue Boars number eight Mitch Wheaton made a strong run off the back to get the Blue Boars on the front foot and a couple of pick and drives later Daniel Kahl crashed over.

A couple of minutes later the Blue Boars were in again, hooker Will McInnes this time on the end of some strong work from the forwards.

Jack Maunder made it a trifecta for the forwards mid-way through the half, picking and driving to the space right of the ruck. Michael Cain was unsuccessful with the conversion, but at 19-nil up the Blue Boars looked in total control.

It was a bit of a dour struggle after that though with neither side really able to build any pressure.

The Magpies started to find a bit more parity late in the half, and a penalty on the bell provided a glimmer of hope going into the break.

They came out the better side in the second half and were rewarded for their efforts with half-back Billy Urquhart crossing, but a couple of missed one on one tackles allowed the Blue Boars to hit back a couple of minutes later.

The Magpies continued to press hard and the Blue Boars cruel themselves with errors and penalties.

Eventually they got a play to stick. From a scrum about half-way they transferred the ball to the left, where they found Tuckey unmarked. He stepped inside the first cover defender and then brushed off another two.