North Tamworth made it seven straight wins with an entertaining 36-30 defeat of Gunnedah at Kitchener Park on Saturday, and in the process gained a psychological advantage over one of the two contenders to their long-held throne.
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In a match in which the momentum constantly swung, much like what occurred in the Bulldogs’ upset win over Narrabri earlier in the season, it was the reigning three-time premiers who kept their composure the best to stay atop the ladder, after going into the clash equal on points with the Bulldogs with six wins apiece.
Gunnedah reduced the margin to 32-30 in the 65th minute when winger Lachlan King dived over at near full stretch in the corner, after dangerous No.1 Dylan Lake injected himself into the backline about 10 metres from the tryline and offloaded to King. Five-eighth Matt Brady added the extras.
Norths responded when winger Heath Falkenmire crossed from close range in the corner.
But in keeping with the match’s narrative, the Bulldogs had a final assault in them.
Moments after Gunnedah coach Sean Hayne screamed at his son, Bulldogs skipper Callum, to forget about the crude treatment a trainer was applying to a gushing head gash on the sideline and get back on the field, Callum sliced through the Bears’ defence and raced about 40m down the left flank. However, the stand-in centre’s pass inside to a flying Lake appeared to go slightly behind the fullback and that was that.
Unlike the Narrabri match, Gunnedah was not allowed to gain the ascendancy midway through the second half, although the Bulldogs are a better side than the one that lost 34-14 to Norths at Bears Park last month.
Norths established an early 10-0 lead when skipper and five-eighth Scott Blanch hit Falkenmire’s chest with the lovely long, floating pass and the winger crossed in the corner, before Bears hooker Brock Wadwell did what he does best – go from dummy half close to the tryline and scamper over. He scored a similar try in the second half.
Bizarrely, the Bulldogs looked half asleep. If they continued like that, they were in for an afternoon of pain.
Coach Hayne told his charges to lift their heads, and they complied. Two tries to winger Nic Altmann and tries to King and second-rower Danny Read countered Norths’ early onslaught and two more first half four-pointers to Blanch and replacement Brad Marshall.
North Tamworth 36 (H Falkenmire 2, B Wadwell 2, D Boland, S Blanch, B Marshall tries; R Clegg 4 goals) d Gunnedah 30 (L King 2, N Altmann 2, M Hayne, D Read tries; M Brady 3 goals)