Narrabri booked a rematch with arch rivals and defending champions Moree for the second grade silverware with a 35-25 preliminary final win over Inverell at Walcha on Saturday.
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The Blue Boars were made to work hard for the win with the score locked at 18-all mid-way through the second half.
Fullback Michael Cain broke the deadlock, the Blue Boars spreading the ball from one side of the field to the other and sucking in the Highlanders defence to create an overlap.
A couple of minutes later Jake Packer ghosted through and popped the ball to Luke Tuckey to push them out to a 30-18 lead. With two upsets already during the finals, the Highlanders got themselves back in it with a brilliant try.
From a clearing kick that didn’t find touch, winger Dylan Lewis spun the ball to fullback Brady Mather who sliced through before sending outside centre Josh Phillips away. As he was pushed towards the sideline Phillips flung the ball back inside to Mather in support.
The teenager’s second try it made it, with the conversion, 30-25 with about 10 minutes remaining.
The Highlanders had the chance to trim the Blue Boars lead further not long after, but opting to go for the line from the penalty, they kicked the ball dead.
Admittedly “really flat” against the Bulls in the major semi-final, Blue Boars coach Tom Groth said his side were a different side on Saturday.
“We blew the cobwebs out last week,” Groth said.
A few changes also helped, such as moving Curtin, who finished with a double, back into the forwards. He really helped stiffen the defence, which was a strong feature of the Blue Boars performance.
“We defended our line really well,” Groth said.
Particularly late their defence was challenged with the Highlanders “coming home with a wet sail”.
“We knew we had to “d” up. It was all about defence there and not giving away penalties,” he said.
They had come out firing scoring a couple of early tries.
“And then just a few little unforced mistakes probably got them back into the game,” Groth said.
Only the second time they had played the Highlanders after the Inverell side forfeited their second round clash, Groth said when the Highlanders had the ball in hand they looked good.
He thought for his side breakaway Connor Parkes had a strong game. Half-back Nathan Nott also played well.
Earlier Moree held on for a 40-34 win over Tamworth in the U19s, the Magpies outscoring the Bulls in the second half. The Magpies will still have a grand final presence after the U17s edged out Pirates 17-10.
