NARRABRI almost pulled off another escape on Saturday.
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The Blue Boars have had a penchant for second-half fightbacks.
But as was the case when they met Moree two weeks ago, they fell just short, with the Bulls getting home 31-27 to set up a home grand final.
The Blue Boars will now tackle Pirates on Saturday for a rematch with the Bulls but will be wondering what could have been.
The first 30 was again where they lost it, with the Bulls pulling out to a 21-3 lead.
“Moree probably won the game in that first 30,” Blue Boars coach Hunter Harley said.
They just made too many errors and gave too much possession to the Bulls.
“As soon as we get an even weight of possession we get the better of the phase play,” Harley said.
They started to get a bit more parity late in the first half and were able to turn that into points, with second rower Henry Curtin crashing over in the final minutes.
There was a sense of inevitability, with Tim O’Brien nearly burrowing his way over before they were ruled to be held up, and then Henri Knight almost spinning his way over before Curtin muscled his way over.
After snaffling the Bulls lineout to win the ball back from the second half kick-off, the Blue Boars were back in the game, with Curtin going over for his second to make it 21-15 with 37 minutes to go.
Harley always had faith they could get there.
“I was always confident we could finish over them,” he said.
“We are fitter and more mobile.”
And they had done it before.
That confidence grew when, after keeping it in tight for five or six phases, Todd Farrer found a bit of space beside the ruck to close the gap to just a point with just over 11 minutes to play.
It was a near thing and Harley felt a few calls didn’t help them.
“There were a few crucial calls that killed our momentum,” he said.
As well as a few turnovers.
“Full credit to Ben Colley – some of his turnovers at crucial times made the difference,” he said.
Skipper Matt Schwager was, as usual, immense for the Blue Boars.
Curtin and number eight Sam Clements also had strong games, as did Matt McDonnell.