WERRIS Creek's 54-point thumping of Bundarra has taken the Magpies to the top of the Group 4 Second Division Shield, sharing the top spot with Boggabri but ahead on for and against after trailing the Roos by 12 points (for and against) into the weekend.
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Boggabri had the bye so couldn't compete with the Magpies, although Creek have the next bye before the two top-ranked sides meet in round 13 in what could be a battle for the minor premiership.
It is a three-way battle however, former leaders Uralla bouncing back from a loss to the Roos to pummel Kootingal 50-12 to get back within one point of the pair, with Dungowan three points behind in fourth.
Kootingal's loss all but ends the premier's hopes of their title, the Roosters now three points behind the Cowboys with only three rounds remaining.
At Werris Creek, the Magpies put on a show for the good crowd which turned out to watch the club's last home game of the regular season, hitting their straps after a sluggish start.
Coach Lindsay Bowne said it took the team a while to get into the match but when they did it was all over for the Bears as the Magpies pulled away to a 66-12 win.
"Once we started going we were good," Bowne said. "We were playing some good Werris Creek football."
Evergreen playmaker Stuie Porter took the players' player award for a classy performance in the halves alongside fellow veteran and skipper Brendan Hunt, who has been consistently one of their best all year.
Prop Thomas Brown is another consistent performer, and Saturday was no different, the barnstorming front rower laying the platform for Hunt and Porter to get plenty of good ball.
Once we started going we were good. We were playing some good Werris Creek football.
- Lindsay Bowne
"Jesse Porter and Marty Shaw were also stand-outs but the old blokes in the halves are going really well," Bowne said. "Now all roads lead to Boggy."
The club now faces another three-week stint on the sideline with a full-round bye next week followed by the regular bye before they meet the Roos.
"It is a bit disappointing to have no home games in August at all," Bowne said. "We need to host a final to get another match at home this season.”
“I said at the start of the year Boggabri would be good and now we just have to get up for that game."