NARRABRI Blues sit atop the Group 4 first grade ladder after securing a 46-24 win over Boggabri Kangaroos at Narrabri.
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The Blues started brilliantly scoring three tries in the first 15 minutes to lead 18-nil and then led 28-12 at half-time.
Boggabri fought back at different stages to trail 22-12 midway through the first half and 34-24 in the second half.
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However, Narrabri responded each time to finish with eight tries to Boggy's four.
"You can't give a side 18 points head start," Boggabri coach Shane Rampling rued after the game.
"All the damage was done. We were embarrassing. Kept killing ourselves, dropping the ball and giving away penalties. We can't blame the refs for not tackling."
Narrabri started impressively with prop Daniel Jobson crashing over beside the posts in the third minute.
From the kickoff he busted another tackle, ran 20m and found centre Dennis Gordon in support. Gordon then ran 60m to post a stunning try.
Five minutes later and a Hayden Bell grubber was gathered by fullback Damon Gleeson who then popped a pass for Bell to finish off what he'd started with another try and an 18-nil "headstart".
Narrabri captain-coach Jake Rumsby was delighted with the first 20 minutes but not so much the next 20.
"We can't seem to string a full 80 minutes together," Rumsby said.
"We've trained hard but we are still trying to find our feet. It's all very positive though."
The addition of Gordon has been a major gain for the Blues. He earned the three points in the Group 4 Best and Fairest Award and made many metres.
Blues props Jobson and Caleb Binge were outstanding, both men scored two tries apiece along with hard-working hooker Jacob Nichols.
For Boggy, Rampling was disappointed with his side's start and overall attitude.
"We were flat for some reason, flat in every sense," Rampling said.
"Our goal line D [defence] was poor. They scored five tries from our red zone."
He thought Robert Condron, who came off the bench, ran with gusto and showed his teammates how to play while centre Rob Doolan also excelled.
Second rower Eden Blewitt was another to work hard in attack and defence on a day where the Blues finished as the only unbeaten side in the first grade competition.
NARRABRI 46 (Daniel Jobson 2, Caleb Binge 2, Jacob Nichols 2, Dennis Gordon, Hayden Bell tries, Blake Hilderson 6gls) d BOGGABRI 24 (Josh Trindall, Robert Condron, Matt Gillham, Robert Doolan tries, Robert Doolan 4gls). G4 B&F: 3 Dennis Gordon (Narr), 2 Daniel Jobson (Narr), 1 Eden Blewitt (Bogg).
Second grade: NARRABRI 36 (Will Tufui, Toby Bentley, Toby Howarth, Rodney Lamb, Jayden Hayne, Cameron Yates, Kaleb Mowle tries, Mowle 2, Lamb 2 gls) d BOGGABRI 16 (Jarrod Adams, Darren Certoma, Josh Mathews, Jayde Campbell 2gls) G4 B&F: Toby Howarth (Narr), 2 Pat Hoppe (Bogg), 1 Rylee Sadler (Narr).
Ladies League Tag: NARRABRI 16 (Lidia McCauley, Mikaela Woodward, Annie Wenner tries, Telisha Hilderson gl) drew with BOGGABRI 16 (Cloe Davis 2, Maddison Griffin, Holli Rodstrom tries) G4 B&F: 3 Cloe Davis (Bogg), 2 Angie Knox (Narr), 1 1 Ashlyn Summers (Bogg).
Under 18: NARRABRI 22 drew with KOOTINGAL 22.
