Central North Rugby Round 7: Morgan Pennefather scores a hat-trick as Pirates beat Quirindi 41-22

It looked like it might be a long day for the home side when Pirates jumped out to a 19-nil lead after 18 minutes.

But the Lions rallied and when exciting young fullback Brodie Nankivell cut back inside and beat three Pirates defenders late in the first half they were well and truly back in it at 19-12.

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Pirates asserted their scrum dominance early in the second half, scoring from a pushover, to kick away again, Pennefather's second putting them up 29-12 with 30 minutes to play.

The Lions though refused to go away and scored a couple of quick tries before Pennefather sealed the 41-22 win with his third, and best, try of the game.

"The first two tries were just pretty simple but the third try just loved it," the winger said.

It capped off of a strong game for the 22-year old in what was his second first grade start this season after getting the call-up against Barraba last week.

His Pirates journey started in 2014 with the under-16s, after being inspired watching them play as a young kid.

"When I was in primary school my uncles used to take me down to watch first grade after I'd played league so that's what got me into it," he recalled, adding jokingly he "would have been in trouble if I didn't join."

He hasn't looked back.

"I just love it," he said.

As he does his work as a landscape gardener at Goonoo Goonoo Station.

"I've been there be for about a year-and-a-half," he said.

"I love the work out there."

Prop Bart Leach also bagged a double on Saturday in what was Pirates co-coach Mick Squires said a tough game.

He thought they "played some good footy" but just weren't - for whatever reason - able to "play field position for long enough at times"

"When we played it, it worked out well," Squires said.

"And when they played it it worked out well. They're a gritty team; plenty of good offloads and plenty of good footballers."

He thought Andrew Moodie's kicking game was a big difference, the five-eighth constantly turning the Lions around and keeping them pinned in their half.

Their set piece dominance was also a telling factor.

"I thought all day we were dominant at the set piece," Squires said.

"I think that was enough for our boys to keep our momentum going, that we were dominating that set piece.

"Our scrum was really good and our lineout was good. Two things, which in our losses have let us down."

They have the bye next week and will welcome it with a few injury concerns coming out of the game.

Nick McCrohan limped off at half-time with an ankle injury of some sort while Brendan Rixon injured his knee late in the game.

Lions coach Tom Koerstz was happy with how they put it up to Pirates but lamented their start.

"You can't give a good side like that a 19 point start," he said.

"Obviously a lot of positives the way we fought back but the first 10 minutes of both halves is something that we've definitely got to work on."

Elsewhere Walcha put 83 on Barraba as they made it five-in-a-row, Gunnedah thumped Scone 45-14 and Narrabri beat Moree 43-5.

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