Central North Rugby Round 13: Moree hold on to hand Pirates fifth loss of the season

After taking a three-point lead with around six minutes remaining, Bulls president David Watts said they spent pretty much that whole time defending.

"That last six minutes, Pirates just attacked and hammered us on the line," he said.

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But they kept on repelling the premiers' advances to hold on for a 29-26 and move within four points of the four.

Watts heralded it the best defensive effort he's seen from the Bulls this season, the home side showing their defensive steel throughout the game.

"The first 20 minutes Pirates continually attacked our line," he said.

But they couldn't crack the Bulls defence until repeated scrum infringements saw them awarded a penalty try.

"It (defence) is something we've been concentrating on at training," Watts said.

"It came back to a lot of trust in each other."

Being a virtually new side this season that has taken time to build.

Sevanaia Nadruku was a notable standout at No.8, Pirates co-coach Mick Squires remarking that he tore them open in the middle a couple of times to set up tries.

Watts thought Mitch Adams at five-eighth was also really good for them but said it was "a top effort" across the board.

Pirates' second narrow loss in three games, Squires said they had their chances to win it but just "couldn't get it done".

In shades of Scone two weeks ago, he thought they had got there at one stage but were ruled to be held up.

But it wasn't all doom and gloom. Despite missing several key players they still "played some good footy" and with the bonus points for finishing within seven points and scoring four tries, and Inverell's loss to Scone, actually jumped to third.

Squires joked that he was shaking his head about that driving home - that they went to Moree fourth, lost and came home in third.

The minor premiership is now, he conceded, probably out the equation, but second is still a realistic goal.

"Our goal now is just to win the rest of our games," Squires said.

"We win the rest we finish second. We lose one we probably finish third."

They might though have to do it without one of their best with No.8 Nick McCrohan injuring his knee early in the second half. In the last play of the game hooker Tim Collins also suffered a rib injury.

Despite leading for the majority of the game, Squires said he never really felt comfortable.

"Whileever we were dominating the scrum and possession we always looked like we were going to win," he said.

"Unfortunately with Moree you give them a bit of space, they've got a lot of speed."

Elsewhere Narrabri edged out Walcha 17-10, Scone upset Inverell 45-24 and Quirindi beat Barraba 40-5.

TABLE: Narrabri 53, Gunnedah 52, Pirates 45, Inverell 45, Walcha 43, Moree 41, Quirindi 34, Scone 27, Barraba 6.

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