A second-half revival from the Gunnedah Red Devils wasn’t enough in the Central North women’s rugby union clash at Gunnedah Rugby Park last Saturday, as the Moree Bulls prevailed 36-22.
The result was nowhere near as horrid as the 75-0 slaughter which the Gunnedah team suffered against the Tamworth Pirates a week earlier, but the performance and outcome were still disappointing.
The Red Devils showed glimpses of good form but they paid dearly for sub-standard periods of play, while also battling some injury problems.
The Pirates meanwhile crushed Inverell 80-5.
Moree tallied six tries to four, with Lauren Appleby the standout as she scored four times for the victors.
Another heavy loss looked possible as the Red Devils began poorly, with Alexandra Marchand and Appleby scoring an early try each to set up a 12-0 lead.
With the game played in 10-minute quarters, Gunnedah struck just 16 seconds before quarter-time as Lucy Coon charged over the tryline after the Red Devils worked hard.
The second quarter was forgettable for the home side as there was a lack of urgency and intensity in attack and defence.
Appleby peeled through a yawning gap for her second try, and then her third try also looked a bit too easy.
After trailing 26-5 at half-time, the Red Devils raided early in the second half and narrowly failed to score before the Bulls counterattacked.
A subsequent try to Merinda Duncan stretched the margin to 26 points, before runaway tries to Gunnedah duo Grace Farmer and Madisan Rogers breathed life back into the contest.
The hosts trailed by two converted tries with one quarter remaining, and then played some constructive football before Abby Nortrup scored from close range.
A stray conversion attempt kept Moree nine points in front with less than four minutes left, and then Appleby’s fourth try ended any chance of an unlikely come-from-behind win for Gunnedah.
The Red Devils went from third to fourth on the ladder while the fifth-placed Bulls found themselves two competition points behind.
Lauren Appleby scored four tries for Moree against Gunnedah.
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