The Gunnedah Red Devils have bowed out of the 2025 Central North Rugby Union season.
It follows a 30-21 defeat to Quirindi Lions in last Saturday’s preliminary final at Gunnedah’s Rugby Park.
Red Devils’ captain Tim McDermott said the visiting Lions brought an intensity which the home side struggled to match.
“We weren’t at the mark for most of the game,” McDermott said after the full-time whistle.
“We struggled to get into the game at the start.
“They really worked over our set piece and had this intensity we couldn’t match
“It’s really disappointing to go down in effort.”
The Lions systematically dismantled the Red Devils’ premiership hopes and 2025 season campaign with a solid performance from start to finish.
The captain said Quirindi outfit was hungrier for the win and is well-placed for this weekend’s decider against the Moree Bulls at home.
“Credit to Quirindi – they wanted it for the full 80 minutes more than we did,” McDermott said.
“They came off their line, both sides of the ball, and deserved to be in the grand final.
“They will do really well up in Moree.”
Gunnedah and Quirindi both struggled for ascendancy early in the match with repeated turnovers inside the game’s opening 10 minutes.
Quirindi quickly zeroed in on Gunnedah’s heavy focus on the pick-and-drive and was able to turn over possession on several occasions.
The Quirindi counter attack looked threatening as the Red Devils scrambled to maintain its defence.
With eight minutes remaining in the first half, the Lions eventually broke through the line to score the first try of the match.
Quirindi almost made it a running-double minutes later, when halfback Dan Calavassy snatched an intercept and looked certain to score.
The Quirindi attacker was ruled offside but it mattered little as brother Pat Calavassy soon darted from mid-field to score a try on the stroke of half-time.
The conversion was successful and the visiting Lions led by 15 points at the break, helped by a weight of first-half possession.
Gunnedah’s first try of the match didn’t come until deep into the second half when Lachie McArthur powered over from close range to score.
The try offered Red Devils supporters some hope of a revival as the home side trailed 18-7 with 25 minutes remaining.
That hope was short-lived as Quirindi piled on more points late in the match and scored two tries in quick succession.
Gunnedah parried with two tries of its own – the first from a sideline break by Devils’ fullback James Perrett who gifted a pass to his winger to score – but it was too little, too late.
“I thought we came back really well at half time, started to string some phases together and camped down their end a bit,” McDermott said.
“But every time we gave Quirindi an inch, they put points on us.
“We were crucified for our little mistakes and couldn’t reel them in.”
Despite the disappointing loss, the Devils’ second-rower commended his side’s form leading into the final.
“Really proud of the boys and the year we’ve put together. It’s not what we set out to do at the start of the year but to get this far, host two finals at home and the minor premiership …. there’s lots to build on for next season,” he said.
“Still lots of work to do in our club and we’ll come back stronger next year but immensely proud of the boys and making it this far.”
Gunnedah captain Tim McDermott secures a line-out against Quirindi last weekend. Photos: Gunnedah Times.
