Red Devils upstage reigning premiers

A late try to Gabriel Mahuinga helped the Gunnedah Red Devils grab a memorable 24-17 victory against the Narrabri Blue Boars in last Saturday’s Central North rugby union fixture at Dangar Park.

The result made the rest of the competition take notice as the Red Devils not only recorded their first win of the season, but overcame a 10-point deficit to knock off last year’s premiers.

The complexion of the game was a contrast to the season-opening round the previous Saturday, when Gunnedah lost 45-28 to Moree at Moree while Narrabri downed home side Quirindi 34-15.

Having conceded the first two tries before registering a small half-time lead and then faltering afterwards at Moree, the Red Devils underwent a different scoring pattern on Narrabri soil.

Gunnedah fullback James Perrett scored the opening try in the 15th minute, with Adrian Burl’s conversion putting the visitors ahead 7-0.

The Blue Boars replied with three unanswered tries, although the margin was limited to 10 points due to two stray conversion attempts.

Nick Tomlinson scored Narrabri’s first try following a powerful break from Joe Baker, who scored the next try as he made another damaging run.

A few strong carries from Narrabri’s forwards paved the way for the next try, scored by Joe Maunder and converted by Toby Knight.

Gunnedah badly needed to score next, and Perrett did just that in the 36th minute to reduce the margin to five points.

Blue Boars coach Craig Gleeson later said his team was flat in the second half and didn’t have a lot of energy.

Gunnedah had a player yellow-carded in the second half but Narrabri failed to strike, after the Blue Boars previously had a player yellow-carded.

Narrabri’s defence finally cracked in the 64th minute when a try to Tim McDermott levelled the score at 17-all, although a chance to regain the lead was squandered when the conversion attempt was waved away.

A result was hard to predict as the final few minutes approached, and then the clutch moment occurred in the 78th minute as Mahuinga touched down.

Burl converted, before the Red Devils held onto their lead in the dying seconds.

Narrabri won the reserve grade and U18 fixtures, although Gunnedah’s reserve graders improved considerably after conceding 96 points in their season-opening fixture.

Gunnedah’s reserve graders line up at home against Barraba this Saturday, while the first graders have their next fixture on May 24.