The Gunnedah Red Devils moved one step closer to securing the Central North Rugby Union (CNRU) minor premiership, after a 47-22 win against the Inverell Highlanders at Inverell Rugby Park last Saturday.
It was Gunnedah’s seventh successive victory after starting the season with a defeat, while last Saturday’s seven-tries-to-three win enabled the Red Devils to move eight points clear of the second-placed Quirindi.
The result was somewhat misleading, considering the hosts led 17-7 in the shadows of half-time before the visitors went on a second-half scoring spree.
It was the second time this year that the lowly-placed Highlanders gave the Red Devils a fright, with Inverell having also led 17-7 when the teams met on Gunnedah soil back on May 24.
With the trip to Inverell being the longest for the Red Devils in the competition, Gunnedah forward Tim McDermott said it was “a notoriously difficult game” while last Saturday’s conditions were tough.
On a wet field, the visitors ran into the wind in the first half and found themselves behind 7-0 on the scoreboard when Sakaraia Koroi registered a converted try.
Gunnedah equalised with a converted try to Kolinio Nakarawa, only for Inverell to forge ahead with a penalty goal to Marcos Savarino and another converted try to Koroi.
In a scene resembling the previous meeting between the two teams, the Red Devils scored a converted try on the stroke of half-time to narrow the scoreline to 17-14.
Gunnedah went on to win 33-24 on May 24 after trailing 12-0, 17-7 and 24-14 at various stages, with Inverell having struck first in the second half.
Last Saturday was much different, as the Red Devils stamped their authority with four unanswered tries before the Highlanders belatedly added to their score.
About six minutes into the second half, a try to Adrian Burl put Gunnedah in front for the first time before his conversion made the score 21-17.
A try each to Billy Tregoning, McDermott, and Cameron Mitchell helped the Red Devils to a 40-17 lead, before Koroi notched his third try of the day to briefly halt Gunnedah’s momentum.
The Red Devils had the last word as James Perrett touched down in the final few minutes, before Burl landed his sixth conversion from seven attempts.
Ben Hamparsum, Asivorosi Turagalevu and Sam Skipper were rated the best of Gunnedah’s players.
In reserve grade, the Red Devils were competitive although they remained winless this year as the Highlanders scored four tries to two in a 26-12 triumph.
Josh Carter, James McGowan, Roland Stinson and Ray Spradbrow were rated as Gunnedah’s best players on the day.
The Gunnedah teams have a bye this weekend, followed by two more rounds in the lead-up to the finals.
