Central North Rugby Round 1: Narrabri pull away late to beat Quirindi 34-18

The Lions were putting it right to them and trailed by only two points at the break.

The Blue Boars went on to win 34-18 in the end, but as Harley bluntly put it the scoreline flattered them.

It wasn't until late in the game that they were really able to shake off the Lions.

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"We only got the game won in the last 10. Up until then we were pushed to the absolute brink," he said.

"There were some anxious moments on the bench."

Harley said he had expected a bit of an ambush but admittedly "probably wasn't expecting as big an ambush".

"Quirindi will win more games than they lose this year," he said.

The disappointment about what was a rusty and mistake-riddled performance after a promising pre-season was clear as he reflected on the game, but he wasn't taking anything away from the Lions.

They put a lot of pressure on them.

One of the most disappointing things for Harley was the lack of urgency they showed compared to their trial game against St Alberts.

On the flip side of that, he thought they showed some good composure at key times. He noted one moment in the second half when, after they had scored against the run of play to get their noses in front, the Lions kicked deep and forced the Blue Boars to throw in from about five metres out from their line.

But they didn't panic and stayed composed.

Probably the most telling differences in the second half was they "went back to basics".

"In the second half [co-coach] Todd (Farrer) came on and tightened things up and simplified it and the forwards realised we can just roll forward here," he said.

"We seemed to be a bit more composed and roll through the middle."

Through that they were able to build momentum and put the Lions under pressure, and as they tired the points came.

In the other game Moree stampeded Barraba 64-5.

Up 22-5 at half-time the Bulls put the foot down in the second half, running in 42 unanswered points.

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