Northern Daily Leader Saturday Scoreboard for April 17 2021

The second round threw up a couple of upsets, and a couple of big wins.

Quirindi continued on from the promise they showed in almost causing a first round boilover, defeating Moree 35-17. The Lions trailed at half-time and then 24-18 mid-way through the second half but rallied to score one of the biggest wins in the club's recent history.

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Inverell also celebrated their return to Inverell Rugby Park with a win, downing 2019 minor premiers Walcha 17-14.

Pirates continued on their merry way, Damian Reti icing a 64-5 win over Scone with a try in the final seconds of the game. Brendan Rixon and Conrad Starr both crossed twice as the premiers racked up their second 50+-points win in as many games.

Gunnedah meanwhile were too good for Barraba, turning a 21-nil half-time lead into a 45-3 win to make it two-from-two.

In second grade, Gunnedah and Pirates both won on forfeit, the Highlanders beat Walcha 28-5 and Moree were too strong for Quirindi 43-7, while in the women's 7s Gunnedah doubled up against Barraba winning 29-nil and 24-nil.

AFL North West

The Swans have begun the season in style after beating Inverell by 63 points at a wet and cold No 1 Oval.

The final score was 18.12-120 to 8.5-57.

Swans mentor Paul Kelly said the side was now playing with more confidence.

"The way we try and use the footy now, we have to be confident," he said.

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The good news for the Swans women is they still appear to be like a shiny new toy attracting players.

The bad news is that a large percentage of their 2021 squad had not played AFL before this year.

After making the grand final last year, in their second year of existence, the Swans now had to "develop" a style, assistant coach Brendan George said.

Speaking after the Saints beat the Swans by 28 points (7.7-49 to 3.3-21) in a season-opener at a wet No 1 Oval on Saturday afternoon, George said more than half his side had not played AFL before this season.

Northern Inland Football

Reigning premiers Oxley Vale Attunga have beaten Narrabri 4-0 in the final of the Johnson Cup at Gipps Street.

Narrabri reached the final after beating OVA's second team in the semi-finals.

Both OVA sides topped their pool.

"So it was really pleasing that both teams did really well today," Mushies coach Tim Coates said.

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