Central North Rugby Round 6: Pirates get back to winning ways with 74-12 win over Barraba

The hooker had the honour of captaining them and is one-from-one after they rediscovered their winning groove thumping Barraba 74-12.

One of the cornerstones of their premiership-dynasty, it was a culmination of an association that stretches back 15 years and over 140 games after first pulling on the gold and black as a junior.

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Part of the first grade set-up since mid-2014, he said leading the side out on Saturday was a great feeling.

"It was a huge honour, especially leading around that group of blokes," he said.

He also got to start alongside older brother Andrew for the first time this season with the prop making his starting return.

"It was good to be out there with him and pack down beside him," Collins said.

He wasn't the only one for whom Saturday was a milestone game.

Jack Shelton played his 100^th first grade game and Chad Lambert his 50^th.

Collins said it was great to reward them with a win. Both have "been around the club for a while" and been a big part of their success. Shelton celebrated with a try, scoring the third of their 11.

After three successive losses it was more like it from the four-time reigning premiers.

"We put a bit of an emphasis on just doing the little things right and getting back to the basics; controlling the ball and playing our game ," Collins said.

The first 20 minutes they didn't really do that - they were wanting to throw the "50-50 passes".

"After that 20 minutes we regathered and had a bit of a chat," Collins said.

"Once we cut that out of the game it came together."

Collins and co set the platform up front with the scrum a real weapon for them. At one point they even earned a penalty try from their scrum.

The forwards laid the groundwork with the scrum "pretty dominant" all game. In general the set pieces were good, the work they'd done on the lineout during the week paying off.

Off the back of that the backs enjoyed plenty of possession and space and took full advantage with Shelton and returning skipper Conrad Starr the only forwards among the tryscorers.

Collins said it was great to have Starr back, the No.8 playing just under 30 minutes. Coming on in the second half, Tony O'Connor also had a good impact on his return.

More so than the win, it was about getting a bit of confidence back, and Collins said the chat after the game was that they've laid the foundation, now they've "just got to build off that".

Elsewhere Narrabri had a lucky escape against Inverell scoring a late try to snatch a 37-36 win, Moree accounted for Scone 48-22 and Walcha thrashed Gunnedah 50-7.

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