The Narrabri Blues have won their second successive Group 4 first grade clash in golden point extra time.
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The 24-22 win over North Tamworth at Jack Woolaston Oval handed the Bears their second defeat on the trot and also ended their amazing home ground winning streak of 47 games.
It was the Bears who started better as they scored the first 10 points before going into the half-time break up 16-6.
"It was the best start we've had all year," Bears coach Brad McManus said after the encounter.
"That first half was the best footy we've played all year."
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The second half was much different.
"There were some poor mistakes. Four times players dropped the ball in the play the ball," he said.
On the other side, Blues captain-coach Jake Rumsby was ecstatic.
"It was a tough game," he said.
"I still reckon they are the side to beat. That was a very physical game and we didn't start as well as we wanted to either. We were a little flat early and trailed 10-nil after 10 minutes."
The Blues also lost hard-working second rower Travis 'Jock' Small in the opening five minutes with a shoulder injury.
"We did well to come back," Rumsby said of his spirited side.
"Couldn't be prouder of them. Made it hard on ourselves but hung in there."
The Blues did so well they led 22-16 in the second half only for Bears first grade debutant Amachai Roberts to score his second try of the day before Bears second rower Jake McManus converted to send the game into extra time.
The Blues received the ball and worked it up field well where they received a penalty and halfback Todd Nichols calmly converted for a pulsating win and the end of an amazing winning streak.
McManus was philosophical about the loss. He was delighted for Roberts to score twice on debut and saved plenty of praise for Jake McManus.
"He was massive for us," the coach said of the Bears back rower.
"He was a standout."
McManus said "it's back to the drawing board for us".
"We have a bit of soul searching to do. Haven't been in this situation for a long, long time," he said of back-to-back losses.
"We got ourselves in it and now we have to drag ourselves out of it. It's only half way through the year and we've got to be better the back end of the year."
Rumsby said the Blues are building for something special in what is their centenary year.
"We've talked about it at training, the significance of the 100 years," he said.
"It's an exciting time for us, we've come from behind again too. And we know we have to be better."
Rumsby scored two of the side's four tries as well to cap a great day for the skipper while centre Dennis Gordon was also dangerous.
Gordon scored one try and claimed three Group 4 best and fairest points.
NARRABRI 24 (Jake Rumsby 2, Dennis Gordon, Hayden Bell tries, Todd Nichols 4gls) d NORTH TAMWORTH 22 (Amachai Roberts 2, Livianai Tuicakau, Tevita Peceli tries, Bailey Taylor 2, Jake McManus gls) in golden point extra time. G4 B&F: 3 Dennis Gordon (N), 2 Tom Woolaston (NT), 1 Jake Rumsby (N)
Second Grade: NORTH TAMWORTH 52 (Damien Cutmore 3, Luke Fisher 2, Anare Tanabau Cawi, Luke Byrnes, Cristofer Cutmore, Lachlan Mills-Bone tries, Jermain Walford 8 gls) d WERRIS CREEK 16 (Martyn Shaw, Shane Howarth, Tyril Knox tries, Jackson Kent 2gls) G4 B&F: 3 Damien Cutmore (NT), 2 Chris Cutmore (NT), 1 Chris Wilson (WC)
Ladies League Tag: NORTH TAMWORTH 24 (Kimberley Resch, Kate Walters, Leica Le Brocq, Dhalara Knox, Rhiannon Graham tries, Resch 2gl) d WERRIS CREEK 12 (Jess Baker, Zoe Allan, Jess Pryor gls) G4 B&F: 3 Kimberley Resch (NT), 2 Jess Baker (WC), 1 Amelia Blanch (NT)