Group 4 Round 11: Narrabri go top with eight point win over Kootingal

The Blues trailed twice in a pulsating game before scoring two second half tries to reel in the competition leaders.

Narrabri had led 8-6 at the halftime break after Hayden Bell and captain-coach Jake Rumsby had replied to a Kyle Cochrane converted try for the Roosters in the eighth minute.

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Kootingal then struck back early in the second half when five-eighth Jordan Sharpe scored a stunning individual try in the first minute.

His angled run back into the teeth of the forward defence was almost a hot knife through butter.

It gave the visitors a 12-8 lead but just three minutes later the Blues were level when Bell grabbed his second try when he dived over in the corner after the Roosters had spilt a bomb.

Six minutes later and the Blues were in front when brilliant hooker, Jake Nichols, scampered over from dummy half.

His brother, Todd, converted for a 18-12 lead and then he added to it when he kicked a penalty from in front after the Roosters were penalised for being off side.

That left 25 minutes of thrust and parry from both sides in an enthrallingly intense match.

Both sides had sin-binnings with Kooty down to 11 at one stage with Josh Kevill and Cochrane sitting side-by-side on the sin-bin chairs whilst Narrabri prop Daniel Jobson also joined them.

And both sides had chances but came up with crucial mistakes and/or magical, mercurial defence.

"Their defence was too good," Kootingal coach Geoff Sharpe summed up after the game.

"Too good for us today. Didn't finish our sets too well but they defended strong and it got a little frustrating for us. Their kicking game was better than ours too."

Young winger Jack Anderson suffered a dislocated elbow as well to add injury to the defeat.

Kevill and players player Ben Williams were best of the Roosters while prop Chris Vidler returned from injury with some good bursts and offloads.

"He'll be better for that," Sharpe said.

Rumsby was outstanding and led from the front in a side where second rower Sam Sadler was outstanding along with Jake Nichols, winger Mark Patterson and Bell.

However, they may have lost versatile forward Daniel Howe for a while with a dislocated or broken thumb and Chris Hunt with a groin injury.

"We did it tough, losing Howie early and Chris after about 20 minutes," Rumsby said.

"We lost three at training on Friday night too - Caleb (Binge), Brodie (Rumsby) and Dennis (Gordon). Mitch (Dening) is still to come back as well.

"Couldn't be happier with the boys though, they showed the Blues spirit today. We lifted again at home too. The crowd got us home. It's a massive win for us and for the town in our centenary year.

"We're number one now, it's up to us to stay there."

First Grade: NARRABRI 20 (Hayden Bell 2, Jake Rumsby, Jake Nichols tries, Todd Nichols 2gls) d KOOTINGAL 12 (Kyle Cochrane, Jordan Sharpe tries, Sam Taylor 2gls) d NARRABRI 20 (Hayden Bell 2, Jake Rumsby, Jake Nichols tries, Todd Nichols 2gls). G4 B&F: 3 Sam Sadler (N), 2 Ryley Mackay (K), 1 Mark Patterson (N).

Second Grade: NARRABRI 28 (Metiusela Mapili, Trent Keeler, Joel Hogan, Daniel O'Connor, Kurt Wallace tries, Rodney Lamb 3, Kaleb Mowle gls) d KOOTINGAL 8 (Sam Molyneux, Clarence Jones tries) G4 B F: 3 Kurt Wallace (N), 2 Dylan Middleton (K), 1 Trent Keeler (N).

Under 18: KOOTINGAL 32 (Riley Reid, Deacon Tait, Jake Sheppard, Archer Thistle, Jordan Leota tries, Adrian Graham 4, Fletcher Morris gls) d NARRABRI 22 (Gus Smith, Billy Youman, Jeff Harvey, Johno Evans tries, Evans 2, Zack Doring gls) G4 B&F: 3 Jordan Leota (K), 2 Jeff Harvey (N), 1 Johno Evans (N).

Ladies League Tag: KOOTINGAL 68 (Carly Redfern 6, Abby Schmiedel 4, Sarah Gill 2, Monique Cook tries, Steph Fulwood 8gls) d NARRABRI 0. G4 B&F: 3 Sarah Gill (K), 2 Steph Fulwood (K), 1 Lidia McCauley (N).