Pirates have overcame an early Quirindi onslaught to record one of their most important wins of the season.
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Pirates rebounded from a 14-0 deficit, after scoring three unanswered second-half tries, to beat Quirindi 24-21 at Ken Chillingworth Oval on a balmy Saturday afternoon.
For the first time since their four-match winning streak ended in round 11, the four-time defending premiers have strung together consecutive wins.
With two rounds remaining before the finals, they are in fourth place on 50 points - five points ahead of fifth-placed Inverell, whom they meet away in the final round after having the bye this Saturday.
Pirates No 9 Jackson Sharpe said it was "a great game of rugby".
"It was perfect weather for it," he said. "And they really put it to us, but we dug deep and got there in the end."
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The seventh-placed Lions were on track to record their seventh win of the season when halfback Daniel Calavassy darted over in the fourth minute, before Calavassy released winger Tom Fuller for a try three minutes later.
Jack Craig converted both tries: 14-0.
Pirates first points came in the 25th minute when flanker Toby Maslen scored. But the Lions struck again in the 37th minute via a try to second-rower Gus Clift.
The extras were added and Quirindi led 21-5 at half-time.
Tellingly, Conrad Starr and Nick McCrohon returned from injury but started the match on the bench.
The influential forwards, along with winger Brandon Parry, both crossed in the second half as Pirates overran Quirindi.
Sharpe said it was one of the side's most satisfying wins of the year, "especially being our last home game".
"It was great to really dig deep and give the crowd a good performance in the end."
The Lions, he continued, had benefitted from having "a few strong boys back" from university because of the Sydney lockdown.
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