BOGGABRI Kangaroos may have lost Saturday’s Whitehaven Coal Group 4 first-grade grand-final 40-18 to Moree Boars at Boughton Oval, but they won plenty of admirers.

The small town, with a population around 900, turned out in hundreds to support their side in the premiership decider.

Boggabri Club president Greg Haire was disappointed by the loss but delighted by how well the Roos played just to get to the grand-final and then lead for major parts of the game.

“They were just too good,” Haire said.

“But the boys had a crack.”

They did indeed.

The previous week the Roos stunned Werris Creek when winning the preliminary final at David Taylor Park and in doing so, created their own slice of history.

Having never beaten the Creek at the Creek they did so in extra time, 26-20, just to earn a crack at Moree and their first Group 4 grand-final in 60 years.

The Roos won back-to-back titles in 1963-64 under former Tumbarumba captain-coach Greg Kellam.

Shane Rampling, Boggabri’s coach for the past few seasons, has formed a strong unit. He was also hoping to end a run of losing grand-finals with Gunnedah and West Lions.

They started well, leading 6-nil after seven minutes when winger Josefa Goneduadua scored for Ash White to convert.

Moree were back on level terms after 16 minutes when Jamie Sampson grubber-kicked and won the dive for the ball.

Moree full-back Lachlan McGrady produced a brilliant kick return of 50m for Brenton Cochrane to slice through next play-the-ball and score.

Ahead 12-8, the Boars couldn’t contain Boggy five-eighth Isaiah Adams though, and the smart five-eighth provided a great pass for Jack Hayes to dive over and make it 14-12 at the half-time break.

When Robert Doolan scored in the sixth minute of the second half Boggabri led 18-12 and an upset looked possible.

However, Moree hit back to level the scores at 18-all when winger Jake Tighe caught a Michael Watton chip kick on the full to dive over.

The Roos then kicked out on the full, from the kick-off, and also made a couple of other mistakes to invite the Boars back in.

The home side needed no further invitations.

They scored three tries in nine minutes to take control and end Boggy’s hopes.

“We didn’t have the ball in the second-half,” Rampling conceded.

“Can’t win big games without the ball. We had played so well to get in front but without the ball . . .

“Moree are such a dangerous side, you can’t give them extra sets. Full credit to them, they have been the number one team.

“We’ll learn from it. Disappointing to lose; we were good for 60 minutes, maybe 55.”

Boggabri will retain many of their players.

Prop Nic Millar has been enormous for them the past few seasons, hooker and captain Matt Gillham a stand-out along with lock Jack Gillham and the host of Fijians led by the lightning quick Iliasa Kalokalodrau, winger Josefa Goneduadua and Malakai Kovekalou.

Centre Pita Rogasau has been a star but was inconvenienced by an ankle injury he took into the game.

Halfback Andrew Wallace and fullback Ash White are two of the big improvers.

Wallace has loved his two years with the Roos after joining from Coonamble.

His nimble half-back play and deft short kicking game is a feature.

“It’s been great,” he said.

“They have a great atmosphere, the supporters are so good. It’s a crazy good feeling. We started pretty good today but our second-half wasn’t really good. Didn’t get the best start but Moree are a quality side.

“Brenton’s try hurt us. He can cause havoc. I’m really, really proud of the boys, we’ve had a big year. It’s 60 years since we’ve been in a Grand Final.”

Words: Geoff Newling

Image: Bill Poulos

First Grade: MOREE 40 (Jamie Sampson, Brenton Cochrane, Jake Tighe, Alex Barker Junior, Brent McDonald, Joe Wade, Michael Watton tries, Michael Watton 6gls) d BOGGABRI 18 (Josefa Goneduadua, Jack Hayes, Robert Doolan tries, Ash White 3gls). Player of the Grand Final: Jamie Sampson (MB).