MOREE Boars ladies’ tackle squad kept their momentum at full throttle with a dogged 10-8 win against Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters in the Group 4 competition at Kootingal last Sunday.

Coach Chris Swan was impressed with how the team played “wet-weather footy” to stave off a second-half Roosters’ surge after going to the break with a 10-nil lead.

“It rained all day, and was very muddy, sloppy and wet, but it was a good, close game,” Swan said.

“The girls completed every set in the first half. Kooty probably had 70 per cent of the ball but the girls tackled them out of it.

“We came up with a couple of little errors, let them back into the game, and Kooty capitalised on that. But towards the end, we hung in with our defence,” he said.

“The girls stuck strong with what they’ve been doing at training and it paid off for them.”

Swan found it difficult to single out one player on Sunday.

“They all played really well. It was a good team effort – no-one really stood out because it took the whole team to win on a day like that,” he said.

“Everyone did their job, everyone tackled and everyone ran the ball. They played it safe and came away with the right result.

“Kooty had a good team – four or five rep players – but our girls were just outstanding.

Moree Boars’ ladies tackle full squad at the opening round of the Group 4 rugby league competition at Boughton Oval in April. The ladies won that day against Dungowan and won again at Kootingal last Sunday.

“Everything went to plan. They were impressive when they won at Moree, and even better at Kootingal – they’re getting better as they go along,” Swan said.

“We’ve got a lot of new players and everyone is trying different positions. They’re sticking strong to what they’re doing at training – nothing fancy, and it’s all paying off for them.”

The ladies return to Boughton Oval tomorrow, Friday, May 2, under lights against Wee Waa Panthers while Boars first-grade, reserve-grade and under-18s take on Gunnedah Bulldogs at Gunnedah on Sunday.

The following Saturday, they play Dungowan Cowboys at the three-day NSWRL Regional Magic Round at Tamworth’s Scully Park.

Moree first-grade coach, Jamie Sampson, said the magic round is a great drawcard for country rugby league.

“It gives our younger players the exposure to high-level footy and creates an ‘anything is possible’ mentality heading into the weekend,” Sampson said.

“Jack (Durheim) and I are not looking into it as anything more than a tough comp game against Dungowan Cowboys, who have been great over the past few years.

“We just need to stick to our footy and not over-complicate things out there. Getting those little one-percent things right will help build our season,” he said.

Boars ladies coach Chris Swan is looking forward to the three-day, NRL showdown.

“It’s going to be a few big days, and it’s a good time to be a part of it,” Swan said.

“The girls’ confidence is through the roof at the moment, and we had a talk Tuesday night at training. “If we stay grounded, stick strong and keep working together to get better, we’ll be there.

“I’m very proud of them,” he said.

Westpac NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley will kick off the Regional Magic Round at Tamworth, a showpiece event featuring 11 games from the state’s premier competition, Knock-On Effect NSW Cup and the regional Group 4 competition.

Daley will be joined by True Blue Ben Elias and Warriors chief executive Cameron George to officially launch proceedings with a sportsman’s lunch at Wests Tamworth on Friday, May 9.

NSWRL chief executive David Trodden said the Regional Magic Round promises to be a great celebration of rugby league.

“Tamworth has shown they know how to celebrate an event with the annual Tamworth Country Music Festival, and I am confident they will support the Regional Magic Round, too,” Trodden said.

“There are 11 rugby league matches for fans to enjoy, as well as a host of rugby league activations around the city, which will contribute to a wonderful occasion,” he said.