MOREE Boars returned home from Bear country a little battered and bruised after overcoming early injuries to beat North Tamworth 22-14 in Group 4 rugby league first-grade at Jack Woolaston Oval on Saturday.

The Boars scored all their points in the first half, then defended strongly for the next 40 minutes.

Tries to coach Jamie Sampson and centre Kaedyn Smith in the first 10 minutes, and a goal to Adrian Smith, gave the Boars a dominant lead early in the match.

Jake Tighe and Alex Lawrence also crossed for Moree, with Smith converting three from four attempts.

Bears prop Jasper Thistle scored deep in the first half – converted by captain Mitchell Sheridan – to trail the Boars 22-6 at the break.

Moree went to the second half with a 16-point lead – and spent the next 40 minutes fighting off a determined North Tamworth side.

“We didn’t score a try in the second half, just a lot of defence,” coach Jamie Sampson said.

“I’m very proud of the win. The grit and determination in defence for the second half won us that game.

“We lost a few players early to injury so had to shuffle the team around and had some men out of position.

“A few boys battled through the ‘flu and some niggling injuries so, as a team, we know how great that win was,” he said.

Moree under-18s coach Brent McDonald flanked by first-grade coaches Jamie Sampson (left) and Jack Durheim at training last month.

With no Group 4 matches scheduled for the June long weekend, Moree Boars next step out against Wee Waa Panthers at Boughton Oval on Saturday, June 14.

“The long weekend couldn’t have come at a better time,” Sampson said.

After early season losses to Werris Creek and Gunnedah, the Boars have now won four on the trot against Dungowan, Kootingal, Boggabri and North Tamworth.

“It’s been great to get a few wins under the belt after our adjustment period at the start of the year,” Sampson said.

Meanwhile Moree Boars under-18s suffered a 62-nil loss to a gun Tamworth outfit.

Bears’ halfback and captain, Jamie Grant and hooker Traie Nean-Bell, each scored four tries, with Grant kicking seven goals from 10 attempts.

Individual tries went to fullback David Biles, centres Seth Pearson and Jack Anderson, and interchange Linc Browning.

In other first-grade games across the Group 4 competition, Boggabri Kangaroos beat Gunnedah Bulldogs 24-20 at home on Saturday.

On Sunday, Dungowan Cowboys beat Wee Waa Panthers 20-16 at Cook Oval in Wee Waa, and Werris Creek Magpies beat Kootingal Moonbi Roosters 42-4 at home.

All teams have a bye over the June long weekend.