MOREE Boars first-grade slogged out a commanding 20-4 win over North Tamworth Bears at Boughton Oval on Saturday under cold, miserable, wet conditions to keep the coveted Poey Raveneau Cup on home soil.

As rain fell and the temperature plummeted to as low as eight degrees mid-afternoon, Moree took an early eight-nil lead after 10 minutes, with tries to winger Jake Tighe and fullback Steve McIntosh.

A try to Bears’ winger Senirusi Rauqe in the 23rd minute narrowed the score to 10-4, but a second try to Jake Tighe 10 minutes later – converted by Adrian Smith – gave the Boars a 14-4 advantage at the break.

Tamworth remained scoreless in the second half, with Cameron Rodgers crossing for Moree 20 minutes from full-time.

Adrian Smith converted Rodgers’ four-pointer, giving Moree a 16-point edge right to the wire.

Moree first-grade coach Jack Durheim was pleased with a slogging game that marked co-coach and captain Jamie Sampson’s 50th first-grade appearance as well as 40th birthday celebrations for former captain-coach and halfback Mick Watton.

“Our win was hard-fought and scrappy, due to the weather,” Durheim said.

“Nothing came easy, and we had moments where holding the ball was difficult. But again, we worked hard in defence and kept turning them away.

“We kept them to four points, which is a pleasing aspect for us,’ he said.

Alex Barker is grounded during Moree Boars’ 20-4 first-grade win against North Tamworth Bears at Boughton Oval on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Moree Boars’ second-grade bounced back to their best form at Boughton Oval on Saturday, walloping North Tamworth Bears 64-6.

Boars second-grade now share equal billing at the top of the Group 4 ladder on 19 points with Werris Creek Magpies, with the Magpies to play a postponed game against Kootingal Roosters because of heavy rain on Sunday.

Matches between Gunnedah Bulldogs and Boggabri Kangaroos scheduled Saturday were also postponed.

Moree piled on the points from the opening whistle, and went to the break with a 26-nil lead thanks to tries from Caleb Duncan, David Annis-Brown, Richard Smith, Dereik Newman and Jackson Shearer, and three goals from Mark Pegus, who was given man-of-the-match honours.

The steamroller-effect continued in the second half, with follow-up tries to Newman, Annis-Brown and Duncan as well as individual four-pointers to Latrel Newman, Charlie Grant, Cody Picker and Mark Pegus, who planted another three goals in the second-half.

Layne Raveneau and Dereik Newman each landed two-pointers as well.

Moree second-grade team manager Charlie Shearer, who co-coaches with Alf Newman, was a happy man after the match.

“That was a really good win, especially at home in front of a huge crowd on a big day for Poey,” Shearer said.

“Everything went to plan and the boys really gelled in the conditions – they played exceptional football and stuck to the game plan.

“The boys didn’t try to do anything flash, and proved we’re the side to beat. That was our last game for our season of reserve grade, and cemented us in second spot, which puts us in the major semi-finals,” Shearer said.

In under-18s, North Tamworth Bears handed Moree Boars a 42-nil defeat.

Prop Seth Pearson and hooker Traie Nean-Bell crossed twice for the Bears, with individual tries to winger Nahum Johnston, five-eighth Braedan Mason, second-rower Zeke Wise and interchange Zac Baker.

Half-back Jamie Grant kicked five goals from eight attempts, giving him 83 points and a clear lead on the overall under-18s player points ladder.