By Tallon Smith

The North Tamworth Bears are the first side into the 2023 Group 4 Grand Final after a convincing 40-10 upset win over Minor Premiers the Moree Boars in the Major Semi Final at Boughton Oval in Moree on Saturday.

The seven-time defending champions ran in seven tries to two against the Boars, who played with twelve men after second rower Aaron Robinson was sent off for a nasty high tackle in the 5th minute.

Group 4 President Terry Psarakis said that the North Tamworth side played “very well” to defeat the highly-fancied Boars on their home turf.

“North to their credit played very well,” he said.

“I don’t think it cost them [Moree] the game, but having a player sent off didn’t help.”

After another year where it seemed at points their decade-long dominance of the competition was under threat, the Bears will again feature in the Group 4 Grand Final, and go in as favourites to extend their title-winning run to eight.

“North are going to host the Grand Final at Jack Woolaston Oval,” Psarakis said.

“The temptation to keep winning must be there [in the squad].”

In Sunday’s Minor Semi Final, the Kootingal Roosters recorded a 30-20 win over the Werris Creek Magpies at Kootingal Sports Ground.

The Roosters, Grand Finalists in 2019, raced out to an early lead, before seeing off a challenge from Werris Creek to book their spot in next week’s Preliminary Final at Moree.

Psarakis said that the match looms as a big one, with the two sides battling it out for the right to challenge North Tamworth and be the first team to beat the Bears in a decider in a decade.

“Kootingal have a big trip to Moree next weekend,” he said.

“Moree have lost three of their last four, [but they] get Daniel Jobson back from suspension.

“They have been the best team all year but have faltered at the end, but I wouldn’t write them off by any means.”

The Preliminary Final between Moree and Kootingal kicks off at 3pm on Saturday at Boughton Oval in Moree.

Cover Photo: North Tamworth defenders attempt to tackle a Moree opponent earlier this season (Supplied: Group 4)