By Tallon Smith

The North Tamworth Bears have extended their remarkable run of consecutive Group 4 titles to eight in a row following a 26-16 win over the Moree Boars at Jack Woolaston Oval on Saturday.

North Tamworth hooker Scott Blanch opened the scoring in the second minute, with the Bears following this with two more tries, including one to centre Jone Marau, to skip out to a 16-0 lead after just 16 minutes played.

But as the possession evened, the Boars struck back, with James Duncan, Marshall Barker and Adrian Smith crossing on either side of the half-time break to see the scores locked at 16-all after 47 minutes of play.

However, despite the Bears’ run being threatened by the Moree comeback, a crucial try to Jone Marau in the 57th minute gave North Tamworth a 20-16 lead, a margin they extended with three penalty goals in a tense final quarter to run out 26-16 victors and ensure the Group 4 Premiership Shield remains on the banks of the Peel River for another year.

North Tamworth Coach Paul Boyce said that despite the end result being the same as the previous seven campaigns, this year’s title was different to the others.

“Each year has its own challenges I suppose,” he said.

“I’ve only been a part of two, [but] one of our guys, James Cooper, he’s actually been a part of all eight.

“Like I said, I’ve been a part of two, and you don’t get sick of it.”

Boyce said that after a difficult start to the season, an “honest chat” between senior members of the playing group saw a drastic improvement in the side’s performance in the second half of the year.

“At the halfway point of this year we were three wins, four losses, a lot of people had sort of written us off, and we had a really good honest chat with the leadership group, and worked on a few things to turn the season around,” he said.

“It certainly worked, we went through the second half of the season undefeated, and rolled into the semis in second spot.

“To host the Grand Final is massive.

“We had to go out to Moree two weeks in a row [in the last round and first final], and to win against them, they’re a quality side.”

Speaking on the match itself, Boyce said that after a blistering start, Norths’ errors invited their opponents back into the game, before they finally regained their composure to close out the match.

“We started the game exactly how we wanted to, we were playing the footy that we spoke about all week, that’s pretty easy to do when you’ve got a bloke at nine like Scotty Blanch,” he said.

“I thought we overplayed a bit, we didn’t respect the footy after we got to a 16-0 lead, and we kept inviting Moree back into the game.

“I’ve got to give Moree credit, they dug deep and started to really frustrate us and put pressure on us, and there were times when we didn’t respond to that.

“I thought their halfback, Mick Watton, his kicking game really helped them to pull back that 16-0 lead.

“It was looking like Moree might come over the top and kick on a bit, but our guys, they just know what it takes to win, and they just dug deep.”

Boyce also spoke of a special connection between a member of the premiership team and 98-year-old Bears legend Jack Woolaston.

“Out front rower, Tom Woolaston, is Jack Woolaston’s grandson,” he said.

“Tom hadn’t won a First Grade premiership with Norths, so it was special [to win one on Saturday].

“Unfortunately Jack’s not in any condition where he was able to go down to the game and watch, [as] he’s in a nursing home, but I’m sure Tom will be heading down there soon with the Premiership Shield and he will probably chuck the replay on and watch it with him down there, and it will be a real special moment.

“I know our playing group are really proud that we are able to be part of something so special for him.”

The win marks the Bears’ 23rd title since their foundation in 1911, second only to now-defunct cross-town rivals West Tamworth with 29.

In the Reserve Grade Grand Final, the Moree Boars went back-to-back with a 34-12 win over the Dungowan Cowboys in a rematch of last year’s decider. Latrel Newman and Mark Pegus each crossed for two tries in the Boars’ win, which ensured that silverware still travelled up the Kamilaroi and Newell Highways in 2023.

In the Ladies League Tag Final, North Tamworth also took home the title, defeating Kootingal 10-6, whilst the Under 18s match went the way of the Werris Creek Magpies, who avenged their Major Semi Final loss two weeks ago to upset the previously undefeated Dungowan Cowboys 22-10.