Wee Waa Panthers celebrated their first home game in Group 4 for seven years at Cook Oval on Sunday with a 68-6 loss to Boggabri Kangaroos.
It wasn’t the result the Panthers were hoping for as they struggle to be competitive in their first season back in the Whitehaven Coal-sponsored competition.
However, the Pantherettes did celebrate their return with a 12-6 win over Boggabri in their Ladies League Tag clash.
Samantha Marchant’s two tries swept the home side to victory in a game where she also polled the three points in the Group 4 B&F Award.
Later in the day the Panther men started well but couldn’t contain the big outside backs for Boggabri in their 68-6 win.
It propelled the Roos to fourth on the Whitehaven Coal G4 first grade ladder while Wee Waa sits seventh on the nine-team ladder.
“It was another tough one,” said co-coach Matt Freeman.
“Boggabri looked pretty good but our boys haven’t found their groove yet.”
He thought young prop Jayden Harradine was his side’s best with a strong game up front.
“He’s improving each week, his match fitness is kicking in,” Freeman said.
Freeman said his side now faces a huge trip to Moree this Sunday to tackle the unbeaten Moree Boars.
“They are going real well,” he said of the Mick Watton-coached Boars who belted Narrabri 72-12 at Narrabri on Sunday.
“They have got some real good players. It’s going to be a big test for us.”
Boggabri also face a huge test at their Jubilee Oval, Boggabri home ground against unbeaten Kootingal.
The Roosters celebrated their best win of the season over Werris Creek on Saturday night with a happy celebration at the Kootingal Hotel where Harry and his staff joined in the festivities.
It was a brilliant finish to a day where the Rooster and Magpie women had an 18-all draw with the Creek winning the junior and reserve grade games.
Boggabri coach Shane Rampling expects nothing but “a very tough match” when the Roosters lob on Saturday.
“We’ve never beaten Kootingal,” Shane Rampling advised.
“The only team we haven’t beaten since we returned. They’ve always had the wood on us.”
In the other Saturday game Narrabri hosts Dungowan at Collins Park with North Tamworth heading to Gunnedah’s Kitchener Park on Sunday and Moree at home to Wee Waa.
Group 4 Results- First Grade
Boggabri 68 defeated Wee Waa 6
Moree 72 defeated Narrabri 12
Dungowan 42 defeated Gunnedah 16
Kootingal 38 defeated Werris Creek 24
Second Grade
Dungowan 66 defeated Gunnedah 6
Werris Creek 40 defeated Kootingal 8
Moree 60 defeated Narrabri 0
Under 18s
Dungowan 58 defeated Narrabri 18
Werris Creek 20 defeated Kootingal 8
Ladies League Tag
Werris Creek 18 tied Kootingal 18
Dungowan 10 defeated Gunnedah 0
Narrabri 22 defeated Moree 16
Wee Waa 12 defeated Boggabri 6
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