NARRABRI kept their minor premiership hopes well and truly alive when they "got out of jail" with a hard fought 22-16 win over Boggabri at Jubilee Oval on Saturday.
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The Blues held a slender 18-16 lead late in the match but scored close to full-time to ensure they kept second spot on the Group 4 ladder, just a point astern of Kootingal-Moonbi.
Blues captain-coach Jake Rumsby said his side "won ugly".
"We got out of jail," Rumsby said of the six-point away win.
He also said his side needs to "fix a few things" before they tackle Kooty in a top of the table clash at Collins Park this Sunday.
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It is a massive home game for the Blues where they could claim top spot.
They will have to play better than they did at Boggabri, though, Rumsby warned.
"To be honest the only positive was we came away with the win," Rumsby said.
"It was a bludger of a day in the conditions, blowing a gale and raining, not the best day for footy but we were just as bad, we were terrible.
"We dropped too many balls and made too many mistakes.
"Boggy played well too, they shifted the ball well. Their halves played well. We've got a few things to fix up before we play Kooty at home next Sunday. It's the biggest game of the year for us."
Boggabri coach Shane Rampling was disappointed for his side and said they were "under the pump" from Narrabri as well as some tough refereeing decisions.
"We did make some silly mistakes and gave away some bad penalties," he said.
"But I was super proud of the boys today. Our goal line defence was great. Three of their tries were scored wide out."
He said the Roos clawed their way back into the game a few times and could have won when they trailed 18-16 late in the game.
However a sin-binning for Josh Trindall, who had returned off the bench to spark the Roos, killed Boggy's chances.
"We also lost Nic Millar as well to injury and we were down to 12 men with 10 to go," Rampling said.
"How Daniel Jobson stayed on the field after a tackle on Jay Urquhart I don't know. But I couldn't be prouder of the boys. They dug deep. We could have won but good luck to Narrabri. They will push Kooty next week."
He thought Millar played well before his injury and fullback Isaiah Adams as well.
"Isaiah was real good, he was our player's player," Rampling said.
"He's growing into that fullback spot, getting better and better each game. I thought Matt Gillham was real good too, as he usually is, and Matt Avendano also had a solid game."
Boggabri plays North Tamworth at Jubilee Oval next Sunday and if the Roos "play like that we'll push the Bears", Rampling said.
WEG GROUP 4 FIRST GRADE (Unofficial - for and against in brackets): Kootingal (343-152) 18, Narrabri (258-190) 17, North Tamworth (324-211) 14, Moree (246-230) 12, Boggabri (224-328) 8, Gunnedah (257-292) 6, Dungowan (197-294) 5, Werris Creek (182-334) 4.