The Tamworth Thunderbolts were just pipped by the Bankstown Bruins in their final round State League Men’s Division 1 clash in Sydney on Saturday night.

After trailing by 11 at the final break, the Thunderbolts fought back to go down 81-78.

Chris Skilton topped the scoring with 22 points, while Kyle Gupton sunk 18 and Scott McGann 10. 

CENTRAL NORTH RUGBY UNION

Pirates are looking an unstoppable force after trampling Moree 68-33 in their Tier 1 clash at Weebolla Oval.

A win over Walcha next week will secure the minor premiership for the defending champions.

The Rams though were similarly scintillating walloping Scone 52-nil at Walcha.

In Tier 2 action Inverell belted Barraba 54-14 while Quirindi accounted for Tamworth 34-5.

Second grade: Walcha 28 d Scone on forfeit, Moree 59 d Pirates 10, Inverell d Barraba on forfeit, Tamworth 61 d Quirindi 21.

Under 17s: Farrer 46 d Pirates 7 

Under 19s: Pirates 57 d Farrer 20

NEW ENGLAND RUGBY UNION

Final round results

1st Grade: Barbarians 32 defeated  Armidale Blues 23, Robb College 51 defeated Guyra / Glen Innes 0 

2nd Grade: Barbarians 31 defeated Armidale Blues 19, Gwydir Rats 30 defeated St Alberts College 25   

3rd Grade: Armidale Blues 17 defeated Barbarians 10, Robb College 10 defeated St Alberts College IV 0  

Womens 7's: Barbets 34 defeated Armidale Blue's 7's 0, Barbets 7 defeated Armidale Blue's 7's 0 (match abandonded)

NORTHERN INLAND PREMIER LEAGUE

Tamworth FC and North Companions shared the Dan Haslam Memorial Trophy after playing out a 2-all draw.

Demon Knights bounced back from their catch-up loss to Norths United during the week with a 5-1 win over South Armidale. The Redmen also got up 5-1 over Joeys FC while Oxley Vale Attunga defeated East Armidale 4-2.

The Mushies also got the points in reserve grade 3-1, as did DK (5-1) and Norths United (2-nil) while North Companions edged out Tamworth FC 1-nil.

GROUP 4 SECOND DIVISION

Barraba extended their competition-benchmark winning streak to eight matches with a fairly comfortable 24-16 home defeat of Uralla on Saturday. But don’t tell Bulldogs coach Jesse Phillips that his side is the finished product.

No. Phillips would have none of such talk post-match, insisting second-placed Barraba, four weeks out from the finals, can improve.

Manilla 31 d Dungowan 26

Kootingal 72 d Walcha 4

Boggabri 48 d Bundarra 24

Bendemeer win on forfeit from Bingara 

Werris Creek bye

Unofficial table

1 - Kootingal 32

2 - Barraba 28

3 - Bendemeer 26

4 - Manilla 25

5 - Boggabri 22

6 - Uralla 21

7 - Bundarra 21

8 - Werris Creek 17

9 - Dungowan 15

10 - Walcha 11

11 - Bingara 4

Super Steel Ladies League Tag

Dungowan 46 d Manilla 4

Boggabri 6 drew Bundarra 6

Kootingal 46 d Walcha 7

Uralla 18 d Barraba 4

Werris Creek bye

Bendemeer bye

Unofficial table

1 - Kootingal 35

2 - Uralla 32

3 - Walcha 30

4 - Dungowan 25

5 - Werris Creek 22

6 - Barraba 18

7 - Bendermeer 16

8 - Boggabri 14

9 - Manilla 13

10 - Bundarra 10

AFL NORTH WEST

Tamworth Kangaroos 26.16-172 ( W Gilmour 6, B Mitchell 4, C Frazier 4, M Hodge 3, C Bickersteth 2, G Labuschagne 2, C Pollock, B Gilmour, J Williams, A Weymer, C McCann)  d Moree Suns 4.10-34 (M Lather 2, M Beinke, M Trainor)

New England Nomads 19.16-130 (J Petrascu 3, J Treweeke 3, D Richards 3, P Mitchell 2, C Barker 2, L Cudmore 2, T Keys, A Shem, C Graham, S Wilson goals) d Tamworth Swans 3.5-23 (S Spokes , C Thorne, D Finlay goals)

Gunnedah Bulldogs 16.14-110 (M Swain 4, G Piggott 3, B Hartley 2, J Spackman 2, S Hardy 2, A George, B Maher, R Kestles goals) d Inverell Saints 8.14-62 (D Pithers 2, L White 2, B Gregory 2, K Te Velde, C Whitton goals)