AN 84-point try feast was served up at the Wingham Sporting Complex on Saturday afternoon - the Taree City Bulls scoring in the last minute to seal a dramatic 44 -40 win over the Wingham Tigers.
A fortnight earlier, these two teams played with a 30 point win to the Tigers.
An early try to Wingham’s Nathan Davis from a Willie Lockwood bomb, converted by Anthony Cowan, gave the home team a 6-0 lead.
Taree City responded immediately, levelling the scores. Tigers back Matt Halliday crossed for a try to make the score 10-6, before Nigel Latham crossed in the corner to mark his 150th first grade game.
The Bulls struck back midway through the half with a try in the corner. The sideline conversion made the score 14-12.
Three more tries in eight minutes gave Taree City a 26-14 half time lead.
The visitors went further ahead early in the second half with an 80-metre run from an intercept to lead by 18 points.
But the Tigers came back. Two tries by Matt Halliday, the second converted from the sideline by Anthony Cowan, reduced the deficit to 32-24.
Midway through the stanza, Tim Watson scored from dummy half under the posts. With Anthony Cowan's kick, Wingham trailed by just two points.
Five minutes later, Matt Halliday collected a Willie Lockwood bomb for a try in the corner - his fourth for the game. Another sideline conversion by Anthony Cowan had the Tigers in front by 36-32.
When Nigel Latham scored his second try inside the last ten minutes, Wingham looked to have victory in sight leading by 40-32.
But even with a player in the sin-bin, the Bulls rallied with a late try to trail 40-38.
A final minute try to Taree City gave them victory by 44-40 in an entertaining game of rugby league.
Taree City Bulls 44 beat Wingham Tigers 40 (Matt Halliday 4, Nigel Latham 2, Mick Davis, Tim Watson tries, Anthony Cowan 4 conversions).
Reserve grade
AFTER three wins from their last four starts, the Tigers reserve grade rugby league team were looking to repeat their win over Taree City from a fortnight earlier.
They started well with a try to Mitch Trothe from a grubber kick. Adam Kerr added the extra points for a 6-0 lead.
Five minutes later, the Bulls scored in the corner to make the score 6-4.
Ten minutes from the break, Taree City scored again in the corner to lead 8-6.
A try under the posts by the visitors increased their lead to 14-6.
Right on half time, Ryan McIntosh chipped and regathered to put Mitch Trothe in for his second try. With Adam Kerr's conversion, the Tigers trailed by 14-12 at half time.
An early second half try increased the Bulls lead to 18-12.
Then Adam Kerr scored in the tenth minute to bring the score to 18-16.
Neither team was able to add to the score, with Taree City victorious in a high quality football game.
Under 18s
THE young Tigers went into their game against the last placed Taree City team as undefeated competition leaders.
Tries by Nick Delaney and James Orrock gave Wingham a 8-0 lead after a quarter of an hour.
Then the Bulls responded with two converted tries in five minutes to lead 12-8. Another try to Taree City made the half time score 16-8.
It took almost twenty minutes of play in the second half for the score to change when Ryan Wells scored in the corner.
Five minutes later the Bulls scored again to make the score 22-12.
Inside the final five minutes, Nick Delaney scored from dummy half. Trent Grofos converted the try to bring the score to 22-18.
A one-on-one strip saw Jamie Hartland running away to score, only to have the referee penalise him. From the penalty, Taree City scored in the final minute to inflict Wingham's first loss in the under 18s by 28-18.
League tag
TO make it a totally bad day for the Tigers, the Women's League Tag were defeated by ten tries to three.
For Wingham, Sarah O'Connor scored two tries, and Rhiannon Fuller the other.
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