The Wingham Tigers rugby league side will meet Forster-Tuncurry in the minor semi final after finishing the season proper with a bruising 38-all draw against the Wauchope Blues.
The Blues led the Tigers 20-18 at half time, with all Wingham’s points coming from halfback Anthony Cowan.
The Tigers scored first when Cowan chipped and regathered to score in the corner. He kicked the conversion from the sideline. Five minutes later, an intercept from Nathan Davis was off-loaded to Cowan who scored under the posts for a 12-0 lead.
Back to back tries by the home team reduced the deficit to 12-8.
A dropped ball by the Blues saw Anthony Cowan pick up the ball and run 60 metres to score in the corner. He converted again from the sideline for an 18-8 advantage. Another Wauchope try made the score 18-14.
A controversial incident inside the final five minutes of the first half saw Wauchope snatch the lead. A Wauchope player was tackled a couple of metres from the Wingham try line.
The Wingham player was then seen to release the Wauchope player so as not to get penalised.
The Blues player got up and took a couple of steps and put the ball down over the goal line. The referee awarded a try. It was converted and the home team went into the break with a two point lead.
A Tigers’ error in their own in-goal area gifted the Blues a try early in the second stanza to lead 26-18.
Another try ten minutes later increased the home team’s lead to 32-18.
Midway through the stanza, Wingham’s Mick Hardy crossed out wide for a try. Anthony Cowan converted to reduce the deficit to 32-24.
Soon afterwards, Wauchope scored in the corner to lead 36-24 with a quarter of an hour remaining.
Michael Davis scored in the corner from a grubber kick to make the score 36-28.
Five minutes later, Matt Halliday scored to bring the Tigers within four points.
With two minutes remaining, Joel Wilson scored in the corner to level the scores. Anthony Cowan landed the kick from the sideline to give Wingham a 38-36 lead.
Wauchope recovered the ball from a short kick-off, and on the next play the referee ruled that the ball was stripped from the carrier. The home team was given a penalty right in front of the posts.
The penalty goal was kicked after the full time siren to level the scores at 38-38.
To their credit, Wauchope dominated much of the game, but the Tigers came back strongly in the last twenty minutes.
The result sees Wingham finish third on the Group 3 competition ladder for 2010. This means they will play Forster- Tuncurry in two weeks’ time.
Wingham Tigers 38 (Anthony Cowan 3, Mick Hardy, Michael Davis, Matt Halliday, Joel Wilson tries, Cowan 5 conversions) drew Wauchope Blues 38.
Reggies sneak home
THE reserve grade rugby league encounter between Wingham and Wauchope saw the Tigers sneak home with a 22-20 win.
The Blues scored first to lead 6-0.
Then Jake Goward scored in the corner from a Luke Steel grubber. Another converted try to the home team gave them a 12-4 lead.
Midway through the half, Dave Corbet barged his way over for a try. Luke Steel added the extra points for the Tigers to trail 12-10.
Eight minutes later, Beau Prior scored from dummy half. With Luke Steel’s conversion, the Tigers went ahead 16-12.
A try to the Blues levelled the scores at 16-16 just before the break.
Wauchope looked certain to score early in the second half, but Beau Prior was able to dislodge the ball in the in-goal area. Minutes later they did score to lead 20-16.
Wingham’s Joel Kleindeinst scored, and Luke Steel added the extra points. When the final siren sounded, the Tigers had won by 22-20.
Under 18s
Wingham under 18s 64 (Bridge 2, Rees 2, Power, Milliken, J Orrock, Wilson, Bakewell, Grofos, Beacham, Minns tries, 8 conversions) beat Wauchope 6.
League Tag
Wingham league tag 5 (Fuller 2, K Mills 2, Mancell tries) beat Wauchope 2.
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