First grade rugby league
The 2008 Group Three Rugby League Competition kicked off on Saturday evening with the Wingham Tigers beating the Old Bar Pirates in a nail-biting finish.
The Tigers went into the game at Old Bar Reserve without Josh Watson, Luke Steel and Ben Northam who all had wedding invitations.
New recruits Richie Donovan and Pete Smith were up against their old club.
Wingham started strongly, but had tries to Mick Murray and Robert Moi Moi disallowed in the first quarter of an hour, before captain Nigel Latham took off from dummy half 10 metres out to force his way over the line.
Richie Donovan’s conversion gave the Tigers a 6-0 lead.
Almost immediately, Old Bar Beach scored a simple try from a quick tap, followed by another after a series of penalties to arrest the lead by 10-6.
A third try to the Pirates just before half time gave the home team a 16-6 advantage at the break.
The second half was tight, and it was almost at the half way point that Matt Halliday crossed out wide to make the score 16-10.
Minutes later, halfback Pete Smith executed a run-around move to see the defence open up for a try, and Wingham trailed by two points.
But again, Old Bar struck back straight away with a try to lead 20-14 with less than 15 minutes to play.
Inside the last 10 minutes, after some desperate off-loading, Nigel Latham scored his second try beside the posts.
Richie Donovan’s conversion levelled the scores at 20-20.
The Tigers were coming home stronger, and an attempt at field goal by Nigel Latham inside the final minutes went wide.
As Wingham mounted one final attack, a penalty was awarded 30 metres out, 15 metres to the right of the upright.
As Ben Welsh lined up his first kick of the evening, the final siren sounded.
He calmly slotted the ball between the posts for a nail-biting 22-20 victory for the Tigers.
Reserve grade
The reserve grade game was a close tussle, but the Tigers bowed to Old Bar.
The scores were locked 6-6 at half time, after Steve Gee put the Tigers ahead early with a try which was converted by Tim Rees.
A penalty goal to Tim Rees put Wingham ahead 8-6 a quarter of an hour into the second half.
With just 11 minutes remaining, a Tigers’ player was sin-binned.
The Pirates took advantage with a lucky try from a bomb that bounced off the goal post, and then a penalty goal in the final minutes to win 14-8.
Under 18s
The under 18s game was hard fought, until three tries in the last 15 minutes saw Wingham run away with a 24-8 victory.
Troy Fry was first to cross the line for a try converted by Jeremy Bartier.
With a 6-0 lead just minutes from half-time, the Tigers were reduced to just 12 players with a sin-binning.
The Pirates scored soon after to trail 6-4 at the break.
Another try early in the second stanza gave Old Bar Beach an 8-6 lead.
But when Wingham were back to full strength, a try to Joel Kleindeist put Wingham ahead again.
Jaiden Meyer crossed minutes later from dummy half.
Then a second try to Joel Kleindeist sealed victory.
Jeremy Bartier’s conversion from the sideline gave him a perfect kicking record, and the Tigers at comfortable 16-point win.
Next week
Hallidays Point dropping out of the Group Three Rugby League competition has caused changes to be made to the 2008 draw.
Wingham were to have their first home game of the season this Saturday, but it has now been postponed till April 19.
This Sunday, the Tigers will play the Forster-Tuncurry Hawks at Harry Elliott Oval, Tuncurry.
The under 18s kick-off at 12.15pm, the reserves play at 1.30pm and the first graders take to the field at 3pm.
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