Great Day For Tigers
IT was the annual charity day for the Wingham Tigers on Saturday against the Old Bar Beach Pirates at the Wingham Sporting Complex.
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The Tigers' First Grade team wore black and green jerseys to support Camp Quality and the Asthma Foundation.
The game did not start well for the home team when Old Bar Beach scored from dummy half inside the first five minutes to lead 6-0.
A chip and chase by the Pirates doubled their lead after a quarter of an hour.
Ten minutes later, another Pirates try made the score 18-0, and it looked like it might be a long day.
Five minutes before half time, Ben Welsh barged his way over the try line to exceed 700 first grade points in his 200+ grade game career for the Tigers.
Michael Rees added the extra points to make the score 18-6.
Then Tim Bridge scored in the canteen corner.
Michael Rees' sideline conversion made the score 18-12 at the break.
In the first minute of the second half, Aaron Bakewell crossed in the scoreboard corner to bring the Tigers within two points of the visitors.
A quarter of an hour into the stanza, Wingham took the lead with a try to Michael Rees, which he converted.
About ten minutes from full time, a penalty goal from Matt Bridge made the score 24-18.
Five minutes later, Luke Steel missed a field goal, and then Michael Rees missed a penalty goal that would have secured victory.
In the final minute, instead of taking the option for a field goal, Matt Bridge passed the ball wide to Tim Watson who scored.
Michael Rees added the conversion for a fantastic 30-18 win.
(Ben Welsh, Tim Bridge, Aaron Bakewell, Michael Rees, Tim Watson tries, Michael Rees 4, Matt Bridge goals).
Reserve Grade
RESERVE Grade games between these two clubs are always tough.
An early try to Brendan Butler, converted by Nick Beacham gave Wingham a 6-0 lead.
Ten minutes later, Russell Babekuhl scored in the scoreboard corner, and Mitchell Sweeney converted from the sideline.
Two tries in the final seven minutes of the half, to Garyn Burnes and Chris Butler, both converted by Nick Beacham, made the half time score 24-0.
It took until the midway point of the second half for the Pirates to score, and they backed it up immediately to trail 24-12 with a quarter of an hour remaining.
The Tigers repelled raid after raid from Old Bar Beach who were coming home strongly.
Inside the final five minutes, Nick Beacham slotted a field goal to seal a 25-12 victory.
(Brendan Butler, Russell Babekul, Garyn Burnes, Chris Butler tries,Nick Beacham 3, Mitchell Sweeney goals,Nick Beacham field goal).
Under 18s
THE Tigers Under 18s continue to improve with a 22-0 win over Old Bar Beach.
Tries to Ben Gallagher and Ryan Morris inside the first ten minutes, both converted by Ben Gallagher gave Wingham a 12-0 advantage.
A try to Brock O'Sullivan from dummy half, again converted by Ben Gallagher made the half time score 18-0.
The only points in the second half came again from Ryan Morris who scored in the corner.
(Ryan Morris 2, Ben Gallagher, Brock O'Sullivan tries, Ben Gallagher 3 goals).
League Tag
THE Wingham Ladies League Tag team trailed 6-4 at half time with the home team score by Natalie Hinton.
Three second half tries gave Old Bar Beach a 20-4 win.
(Natalie Hinton try).
During the First Grade game, a blanket went around the ground to raise money for Alex McKinnon, the injured Newcastle Knights player.
And in the Charity Night at the Australian Hotel after the games, over $10,000 was raised.
Great work Tigers!
Next Sunday, the Tigers travel to Kempsey to take on the Macleay Valley Mustangs.