THE Wingham Tigers were at home on Sunday afternoon at the Wingham Sporting Complex to the undefeated competition favourites, the Port Macquarie Sharks.
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Since their last outing, Riki Toby had returned to New Zealand, Ryan Gilkinson to Coffs Harbour, and Adam Dale out for the season following a motorbike accident.
The Tigers had four of last year's Under 18s in the starting team, with 17 year old Nathan Moriaty on the bench.
The game had just started, when the Sharks were on the scoreboard with a converted try.
Five minutes later, Matt Bridge scored after a grubber kick into the in-goal rebounded off an opposition player to make the score 6-4.
After a quarter of an hour, the visitors were in again after consecutive sets of tackles in Wingham territory to lead 12-4.
Five minutes later, winger Aaron Bakewell acrobatically scored in the canteen corner to make the score 12-8.
Leading up to half time, the Sharks added another try to lead 18-8 at the break.
The second half started with the visitors having three consecutive sets of tackles before scoring a try to lead 24-8.
Then back-to-back tries blew the score out to 34-8.
Then, ten minutes later, a try from dummy half on the last tackle made the score 40-8 with a quarter of an hour remaining.
But then Nayden Moriaty scored from an Adam Kerr bomb. With Matt Bridge's conversion, the score was 40-14.
Then Shannon Ellem pounced on a grubber into the in-goal area. Matt Bridge added the extra points.
With a minute remaining, Brendan Butler ran into a hole to score near the posts. Matt Bridge converted the try as the full time siren sounded, making the final score 40-26.
Despite the loss, it was a good performance by the Wingham Tigers.
( Matt Bridge, Aaron Bakewell, Nayden Moriaty, Shannon Ellem, Brendan Butler tries, Matt Bridge 3 goals)
Reserve grade
THE reserve grade game was between the two undefeated teams in 2015.
By half time, the Tigers trailed 18-0 after three Shark's tries.
A quarter of an hour into the second stanza, another try made the score 24-0.
With just 13 minutes remaining, Reece Slaven scored out wide, and Ben Gallagher converted.
On the next set, Cody Green added another try, and again Ben Gallagher added the extra points for Wingham to trail 24-12.
With four minutes remaining, Blake Sky scored out wide, and Ben Gallagher slotted the conversion to put the Tigers within reach at 24-18.
Then Reece Slaven scored his second try in the corner. Ben Gallagher put the sideline conversion over the black dot, and the Tigers had escaped with a 24-24 draw, and both teams remain undefeated.
(Reece Slaven 2, Cody Green, Blake Sky tries, Ben Gallagher 4 goals)
Under 18s
THE Under 18s were outclassed by the Port Macquarie team. The Tigers trailed 18-4 at the break, with the try from Brodie O'Brien.
The second half saw the Sharks add three tries in eight minutes to lead 34-4.
A try by Blake Webb in the corner with ten minutes to go made the full time score 34-8.
(Brodie O'Brien, Blake Webb tries)
League tag
THE Ladies' League Tag team were defeated 56-0 after trailing 20-0 at the break.
Next game
THE Tigers travel to Harry Elliott Oval at Tuncurry on Sunday to play the Forster Tuncurry Hawks.