IT certainly wasn't the prettiest of wins, however, Wingham Tigers scored their first home victory in the Group Three Rugby League season with a close 28-24 result over Old Bar at the Wingham Sporting Complex.
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A try to five-eighth Trent Green and a penalty goal to hard working second rower Michael Rees late in the match was enough to get the Tigers home. This keeps their semi-final hopes alive, although coach Stu Baker said at fulltime they'll have to improve to be still playing at the end of the season-proper.
Baker agreed his side's completion rate was terrible.
"We completed a few sets towards the end of the game and look what we came up with,'' he said.
Not that Old Bar were any better. Both sides frittered away possession with poor ball handling. The closeness of the scores kept the crowd interested but certainly neither side looked premiership material.
At various times both sides looked likely winners. However, as Baker correctly noted, Wingham finished the better and were able to put pressure on the Old Bar defence when the Pirates were clinging onto a 24-22 lead. The break finally came when halfback Luke Steel held up a pass and Green pushed his way through tackles to give Wingham the lead.
Old Bar went into the game without captain-coach Danny Russell, who is recovering from surgery to his finger. Again the Pirates missed Russell's organisational ability along with his crunching defence close to the ruck. The loss leaves Old Bar in last place and they badly need a positive result next Saturday against Wauchope.
It looked as though the Pirates might take the points when five-eighth Nathan Maher scored the best individual try of the game in the second half. Maher powered through some ineffective defence in a 50 metre solo effort. Ben Witchard landed the conversion and Old Bar had a 24-22 advantage. But they were unable to hang on.
The Pirates started on the right note when winger Dean Trindall was over after being given space down the touchline. Wingham responded when winger Aaron Bakewell slipped through a tackle close to the line and Rees added the extras. The set the tone for the rest of the match, with the lead changing frequently.
Lock Shannon Ellem worked hard for the Tigers and was the best player on the park.
