WINGHAM Tigers travelled to the "graveyard" to play the Old Bar Beach Pirates in the second last game of the regular Group Three Rugby League season.
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It was another history making game for Wingham as Luke Steel became only the sixth player in the club's history to reach 200 first grade games.
It took just five minutes for the Tigers to get on the scoreboard when Shannon Ellem barged over under the posts, and Michael Bailey converted.
Minutes later, Shannon Ellem was in again, this time in the corner after a kick was spilled in the in-goal area.
Then Matt Bridge made a break and put in a kick that Michael Bailey gathered to score for a 14-0 advantage. Right on half time, Michael Bailey kicked a penalty goal to lead 16-0 at the break.
Early in the second stanza, Kurt Lewis put up a high bomb that was dropped, and he regathered to score near the posts. Michael Bailey added the extra points. It then took another quarter of an hour for Wingham to add more points when Joel Kliendienst scored following a scrum win. Michael Bailey's kick made the score 28-0 with 10 minutes remaining. It was a penalty awarded after fulltime that led to the Pirates only points with a try in the corner making the final score 28-4.
The reserve grade game was for the minor premiership. Nick Beacham scored early for a 4-0 lead. The Pirates hit back with consecutive tries to lead 12-4. Another try to the home team 10 minutes later increased the advantage to 18-4. A try to Jackson Mullen just before the break made the half time score 18-8. Inside the first minute of the second half, Justin Berry took a one on one strip to run away and score under the posts. Ben Griffiths slotted the conversion. When Jackson Mullen scored 10 minutes later, and Ben Griffiths added the extra points, Wingham took the lead 20-18. Then Zac Brown scored to extend the lead to six points with just under 20 minutes left. With just five minutes remaining, Old Bar Beach levelled the scores with a converted try. The game ended in controversy when the referee gave the Pirates a penalty from a scrum, but the allowed a kick for goal from what was a differential penalty. This gave Old Bar victory 26-24 and the minor premiership.
Wingham and Old Bar Beach were battling for fifth spot in the under 18s, and an early try to Tate Grofos gave the Tigers a 4-0 lead. But then the Pirates dominated scoring six tries to lead 34-4 at half time.
The home team added two more tries before Tate Grofos scored his second in the corner. Ryan Morris converted from the sideline. The Pirates hit back immediately to make the score 52-10. Jordan Morgan-Saxby dived over from dummy half inside the final five minutes, before Old Bar Beach completed their 58-14 victory with another try.
The women’s league tag game was one way traffic with the Pirates winning 64-0.