WINGHAM Sporting Complex was the venue for the final round of the Group Three Rugby League competition with the Tigers up against the Forster Tuncurry Hawks. A win to the home team would mean that Wingham finish the season in second place.
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Their opponents had already booked a place in the elimination semi-final against Taree City.
A try in the first minute to Michael Bailey gave Wingham a 4-0 lead.
Ten minutes later, Matt Bridge scored in the scoreboard corner after a strong run from Brodie Myer.
A quarter of an hour later, Michael Bailey scored his second try after good lead up work from Matt Bridge. With the conversion by Michael Bailey, the Tigers led 14-0.
A try to Michael Richards just before the break, converted by Michael Bailey made the half time score 20-0.
Despite the score, the injury toll for the home team was mounting with the Bridge brothers unable to take the field for the second half.
Blake Sky scored early in the stanza, and with Michael Bailey's kick, the Tigers led 26-0.
The Hawks hit straight back to reduce the deficit to 20 points.
When Shannon Ellem barged his way over, and with a successful conversion to Micheal Bailey, Wingham led by 32-6 ten minutes into the second half.
The score should have been extended when Kurt Lewis kicked from a scrum win 10 metres out from his own line, and flying winger Michael Bailey raced through to regather the ball and score, only to have the referee incorrectly rule that he was off-side from the kick.
A try midway through the half to the visitors made the score 32-12.
A late try to Forster Tuncurry made the final score 32-18.
Congratulations to Kurt Lewis and his team for qualifying second, only one win behind minor premiers, Port Macquarie Sharks. Port City, Taree City and Forster-Tuncurry make up the five.
(Michael Bailey 2, Matt Bridge, Michael Richards, Blake Sky, Shannon Ellem tries, Michael Bailey 4 goals)
The preliminary semi-final will be played at the Wingham Sporting Complex on Sunday, with Wingham against Port City in first grade, and against the Port Macquarie Sharks in reserve grade.
