OLD Bar must now win the last two Group Three Rugby League competition games if they are going to qualify for the semi-finals.
The Pirates threw away a perfect opportunity to move level with Wingham when drawing with the Tigers 30-30 in an entertaining match played at Old Bar.
Old Bar was the better side on the day. They led 18-10 at halftime and 22-10 early after the resumption, but were run down by a Wingham side reduced to just one reserve in the second half.
Wauchope’s win over Forster-Tuncurry gives the Blues the jump over Wingham in the race for third. Old Bar sits two point behind the Tigers and next Saturday’s clash against Wauchope at Wauchope will determine Old Bar’s season. Wingham will pick up two points against the last placed Taree City Bulls.
Should Old Bar miss the cut they will rue the clash against the Tigers. Clearly, Old Bar should have won. But they just couldn’t finish off the under-manned black and golds. Wingham lost fullback Luke Steel with a knee injury in the first half while in the second half Richard Donovan succumbed to a shoulder complaint that has troubled him for most of the year. Second rower Corey Sheehan was also hindered by a neck injury but was forced to play out the game. The Pirates had their troubles before the match started, losing hooker Nathan Berry to injury.
Pete Smith sparked the Wingham revival. He was benched by coach Paul Lewis and when he was introduced into the fray he was subdued. But in the last 15 minutes Smith fired, setting up a try for centre Ryan McIntosh then scoring one to level the scores. Such was Wingham’s dominance in the final moments of the game that Old Bar didn’t really get an opportunity to break the deadlock. Wingham had one chance but a field goal attempt by five-eighth Josh Watson sailed wide. The Tigers also frittered away an opportunity when a misdirected pass from McIntosh resulted in Old Bar gaining possession.
Lock Chris Simon again turned in a quality performance for Old Bar and he was the most penetrative player on the field. Prop Garath Ramage did plenty of work while centre Clint Walker made a successful comeback from injury.
Young centre Joel Kliendienst had a blinder for the Tigers, finishing with three tries. Watson at five-eighth had a mixed day. He sent some fine passes to supports but was badly beaten by Simon when the lock scored a try in the first half. As ever, hooker Andrew Gilbert was reliable while prop Ben Welsh had his moments.
Old Bar looked the goods early running in tries to centres Walker and Wade Davies while Simon kicked two conversions. The Tigers were on the board after smart ball work resulted in Kliendienst crashing over but the goal attempt went astray.
Simon has been threatening all half and finally he shrugged off Watson and raced through other tackles to notch a try. But the next passage of play was typical of Old Bar’s day. With five minutes remaining they lost the ball in their own territory. Wingham won the scrum and Watson sent a perfectly weighted pass to Kliendienst and the centre ran straight and hard to touchdown under the posts. Donovan converted and that was the first half with Old Bar up 18-10.
Wingham opened brightly when a clever pass from McIntosh sent winger Ben Northam over in the corner. Troy Evans set the next try for Old Bar when he raced clear and kicked ahead, fullback Al McDonald beating the Wingham chasers to the ball. Simon’s conversion made it 24-14. But again Wingham hit back, Kliendienst scoring his third and Welsh landing a mighty conversion from the touch line. Old Bar looked to have sealed the result when Simon kicked from a scrum win and with no fullback at home Walker accepted the ball and raced over. The goal opened the gap to 30-20.
Naturally, Old Bar lost the ball soon after the re-start and Smith sent McIntosh over from the scrum win. Smith slipped tackles soon after and Welsh landed the extras to bring the Tigers level.
Old Bar 30 (C Walker 2, W Davis, C Simon, A McDonald tries, C Simon 5 goals) drew with Wingham 30 (J Kliendienst 3, R McIntosh, P Smith, B Northam tries, B Welsh 2, R Donovan goals).