AN intercept try six minutes from fulltime to winger Jade Clarke lifted Old Bar to an upset win over Group Three Rugby League competition leaders Wauchope on a heavy field at Old Bar.
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Like a bad cheque and the Queensland State of Origin side, the Pirates keep bouncing back. However, the win, as meritorious as it was, won’t give Old Bar a top four berth, as Port Breakers thrashed Forster-Tuncurry at Port on Saturday. The Breakers and Forster are now just two clear of Old Bar.
It was a remarkable comeback. Wauchope skipped away to a 22-12 lead at one point in the second half and looked winners. Their forwards, led by the stoic Chris Trembath, were making the advantage line and Old Bar appeared to be wilting in the difficult conditions.
But the Pirates rallied. Aided by a strong performance by halfback Nathan Berry, Old Bar kept fighting away. It was Berry who sparked the resurgance. He intercepted a kick and sent winger Clark away for the first of his two late tries. Skipper Matt Everitt landed the goal.
The Blues aided their own downfall. They bombed three tries in the second half through poor handling or bad options. They were deep in Old Bar’s red zone when captain-coach Rob Trembath threw a pass he no doubt regretted soon after when Clarke swooped, then saluted the crowd on his way to the posts to level the scores at 22-22. Everitt made no mistake with the conversion to give Old Bar the lead.
They grimly held out in the time remaining.
Considering the conditions it was a top game of football. As mentioned, Berry was superb for the Pirates. He made a cameo appearance in reserve grade, to stretch his hamstring he later said, but then continued to guide the Pirates around the park.
Their forward pack isn’t imposing, but they are all workers, with lock Jake Wheeler and second rower Riley Collings getting through a mountain of work.
The Pirates had a couple of late withdrawals, but this didn’t seem to worry their momentum.
The Pirates scored first through centre Daniel Thorpe and Everitt converted. However, Wauchope replied with a touchdown to Dustin Prosser.
Second rower Collins did well to post Old Bar’s second and Everitt’s conversion made it a dozen.
But just on time second rower Matt Bird - probably Wauchope’s best on the day, crossed the conversion line to make it 12-10.
In the second half hooker Dean Hurrell laid on a try for five-eighth Nick McCabe and Prosser landed the goal to give the Blues the advantage.
Prosser scored not long after and the conversion pushed the Blues to 10 clear and that looked to be enough.
But then Hurrell was sin binned and the match seemed to change.
Old Bar’s nest game will be against Taree City at the Jack Neal Oval in a fortnight. It should be a beauty.
