The Sharks came away big 42-24 winners to gust about guarantee the major semi-final will be played at Port.

Wingham now sits on 35 points, one clear of the fast-finishing Port City. The Tigers and Breakers clash at Port Macquarie next Saturday in what will be a crucial encounter.

Port Macquarie out-muscled and out-played the Tigers in a commanding 80 minute performance. The Sharks won’t have the services of captain-coach Joe Cudmore again this year because of injury but they didn’t miss a beat. Smart replacement Mitch Wilbow showed speed to score three tries, the first after he ducked out of dummy half and sprinted 50 metres through some poor marker defence.

Wingham’s first half was particularly disappointing. The Tigers struggled to make metres while their kicking game was dreadful. Five-eighth and captain-coach Kurt Lewis was well contained by the defence. Wingham goal kicker Michael Bailey also had an off-day, missing three conversion attempts from a close range.

Port led 24-16 at the break. The match was only moments old when the Sharks were on the board courtesy of a close range try to big front rower Grant Faatoia. Lewis split the line for the Tigers and sent second rower Joel Kliendienst on his way for an unconverted try but a disputed try to veteran centre Luke Ackroyd pushed the Sharks to a 12-4 advantage. Trent Green kept the Tigers in touch when he sent centre Thomas Dooker over for Bailey to convert but Wilbow’s 50 metre scoot from dummy half and a goal to Corey Murphy pushed the advantage back to the home side.

Wilbow’s second try made it 22-10 but on halftime Green sent centre Matt Bridge on his wast to wind up the scoring for the half. Port maintained their dominance in the second half with two tries to winger Bailey, the first a 90 metre affort after he took an intercept.

Forwards Kliendienst from Wingam and Port’s Matt Shipway had a great battle, with neither conceding a centimetre.

A TRY to centre Brayden Wynter a minute from fulltime was enough to secure Forster-Tuncurry a 26-21 win over an unlucky Old Bar Pirates in the Group Three Rugby League game played at Tuncurry.

The win should secure the Hawks a semi-final berth as they are now five points clear of Wauchope and Macleay Valley. Forster will now hope to overhaul Taree City in fourth place and secure a semi-final berth at Tuncurry.

As ever Old Bar were competitive and it looked as though they’d grab the points when centre Danny Russell snapped a field goal to give the Pirates a 21-20 lead with eight minutes remaining. However, the Hawks, aided by a glut of possession managed to take camp in the Old Bar quarter in dying moments of the game and finally achieved the breakthrough when Wynter took a pass close to the line to crash over.

While happy to get the points it wasn’t a performance that would stamp the Hawks as contenders for higher honours this year. Their handling was slipshod and this allowed the Pirates to get back into the encounter. Too often the Hawks forfeited possession when trying to push a pass, often early in the tackle count. However, it looked a case of Forster by how far early in the first half when halfback Byram Stewart – probably their best on the day along with prop Matt Shipway- pushed his way through tackles to hare 50 metres and score a converted try. Old Bar had other ideas with Russell scoring his customary try. Both sides added further tries before the break to troop off with the scores locked at 10-10.

The Hawks were in again soon after the resumption through replacement Mark Amato but again Old Bar fought back into the contest with a determined try to big front rower Rumone Jackson. Old Bar hit the lead for the first time via Russell’s field goal before Wynter’s touchdown put the seal on the result.

TAREE City coach Gary Bridge praised his side’s defence after the Bulls downed Macleay Mustangs 40-14 in the Group Three Rugby League clash at the Jack Neal Oval.

In a game that didn’t raise to any great heights, the Bulls always looked to have the visitor’s measure.

“They scored three tries and they call came from kicks,’’ Bridge said.

“Now we have to show a bit more emergency when getting to the kicks.’’

The Bulls have also signed former South Newcastle second rower Dane Cordner for the remainder of the season. He is the, elder brother of Sydney Roosters star Boyd Cordner. A second rower, Cordner signed just before the June 30 deadline.

“Dane played 65 minutes for us because we had a few injuries. He’ll obviously improve with a couple more runs and he adds another dimension to our forwards,’’ Bridge said.

Cordner reportedly rocked Macleay ball runners with some ferocious tackles. 

Under 18 player Jake Lauder came on as a replacement in firsts and scored a try in a sound performance on the wing.

Bridge said Matt Everitt, who played hooker, lock and halfback at various times in the game was strong for the Bulls.

Forwards Matt Taupe, Ash Currey and Josh Northam were all outstanding.

The win maintains Taree’s spot in the top four although they are only two points off Saturday’s opponent, Forster-Tuncurry.