WINGHAM winger Michael Bailey showed Group Three Rugby League selectors the folly of their way with a two try performance in the clash against Port Macquarie at the Wingham Sporting Complex.
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Bailey was surprisingly omitted from the Group Three under 23 side to meet Group Two the previous day. Group Three was embarrassed 56-6 by the northern combination and it is unlikely Bailey would have done much to stem that flood of tries. However, Wingham coach Jamie Moorehead said after his side’s solid 26-16 win over the Sharks that Bailey had a point to prove.
“I don’t know how they left him out of the side,’’ Moorehead said.
Bailey was named in the extended squad, but then omitted from the 17 to travel to Sawtell for representative encounter.
“I was here at training with him on Thursday. He was here early doing extras. He said how nervous he was because this was because it was the first time he’d been named in a rep team,’’ Moorehead explained.
“Then when he found out he wasn’t going to play his shoulders dropped and the boys rallied around him. To his credit he showed today why he should have been in the (group) team.’’
It was length of the field try by Bailey that swung momentum in Wingham’s favour in the second half. The Tigers had been under the pump for most of the stanza when Port put up a high kick. Bailey did well to take the ball and beat a tackle, straighten up and sprint the best part of 100 metres, giving spectators a ‘woo woo’ call on the way. He then added the goal to give Wingham a 10 point cushion at 16-6.
Port narrowed the gap to four with a converted try to Kyle Ellese but the Tigers sealed the points when fullback Matt Bridge joined in from a scrum win and positioned Bailey to dive over in the corner.
Bridge was Wingham’s best, turning in a busy performance where he threw the last pass for two tries and scored the last. On the first occasion he picked up a loose pass from his brother, Tim and hurled the ball between his legs to the unmarked winger Shannon Mullay, who was unopposed to cross in the corner.
Second rower Mona Sio was the pick of a hard working pack, where back rowers Shannon Ellem and Blake Fraser both toiled industriously. Taj Wood turns 17 this week and was called into the side to replace the injured Kurt Lewis at five-eighth. He also played in the under 18 game and was making his first grade debut. Wood turned in a handy effort, with Moorehead indicating he’ll wear the six jumper while Lewis is sidelined.
Port had plenty of ball in the second half, but lacked finish. At this early stage it appears the Sharks will be more methodical than spectacular and they rely heavily on hooker Mitch Wilbow, five-eighth Pomare Ormsby and fullback Harley Gore to provide spark in attack.
Despite this coach Wayne Grant said he was happy with his side’s performance.
Wingham led 10-0 at halftime via tries to Joel Kliendienst, who played in the centres, and Mullay with one goal to Bailey.
Gore scored Port’s first try and Corey Murphy added the extras to reduce the margin to 10-6. Bailey’s long range effort and goal made it 16-6 before Ellese touched down for the Sharks. But the Tigers finished with tries to Bailey and Bridge to make it two wins from two starts in 2017.
Wingham 26 (M Bailey 2, M Bridge, S Mullay, J Kliendienst tries, M Bailey 3 goals) defeated Port Macquarie 12 (H Gore, K Ellese tries, C Murphy 2 goals).
Reserve grade: Port Macquarie 24 d Wingham 20
Under 18s: Port Macquarie 36 d Wingham 14
League tag: Port Macquarie 18 d Wingham 6.
At Kempsey on Saturday Macleay Valley defeated Old Bar 41-22 while Port City thrashed Taree City 48-18 in the clash at Taree on Sunday.