The sides met on four occasions last year – three premiership fixtures and the minor semi-final and the Tigers sang their victory song on each occasion. However, Taree City proved to be a committed opponent this time. The final scoreline flattered the home side with winger Michael Bailey scoring a converted try after the fulltime siren when a fair proportion of the players were shaking hands.

Taree’s first half defence was exemplary. A mistake from the kickoff enabled Wingham to secure field position and they spent a major part of the first 40 minutes in Taree territory. However, the Bulls held firm with some stoic defence. They were also aided by a Wingham attack that tended to drift across field and not hit the line. The Bulls trotted off at the break leading 12-0.

Taree dominated the middle third, as it is called these days. Toby de Stefano is a member of the club’s under 18s but had his first run-on game in first grade as a hooker and he played like he’d been there for years. He organised play, pinched metres out of dummy half, found the line with kicks when needed and did his share in defence. Props Matt Taupe and Thomas Berry, second rower Josh Northam and lock Ethan Currey also reveled in the heavy going.

The Bulls also found a weakness in Wingham’s right hand side in the second half, where some judicious kicks from clever halfback Todd Bridge were cashed in by winger Nayden Moriarty, who is also just out of the junior grade. Moriarty finished with two tries and laid on a third. Fullback Dean Mills was another to impress for Taree, scoring a try and kicking four goals including three from wide out.

Taree City coach Gary Bridge was elated at halftime.

“This is the best win I’ve been associated with,’’ he said.

He pointed out the Bulls had two players in the sin bin at various stage – Mills and centre Tim Alliston who were both give time by referee Brad Ross for dissent. Wingham’s Michael Rees also spent 10 in the cooler for the same offence in the second half.

Bridge praise his side’s defence and the spark provided by de Stefano, Moriarty and Mills.

“They’re only young and they give us enthusiasm,’’ he added.

Wingham coach Jamie Moorehead agreed the Tigers lacked punch in attack, particularly with all the ball they had in the first stanza. However, he noted that former representative prop Rumone Jackson made a successful comeback. Jackson badly cut his finger in a work accident and this was expected to sideline him for much of the season.

“I was going to keep him back for a couple more games but he wanted to play and I couldn’t hold him back,'’ Moorehead said.

He agreed it’s ‘back to the drawing board,’ for the Tigers now after successive losses.

“But it always is in football,’’ he added.

Halfback Trent Green was easily Wingham’s most dangerous attacking player. He’s potent in broken play and carved through the line several times. However, apart from one occasion Green’s good work didn’t convert to points on the board. Hooker Mitch Collins tried hard, but the Tigers will be counting the days until attacking linchpin Kurt Lewis is fit to resume playing.

After soaking up pressure Taree opened the scoring in the first half when consistent centre Aaron Bayley took a pass near the line to cross after de Stefano had earlier broached the defence. Not long before the break Alliston popped a pass for winger Todd Northam to score in the corner. Mills landed both conversions and it was a dozen to zip at oranges.

A Green break and kick saw winger Bailey first to the ball in the corner to open Wingham’s account and Bailey slotted the conversion from the corner to reduce the margin to six. The Bulls received a penalty almost in front soon after but elected to stay on the attack and this paid dividends when Moriarty was first to a Bridge kick to score out wide. Mills kicked the goal and at 18-6 Taree looked winners. A second Moriarty try, again off a kick that Wingham should have hauled in sealed the result at 22-6.

Moriarty was on hand to gather in another Bridge kick and send the ball to Mills and at 28-6 with 14 to go it was becoming a procession.

However, the Tigers finished with tries to Taj Woods and Bailey to close the gap.

The sides next meet on Saturday July 8 when they play for the Kristylea Bridge Cup. Wingham holds the trophy and Taree is desperate to take possession – it should be a great game.

Taree City 28 ( N Moriarty 2, A Bayley, D Mills, T Northam tries, D Mills 4 goals) defeated Wingham 18 (M Bailey 2, T Woods tries, M Bailey 3 goals).

Reserve grade: Wingham 42 defeated Taree Ctiy 12

Under 18s: Taree City 38 defeated Wingham 0

League tag: Taree City 24 defeated Wingham 10.