The Tigers led 24-10 at the break, but had to survive a second half rally from the Mustangs with the game in the balance until the last gripping seconds. Macleay finished the match with 12 players after winger David Davis was sent off by referee Cory Richardson with 13 minutes left on the clock after a tackle on Wingham’s Tim Bridge. Wingham were also one short as Richardson sent captain Shannon Ellem to the sheds for a 10 minute spell from the same incident

The game was tough and physical as both sets of forwards tore into the hard stuff. Wingham’s forwards were led by the indefatigable Ellem. The only time he stopped working was when he was having his 10 minutes in the confessional. Hooker Adam Dale and prop Brad Fraser were both strong while the big men, Joel Kliendienst and Rumone Jackson made their presence felt, Kliendienst scoring Wingham’s only try in the second half.

Dale deputised for Mitch Collins at nine while Blake Sky moved from fullback to cover for Trent Green. Both Green and Collins had work commitments. Sky produced a great game in his new role, scoring two tries and keeping busy for the full 80 minutes.

Coach Jamie Moorehead agreed that Wingham’s energy levels were up on recent weeks but added the Tigers have some work to do. He was concerned about the number of errors his side made, particularly at crucial times. Indeed, some were coach killers.

“I don’t usually talk that much during a game, but I’ve just about lost my voice,’’ he smiled.

He praised Sky’s performance.

“You know what you’re going to get from Blake – he tries his heart out every week,’’ Moorehead said.

“He weighs about 50 kilos dripping wet but he never stops going.’’

Macleay’s captain-coach Dennis Ritchie was sidelined with a hamstring injury and expects to be out for a couple of weeks. He revealed the Mustangs are having a bad run with injuries, with players having to back up from under 18s and reserve grade against Wingham. There was a fair bit of disorganisation as the Mustangs trotted out, with Ritchie doing a head count to make sure he had 13 players on the field.

“It’s just something we have to deal with,’’ Ritchie said, adding the Mustangs hit a similar problem midway through last season.

He said he was proud of the way the Mustangs fought back in the second half.

That’s two losses on the trot for Macleay.

“We’ll have to put that one behind us and start again next week,’’ Ritchie added.

Hooker Joseph Barber got through an enormous amount of work for the Mustangs and was about their best while halfback Anthony Cowan’s kicking game was spot on.

Sky put Wingham on the board early with a converted try however, Macleay responded with an opportunistic effort from the dangerous Stephen Blair, who picked up a Wingham kick and raced 80 metres for Cowan to convert.

Second rower Jake Mullen was first to a short kick from Sky to add Wingham’s second converted try but Macleay fullback Jeremy Taylor latched onto a kick from Cowan to post Macleay’s next four pointer. The conversion was astray.

The Tigers had the final say with tries to Sky and Dale, both converted by Michael Bailey.

Macleay reduced the margin to 24-20 with tries to winger Willy Lockwood and Paul Dunera and the game looked to be slipping away from the Tigers as they made some silly mistakes early in the tackle count. Then Kliendienst charged onto a pass to score a much needed try and Bailey’s goal increased the margin to 10 before Edgar Cowell regathered a kick to cross for the Mustangs and Cowan’s goal made it 30-26. Six minutes remained on the clock, setting up a tense finale and no spectators left early.

Wingham 30 (B Sky 2, A Dale, J Mullen, J Kliendienst tries, M Bailey 5 goals) defeated Macleay Valley 26 (S Blair, J Taylor, W Lockwood, P Dunera, E Cowell tries, A Cowan 3 goals).

Reserve grade Wingham 34 defeated Macleay 18

Under 18s Macleay 56 defeated Wingham 20

League tag Macleay 16 defeated Wingham 12.