WITH the previous week rained out, the format was changed for the Group 3 Pre-season Finals at Old Bar Reserve on Saturday.
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Two games were to be played, and the team that won by the biggest margin would be declared the winner.
With the earlier game between Taree City and Port City ending 30-30, the winner of the next game would take the shield for the pre-season competition.
Twenty minutes into the game, Port Macquarie scored under the posts to lead 6-0.
A try by Aaron Bakewell ten minutes later made the half time score 6-4.
Straight after the break, the Sharks scored a soft try under the posts to lead by eight points.
Five minutes later, Tim Bridge cut through to score under the posts. Luke Steel added the extra points for the Tigers to trail 12-10.
Just a couple of minutes later, from broken play, Port Macquarie scored again to lead 18-10.
Midway through the second half, Adam Kerr was sin-binned for disputing a refereeing decision.
Although Wingham had the best field position in the latter part of the game, it took to the final minute when Jake Mullen barged his way over to score beside the posts. As Luke Steel converted the try, the final siren sounded, and Wingham had just fallen short of taking consecutive pre-season titles by 18-16.
The Group 3 Rugby League competition begins on Saturday April 11, with the Wingham Tigers travelling to Wauchope to take on the Blues.