A PENALTY goal kicked by halfback Todd Bridge with less than two minutes left on the clock secured Taree City a 30-22 win over Wingham in the annual Group Three Rugby League clash for the Kristylea Bridge Cup at the Jack Neal Oval on Saturday afternoon.
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This is the first time the Bulls have won the cup in four attempts and it was fitting that Kristylea’s brother should play a monumental part in the result. Bridge admitted his first half performance was below par, when he threw two intercept passes and kicked injudiciously in general play. But his second half earned him the player of the match award by a unanimous vote.
Bridge hasn’t kicked for goal in about five years. Yet he managed five including two angled conversions and the penalty from 40 or so metres out in the last two minutes to seal the result. However, the game ended on a sour note with players from both sides becoming involved in a melee. Referee Cory Richardson delayed calling time while he spoke to his touchline officials before ordering Wingham centre Joel Kliendiest, second rower Shannon Ellem and Taree City’s Ash Currey from the field.
Bridge became a father for the first time this week so it's been an emotional few days for the family. His cousins, Matt and Tim Bridge were in the Wingham side, with Matt also playing a starring role from fullback. But Todd Bridge was remarkably calm at fulltime, despite his match winning performance.
“It was good,'’ he said.
Necessity was the reason he took on the goal kicking role.
“I had no choice, both our other goal kickers were off the injured – we had no-one else,’’ he explained.
“To win that game was awesome. I tried too hard in the first half and dad (coach Gary Bridge) told me to calm down, so I did that.’’
Bridge admitted he had nerves when kicking to convert tries by Aaron Bayley and Jake Lauder, in the second half, the first clawing the Bulls back into the contest and locking up the scores at 22-22, the second, with a touch over three minutes on the clock, giving Taree a six point cushion.
“I think this is the best win I’ve been involved in – obviously because of the day but also the way we came back. It was a great win,’’ he said.
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Wingham coach Jamie Moorehead was as ever, diplomatic.
“It was always going to be a tight game. I think we were the better side in the first half, but we still weren't good enough, our completions weren’t where we wanted to be,’’ he said.
“We got our nose in front in the second half, but we couldn’t capitalise. We’d score points and then make an error of the back of that.’’
Two Todd Bridge kicks resulted in tries for the Bulls in the second stanza just when it looked as though Wingham had enough points on the board to retain the cup. The Tigers hit the lead at 22-16 with 11 on the clock, but coughed up possession from the re-start. In the ensuing set Bridge put in a short kick and Bayley was first to the ball to put Taree within two. Bridge then calmly potted the conversion to level the scores.
Eight minutes remained with Taree again on the attack and centre Lauder somehow managed to gather in another Bridge kick to score out wide to give Taree the lead. Bridge steered the conversion and from there the best Wingham could hope for was a draw. His late penalty sealed the deal.
Mick Henry was another to star for Taree while second rowers Josh Northam and Will Clarke were also strong. Matt Everitt alternated from hooker to five-eighth and had his best game of the year.
Second rower Jake Mullen was a standout for the Tigers along with Matt Bridge at fullback while Nick Beachamp, while battling a head injury, was also impressive.
Wingham were the best side in the first half and trotted off with a 12-4 lead vial tries to Matt Bridge and Kurt Lewis and two conversions to Michael Bailey. Northam scored Taree’s try. Taree hit back after the break when Bridge held up a pass for Michael Peachy to crash over and Bridge added the goal, making it 12-10 and smart work from dummy half by Henry saw Taree in front at 16-12 with Bridge’s goal.
However Wingham responded when Mullen charged onto a short pass to crash over and the dependable Bailey’s goal gave the Tigers an 18-16 advantage. Then referee Richardson awarded Wingham an eight point try after Lewis worked his way over. Bailey missed the first conversion from out wide, but made no mistake with the second from in front and at 22-16, it looked as though it was Wingham’s game. Todd Bridge had other ideas. It was a great afternoon’s entertainment in front of the season’s biggest crowd.
Taree City 30 (J Northam, M Peachy, M Henry, A Bayley, J Lauder tries, T Bridge 5 goals) defeated Wingham 22 (K Lewis 2, M Bridge, J Mullen tries, M Bailey 3 goals).
Reserve grade: Wingham 42 defeated Taree City 18
Under 18s: Taree City 16 defeated Wingham 6
League tag: Taree City 24 defeated Wingham 6.