PORT City had to work hard to overcome a determined Taree City in the Group Three Rugby League game at the Jack Neal Oval.
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The final scoreline – a 28-6 win to the Breakers, seems like an easy enough day for the unbeaten premiers. However, the Bulls led 2-0 at halftime and while even the club’s most loyal of supporters wasn’t thinking about an upset victory, Taree still showed enough to suggest they could be around come the semi-finals.
It took the Breakers 47 minutes to get on the board via a try to centre Luke Sinclair. Until they they had been frustrated by some scrambling Taree defence. However, once they hit the lead the Breakers looked way too good and started to find holes in a tiring Taree defence that worked overtime in the second half when Port had a glut of possession. The Bulls lack a player, or players, who can swing the tide of a game, unlike the Breakers who are blessed with a number match winners.
Taree pounded Port’s line throughout the first half but couldn’t get a try. There wasn’t a lot of science about Taree’s attack with the forwards doing the bulk of the work. Taree’s outside backs didn’t trouble the opposition to any great deal. The Bulls finally broke the 0-0 deadlock with a goal to Bruwyn Tisdell just before the break.
Port lost North Coast under 23 fullback Owen Blair with a corked thigh early in the first half and coach Dan Kemps said later the club is down on players through injury
"It seems like a really decent cork and they can be tricky when they’re on the quad like that. It’s nothing major.’’
Kemp hopes Blair will be fit for next weekend’s clash against Port Macquarie.
He said the Breakers went into the match expecting a tough contest.
“I have a lot of respect for them – I think they’re a decent, well balanced side,’’ he said at fulltime.
“They certainly put it to us in the first half.’’
Kemp added the Breakers are notoriously slow starters.
“We’ve had to dig ourselves out of a couple of holes,’’ he said.
“That has become a trend and it’s not good. We’re looking to address it but we can’t put our finger on it.
It seems like don’t switch on until we’re really in the contest.’’
Lock Chris Piper from Port City was the best on ground. He kept bending the defensive line in both halves and his work rate was outstanding.
Second rower Will Clarke was again a willing worker for the Bulls as was prop Matt Taupe. Mick Henry at halfback was never going to control the game as he did in the previous match against Wingham, but he still did everything possible to try and breach the Port defence. He was rewarded with a clever try from a kick late in the game.
Port City 28 (L Sinclair, S Blair, C Cheesman, T Clarke, R Roberts tries, J Smith 4 goals) defeated Taree City 6 (M Henry try, B Tisdell goal).