The Pirates play the Sharks on Sunday at the Regional Stadium in Port Macquarie while they’ll meet again at Old Bar on Saturday July 7. This encounter was deferred from April 28 when Old Bar Reserve was closed following wet weather. There’s a general bye in Group Three on July 7 and 8.

The Pirates currently sit in fourth place with Port Macquarie sixth following the loss of six competition points for match review breaches. However, Old Bar is just two points shy of equal second Wauchope and Wingham.

It would appear Port would have to win all the remaining games to have a chance of appearing in the final series if an appeal against the loss of points fails. (See story this page).

“They’re going to be hard for sure,’’ Old Bar co-coach Jason Morrissey said about the Sharks.

Morrissey stressed after last Saturday’s scrappy win over Taree City that the Pirates have to improve their ball security. Nothing had changed when he spoke to the Times this week.

However, Morrissey said he doesn’t want to stifle the side’s creativity in attack.

“It’s a fine line,’’ he said.

“Joel Dark slipped a great ball last week and that resulted in us running in a long range try. I still want to see some second phase football.

“But we also have to improve our completions. If we can do that, we’re a good side.’’

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Utility back Corey Wheeler is set to retain his place in the run-on side after a bright display against the Bulls. However, a groin injury will sideline halfback Justin Berry. Morrissey was due to consult co-coach Jake Wheeler before deciding who would replace Berry, who was injured in the first half against the Bulls.

However, Morrissey added he wants to persevere with Nathan Maher at fullback. Maher had played most of his football at five-eighth, but Morrissey believes he has the makings of a fullback.

“Sometimes these things can take time and I want to keep Nathan back there,’’ he said.

Morrissey  reiterated a top three finish is vital and said a win over the Sharks this Sunday will give the Pirates a great shot of achieving the goal.

He said said previously he wants to avoid playing in an elimination semi-final. This would be the fate of the teams filling in fourth and fifth spots on the ladder.

“We’re aiming for the top three and I’m confident we’ll get there,’’ Morrissey said.

GROUP Three Rugby League chairman Wayne Bridge wants Port Macquarie’s appeal against the loss of six competition points settled by the end of next week.

While Mr Bridge admits there’s no fixed timeline, he doesn’t want the matter dragging on indefinitely. He said if the Sharks get some or all of the points back it could impact on where other clubs finish in the race for top five positions.

As has been reported extensively the Sharks lost six points for two breaches of the group’s match review policy. The club’s appeal was heard last week but there was no resolution.

At the hearing Port had promised to furnish videos of two home games – against Macleay Valley on April 22 and Taree City on May 26 – to the group for review. Taree City had cited a player from the May 26 game while the group wanted to look at some incidents from the Macleay game.

Under the group’s bylaws clubs are expected to video each home game for the match review committee.

Mr Bridge said since then the group has received footage of the first half of the Macleay match.

“They’ve told us there was a problem and that we’ll get the second half this week,’’ Mr Bridge said.

However, he added the club has indicated there’s no footage from the clash against Taree City.

Mr Bridge confirmed there will be some penalty against the club for not having a video of the Taree match but was reluctant to comment further.

Port Macquarie officials threatened to take the matter to ‘a higher authority’ following last week’s appeal. Group Three sought advice from the Country Rugby League before docking the club points.

Port now sits in sixth place on 12 points with six matches remaining before the start of the semi-finals. Fifth placed Taree has 17 points but has played one more game than the Sharks. Port will meet Old Bar in a deferred game on July 9 at Old Bar.

After Sunday’s game against Old Bar at Port Macquarie, the Sharks play Taree City at the Jack Neal Oval on Sunday July 1, Old Bar at Old Bar on Saturday July 7, Wauchope at Wauchope on Sunday July 15, Forster-Tuncurry at Port Macquarie on July 22 before finishing the competition-proper with Wingham at Wingham on July 28.