OLD Bar readied for next Saturday’s potentially season-defining Group Three Rugby League match against Port Macquarie with a scrappy 36-16 win over Forster-Tuncurry at Old Bar.
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The Pirates and the Sharks meet next Saturday at Old Bar in a game deferred from April 28 because of wet weather. Both sides will be desperate for the competition points. The fixture has now assumed even more importance after Port failed in a bid to have six points the club was docked by the group reinstated.
Old Bar made heavy weather of the game against the Hawks, but they went into the game minus a number of players due to injury and suspension. A newcomer, second rower Simione Maamalo, who signed with the Pirates just before the June 30 deadline, also made his debut for the club, but spent limited time on the field after injuring a leg.
There was no shortage of effort by the Hawks. But the clubs just doesn’t have enough quality players across the paddock. However, two juniors, hooker Riley Glover and five-eighth Jake Elder both caught the eye. Glover was a North Coast under 23 representative this season and he turned in a busy effort in attack and defence. Elder scored two tries and also tested the Old Bar defence. Coach Phil Adamson said the club has been decimated by injury this season but he’s sure there’s better days ahead, saying the Hawks have a number of promising juniors coming through the ranks.
The Hawks were first on the board via a penalty goal to Glover then a try to Elder after Byram Stewart held up a pass. The Pirates then scored three tries to Percy King, Dylan Towers and winger Tyson Lewis however Corey Wheeler couldn’t land a conversion. Wheeler did have a hand in two of the tries.
The Pirates put a seal on the match within five minutes after halftime when Joel Dark scored and Clint Walker kicked the goal. It all became a bit academic after that in a game punctuated by errors.
The Pirates played oaky in patches, with second rower Carlos Kohu-Martin and halfback Wheeler probably their best. Under 18s Dark and Joel Minihan made solid contributions off the bench.
Captain-coach Jake Wheeler said afterwards he expects his side to be closer to full strength for next Saturday’s match.
It was a good day for the Pirates, with wins in all four grades. League tag won 24-0, under 18s 26-16 in the game of the day while the reserve grade scored a last gasp 10-6 victory following a try to centre Jacob Bugden.
Old Bar 36 (P King 2, D Towers, T Lewis, J Dark, J Minihan, C Walker tries, C Walker 3, C Wheeler goals) defeated Forster-Tuncurry 16 (J Elder 2, J Bolt tries, R Glover 2 goals).
