OLD Bar Pirates will be without three of their big guns for Sunday’s clash against Group Three Rugby League minor premiers Port City at Old Bar.
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The Pirates will be minus top forwards Carlos Kohu-Martin and Shannon Ellem along with goal kicking centre Percy King.
Captain-coach Jake Wheeler assured none of the trio are long term causalities.
“We don’t play next weekend because Macleay’s pulled out of the comp, so I can rest them now until the semi-finals,’’ Wheeler said.
Last week’s draw means that Old Bar will finish either third or fourth, depending on how Wingham fares.
“If Wingham loses both their games we can get to third, otherwise we’ll be fourth,’’ Wheeler said.
The Pirates will pick up gift points from Macleay’s expected last round forfeit.
Old Bar has been running short of personnel in the senior grades for the past fortnight, with the reserve grade having the bare 13. Despite this they managed a come-from-behind 20-18 win over Wingham last week.
“Thankfully the reserves get some players back this week so we can draw on them, otherwise they would have had to forfeit,’’ Wheeler pointed out.
He concedes this isn't the best preparation for a clash against the competition favourites.
“But we’ll get a team together,’’ he said.
