WINGHAM retained the Krystylea Bridge Cup with a hard earned 32-24 win over Taree City in the Group Three Rugby League clash, the game ending just before NSW entered a seven day lockdown at 5pm on Saturday August 14.
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The lockdown decision resulted in the Group Three match between Port Macquarie and Old Bar at Wauchope, also on Saturday, being cancelled, with the teams sharing the competition points. Both games scheduled for Sunday were also cancelled.
The Mid North Coast Hockey League grand finals set down for Taree Hockey Centre on Saturday afternoon were also called off.
Back to the league and it was a scrambling, error-riddled affair where Wingham hit back to secure the win in the last 15 minutes. The Bulls were in the lead at 24-16 at that point and were doing enough to claim the game.
However, the Tigers had other ideas and dominated the latter section of the match. In fact the Bulls rarely made it out of their own zone as Wingham piled on tries to Leon Phillips, Tate Grofos and Brennon Murray to ensure the cup stays in their keeping for a further 12 months.
Indefatigable Wingham front rower Aaron Groom was named player of the match after yet another strong performance. Groom is a player the Tigers will look to build a side around in 2022.
While he was again good, so were the respective halfbacks Nick Beacham (Wingham) and Kieran Cochrane (Taree City), who both must have figured in the voting for the award.
"It was a bit scrappy, but we'll take it, we need the win,'' Wingham assistant coach Paul Lewis said at fulltime.
Wingham still has a remote chance of qualifying for the five, however, the probable cancellation of next weekend's games won't help their cause, Lewis agreed.
Taree City captain-coach Trae Clarke was happy that his side 'showed plenty of reliance.'
"It's obviously a big day for both clubs. It was a close and we were going try-for-try with them, but in the end silly errors cost us,'' he continued.
"I'm proud of the boys. But Wingham played an outstanding game and they got us at the post.''
Clarke agreed his team's defence fell away in the middle of the park late in the encounter, enabling the Tigers to pick up easy metres and maintain pressure.
"We have a bit of inexperience in the middle. When it comes down to the crunch we seem to be a couple of pegs off.''
Taree City suffered a blow when hooker Oscar Carey injured an ankle early in the first half and didn't return to the field. His counterpart, Wingham hooker Mitch Collins had his usual busy game, but spent 10 minutes in the sin bin at a crucial time in the second half for a professional foul.
It wasn't a great game of footy, but it was close enough to keep the handy crowd entertained and involved.
Wingham led 12-6 at the break via tries to Beacham, who crashed over from close range after receiving a pass from Collins and Jake Wheeler, who accepted a clever ball from Jake Mullen to force his way to the line. Centre Kurt Fowles kicked two conversions.
Cochrane pushed off tackles close to the line to open Taree's account for Logan Wallis to land the goal.
The Bulls drew level when Cochrane was in for his second after he took a pass from Clarke and he used his strength to force his way over for Taree's second try that was converted by Wallis.
Wingham then went ahead when centre Michael Rees crossed although the conversion was astray.
Soon after Taree enjoyed their best passage of the game, and probably the year. Centre Anthony Smith intercepted a long pass and raced 70 metres to score and Wallis landed the goal. Soon after Cochrane kicked early in the tackle count and winger Tyrone Avery pounced ball over the line. Wallis landed the angled conversion to give the Bulls a 24-16 cushion and it looked as though the Bulls may claim the cup for just the second time in eight contests.
But it wasn't to be and the presentation formalities were completed at fulltime, just beating the 5pm deadline.
