A NEW-look Port Macquarie Sharks emerged from Old Bar with two points after a hard-fought 29-22 win on Saturday.
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In their first competitive match since last year’s Group 3 grand final, the Sharks trailed 18-16 at the break before hanging on to register the seven-point victory.
Coach Wayne Grant was most pleased with the defensive effort of the Sharks, especially in the second half when the scores were locked at 22-all.
“We didn’t have it all our own way because they kept coming,” he said.
Grant said halves Pomare Ormsby and Chris Green directed the team around well.
“Things broke down a little bit with our fifth and sixth-tackle options, but things like that will improve with time,” he said.
Second-rower Corey Murphy turned in a solid performance in his first game for the season.
He played a role in putting the Sharks in front in the shadows of full-time with a sideline conversion.
Halfback Green then slotted the field-goal to give the Sharks a seven-point buffer.
It was a forward dominated game with both sides happy to get into the grind.
Old Bar’s New Zealand imports hooker Mike Fiall along with props Zebastine Samuel and Andictor Petelo had their introduction to Group Three football and all three turned in sound performances.
Petelo in particular looks as though he’ll be a major asset for the Pirates.
Centre Clint Walker scored the first try of the match for the Pirates and looked typically sharp in attack when he saw some space, but was assisted off midway through the second half after damaging his ribs.
Russell, at lock, revels in the tough going and kept punching the ball forward.
Murphy, in the second row for the Sharks, scored one try, set up Gallagher’s, kicked four goals including one from the sideline and produced a try saving tackle on Old Bar centre Robert Bungie.
Port Macquarie 29 (E McKenna 2, M Wilbow, C Murphy, K Gallagher tries, C Murphy 4 goals, C Green field goal) defeated Old Bar 22 (C Walker, R Bungie, S Bungie, J Cook tries, D Russell 3 goals).
Reserve grade: Port Macaquarie 26 defeated Old Bar 12
Under 18s: Old Bar 34 defeated Port Macquarie 20
League tag: Old Bar 34 defeated Port Macquarie 0.