An almost three-year wait ended for long-suffering Port Macquarie Boardriders fans on Saturday following a 16-12 win over Beechwood.

After merging with Lake Cathie this year, the Boardies did it the hard way and had to fight back from a late deficit to snatch the four-point win.

Second-rower Clint Gibbs finished off a Tristan Morris break with three minutes left on the clock to put the Boardies back in front.

Despite a short kick-off and then kicking the ball out on the full, the Boardies held on.

Coach Kodi Baird said they didn’t play their best, but he was relieved to register that elusive first win.

“We couldn’t hang on to the ball and we didn’t really play that well, but I’ve never seen so many boys get so excited when the full-time whistle sounded,” he said.

“But it proved to me that what I’m doing is sinking in and we’re headed in the right direction.”

Baird said Morris was “outstanding”, while Gibbs rightfully claimed man of the match honours although he believed James Quinnell was not far behind.

The challenge for Baird and the Boardriders is backing up their success with another one in coming weeks.

“We’re currently one win off getting off the bottom and that’s a big goal for us now,” he said.

“We have South West Rocks in two weeks which is a very winnable game for us.”