AN undermanned Port City Breakers did enough to claim three valuable competition points in a 30-12 victory over Old Bar on Saturday.
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Despite the unavailability of up to eight regular first graders, the Breakers were always in control of the match in the five-tries-to-two win.
Breakers coach Dan Kemp admitted he knew the performance wouldn’t be pretty, but he was suitably impressed with the defensive effort of his side.
“We knew it wasn’t going to be the prettiest thing we’ve ever done because we had too many blokes out in critical positions,” he said.
“We wanted to defend our way to a win and we did that.
“We shot ourselves in the foot with the ball – five turnovers on the first tackle – so we certainly didn’t help our own cause.”
It was a passage of play midway through the second half with the Breakers ahead 18-6 that secured the victory.
The Pirates were camped on Port City’s line for several minutes, but the understrength defending premiers kept turning up in defence.
We knew it wasn’t going to be the prettiest thing we’ve ever done because we had too many blokes out in critical positions.
- Port City Breakers coach Dan Kemp
“Technically our defence was outstanding from the edges all the way in on both sides because we knew that was where their threats came from,” Kemp said.
The coach said the key to the victory was doing all the little things right.
“We needed to beat them in the small contests,” he said.
“Out-enthuse them, out-tackle them, out-wrestle them, out-attitude them for longer periods of the game and it worked.
“We had the best part of eight blokes out of first grade and another two or three that were busted.
“So for our kids to come in and do what they did and still get it done against a decent side ... very good effort.”
The Breakers coach acknowledged it was a different performance to the style the Breakers would normally play.
“We know how we play and this was a little bit different because we just had to get a win – it was that simple – and we got it,” he said.
Teenage five-eighth Ezra Gibson was impressive in his top-grade debut while injury forced teenage winger Jack Sheaves from the field early in his first grade debut.
“Jack was unfortunate and got injured real early with that troublesome knee of his so he didn’t get to shine and show what he can do,” Kemp said.
“Ezra looked every bit a first grader and that won’t be his last game with us regardless of how many injuries we get.
Ezra looked every bit a first grader and that won’t be his last game with us regardless of how many injuries we get.
- Dan Kemp
“He’s got an old head on young shoulders and looks every bit a first grader.
“He’s earned the boys respect.”
The Breakers led 12-0 at half-time after first-half tries to Adrian Daley and Jeremy Smith before they overcame a spirited Old Bar fightback.
Centre Luke Sinclair added a second-half double while Richie Roberts also crossed.
Jared Wooster and Carlos Martin crossed for second-half tries for the Pirates.