A FIELD goal kicked by five-eighth Conor Taylor with 1 minute 28 seconds left on the clock secured Old Bar's upset 29-22 win over Wauchope in the Group Three Rugby League game played on a blustery Old Bar Reserve on Saturday.
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This was Old Bar's second victory on the trot and while their final five chances are gone, they remain a realistic hope of avoiding the wooden spoon. The Pirates still sit in last spot, but have moved within a point of the injury-ravaged Taree City, with the Bulls to host Port Macquarie on Sunday.
Wauchope's on the ropes. The Blues were competition leaders not that long ago, but losses to Wingham and now Old Bar following a draw with Taree City means the Blues' minor premiership aspirations are fast fading.
There was plenty of merit in Old Bar's performance. The Pirates lost inspirational captain Shannon Ellem after 17 minutes with a shoulder injury. In his absence the Old Bar forwards worked overtime. Prop Jared Wooster had a tremendous game, punching the ball up the centre with energy. Jonathon Tickle, Carlos Kohu-Martin and Corey Sheehan all played their part.
Halfback Tanna Hinton was the best player on the park. A teenager in his maiden year of first grade, Hinton has taken on the game manager's role and while he makes a few blues, he steers the side around the field with authority. His kicking game in the second half kept Old Bar on the attack. He'll give those in charge of picking the group's rookie of the year plenty to think about at season's end.
Five-eighth Taylor showed glimpses of the form that earned him a North Coast under 23 jumper earlier this year while fullback Joel Minihan was safe in general play and landed four goals from five attempts in swirling conditions. Two conversions were from near the sideline.
Second rower Matt Bird was by far Wauchope's standout in what was a generally a lethargic effort from the Hastings combination. Yet for all that Wauchope led 16-12 at halftime and 22-12 early in the second half, even though Old Bar had the territorial advantage. The Pirates scored inside the first two minutes when Hinton sent a pass to Wooster from short range and he crashed over. Minihan added the goal but it was 6-6 soon after when five-eighth Nick McCabe worked his way over for the Blues and Sam Watts landed the goal.
Watts took the ball off Watson from a cross kick and he then kicked to goal to made it 12-6 to the Blues. When winger Sam Ylias was given too much room down the sideline to cross for Wauchope's third it looked ominous for Old Bar at 16-6. However, a powerful run by Wooster gave the Pirates field position and quick hands along the line resulted in Justin Berry scoring a try converted by Minihan and at oranges it was 16-12.
The win picked up late in the first half and it was at Old Bar's back in the second half. The instructions were obviously to take advantage of it and Hinton made sure the Pirates did just that. But the Blues were also starting to find some holes up the centre and hooker Joss Cleal steamed into open spaces before sending centre Beau White on his was for try converted by Watts, giving Wauchope a 22-12 cushion.
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Old Bar's woes compounded when Taylor was sin binned for dissent by referee Cory Richardson from a touch judge's report before the restart. But Old Bar managed to build pressure and winger Joe Hinton dived over in the corner to narrow the gap to 22-18 with a great conversion from Minihan. Wauchope's talkative Kahlan Duncan then joined Taylor in the bin for back chatting. Old Bar were finishing the stronger and drew level at 22-22 with a try to Tanna Hinton then hit the lead at 28-22 when centre Nathan Napier crashed through tackles to score with 16 left to play.
The Pirates were too desperate for Wauchope in the last quarter of an hour. Tanna Hinton produced a great tackle to bring down counterpart Tristan Scott just when the Wauchope half looked set to break clear. Ylias was given space with time just about up but was hit by a barrage of covering tackles and forced out. The Blues discipline fell away and the Pirates worked play into Wauchope territory for Taylor to calmly pot the one pointer and it was all over.
Old Bar 29 (J Wooster, J Berry, J Hinton, T Hinton, N Napier tries, J Minihan 4 goals, C Taylor field goal) defeated Wauchope 22 (N McCabe, S Watts, S Ylias, B White tries, S Watts 3 goals),
Reserve grade Old Bar 20 d Wauchope 16.
Under 18.5s Old Bar 36 d Wauchope 24
(The league tag game kicked off at 3.30 because of the representative clash in Macksville earlier in the day).