THE Old Bar Pirates defeated the Wauchope Blues first grade team in a tight match, by the narrow margin of 42 points to 38, in their game played at Old Bar last Saturday afternoon.
The conditions were not the best for football, as strong cold winds prevailed as well as a wet, muddy and slippery field.
Old Bar opened the scoring with a try which was not converted in the 5th minute of the game.
The Blues hit back 5 minutes later after Ryan Beakey crossed the line out wide. Dean Anderson converted the try taking the Blues to a 6 point to 4 lead.
Two minutes later Blues full back Luke Davis seized a great intercept, before racing 70 metres up field to score under the posts. Anderson again converted the try to take the Blues lead to 12 points to 4.
From this point the Blues seemingly went to sleep, as the Pirates raced through some pretty poor defence to run in 4 more tries to take their tally to 26 points to Blues 12.
With 5 minutes til half time the Blues regathered, as Davis sliced through the defence to score out wide taking the Blues score to 16.
A penalty awarded to the Pirates just before the half time siren, saw them take advantage, as they again slipped through the Blues defence to score in the corner, to take their score at the break to 30 points to 16.
The Blues injury toll mounted in the second half, as captain coach Anderson was taken from the field and transported to hospital with rib cartilage damage. Several other injuries forced key players from the field but the Blues lifted their game and after mounting an attack the ball was passed out to Davis who crossed for his second try of the day. Shaun Gregory converted the try taking the Blues score to 22.
Seven minutes later Davis, who was really having a blinder, crossed for his third try of the day, which was again converted by Gregory, taking the Blues tally to within 2 points of the Pirates lead.
Two quick converted tries to Old Bar minutes later saw them extend their lead to 42 points to 28, but the Blues did not give up, as 2 quick tries scored by Anthony Coombes and Jamie Trotter and 1 successful conversion by Gregory saw them narrow the gap with Old Bar on 42 to Wauchope’s 38.
In the dying minutes of the game the Blues were again attacking the opposition’s line when it became an opportunity lost, as they knocked on on the line, and as the final siren sounded the Old Bar Pirates had held on to win what had turned out to be a very entertaining game for all.
Players who were awarded Best and fairest points were Luke Davis 3, Tim Copp 2 and 1 Point to Tim Coombes. Player’s player was Luke Davis.