By MATT NICHOLLS
WAUCHOPE produced a rabbit out of a hat on Saturday to extend its lead in the Group 3 rugby league competition.
Against the Port City Breakers, the Blues were down 24-0 with 20 minutes left before running in five unanswered tried to produce an unlikely 26-24 victory.
It was a devastating blow for the Breakers, who looked likely to seal a finals berth against the ladder leaders.
Instead, Port City must now defeat local rivals Port Macquarie this Saturday to stay in the hunt.
The fourth-placed Breakers and fifth-placed Sharks will do battle at 3pm at Regional Stadium.
A Sharks win would still leave them in fifth spot – one point behind the Breakers, but Port Macquarie has a more favourable run home in the four weeks before finals.
Should the Breakers prevail on Saturday, a five-point buffer would be enough for Port City to hold on.
The Sharks go into the game on the back of a 50-26 loss to Old Bar Beach.
RESULTS
Wauchope 26 (Tries: B. White 2, K. Doherty, N. McCabe, R. Trembath. Goals: S. Watts 3) d Port City Breakers 24 (Tries: M. Fowler, R. Arnell, L. Sinclair, T. Wigman. Goals: L. Ackroyd 4).
Old Bar Beach 50 d Port Macquarie Sharks 26 (Tries: O. Monaghan 2, E. McKenna, H. Gore, E. O’Brien. Goals: E. McKenna 3).
LADDER
Wauchope 30, Old Bar Beach 26, Forster Tuncurry 24, Port City 21, Port Macquarie 18, Taree City 16, Wingham 15.
