Despite a 28-27 loss by the Westport Club-sponsored Port Macquarie Pirates first grade team to Coffs Harbour, the final series still continues for the Pirates.
The Under 18 team has already progressed to the Grand Final after their decisive 22-12 win over the Kempsey Cannonballs on Saturday at Coffs Harbour.
The Reserve Grade team continued their trek to the Grand Final, with a dominant 34-3 win over the Kempsey Cannonballs in the minor semi-final.
The First Grade match was a tenacious struggle between the top two teams, with Coffs Harbour scoring a try in the dying moments of the game and a Paul Butcher classic conversion from the sideline, giving the one-point lead to the home team, as referee Andrew Birch blew the final whistle.
The Pirates were first on the board, with a Sam McNeil penalty goal.
Coffs Harbour replied with a converted try in the 25th minute that, with the conversion, took the score to a 7-3 advantage for the home team.
McNeil brought the teams closer together with another penalty goal before Coffs skipped ahead with another converted try.
Pirates captain Joel Rabbage put the ball over the line after some great lead-up work by Tim Platt. The conversion had the Pirates trailing 13-14.
One minute before half-time, Ryan “Wheels” Owen put the ball down in the corner and, with McNeil’s conversion, the Pirates went to the break with a 20-14 lead.
At half-time, Pirates coach Marc Minor told his players he was impressed by their exceptional defence.
Coffs Harbour snatched the lead again in the 5th minute, with a converted try and held a one-point lead.
Only moments later, Lachlan “Hound” Bassett gave the lead again to the Pirates with a try that was converted and what appeared to be a safe lead of 27-21.
But Coffs Harbour have developed a habit of coming back at the Pirates in the latter stages of important matches and they did not disappoint this time, with a try in the corner that saw the score at 27-26 in favour of the Pirates.
The crowd fell into a hushed silence as Coffs Harbour’s Paul Butcher lined the ball up on the sideline for the conversion attempt.
With what can only be described as a magnificent, but heart wrenching for the Pirates, kick, the ball gained the approval of the assistant referees as Butcher was mobbed by his team mates and supporters.
The Pirates will now play Hastings Valley in the Final at Stuart Park, Port Macquarie on Saturday for the right o challenge Coffs Harbour in the Grand Final
The Reserve Grade team will also face Hastings Valley in the Reserve Grade Final after their emphatic 34-3 victory over the Kempsey Cannonballs.
The Pirates dominated the match 9through the forward pack and particularly the hard work of Brad Wilson. Adam Cross, Joel Riddle and Rob Mooney.
Cross and Riddle were each rewarded with a try double.
Daniel Byrnes had the football on a string with his line and chip kicking. Aaron Robinson and Nathan Ives devastated the Cannonballs’ backline with their incisive running and bruising defence.
The Pirates’ Under 18 team were the first team into the Grand Final on September 1, with a dominant 22-12 victory over arch rivals Kempsey Cannonballs.
The young Pirates led from start to finish in this match that was most entertaining. A feature of the game was the accurate goal kicking of Tim Williams
The first 20 minutes of the match saw bone rattling defence from the Pirates, who kept the strong Kempsey team at bay, despite defending their tryline for lengthy periods.
This defence seemed to take the sting out of the Cannonballs, who went to the break with a 10 to nil deficit following a Kane Halliwell try and a conversion and penalty goal by Tim Williams.
Kempsey came back with their first try in the eighth minute, only to see Lachie Wilson extend the Pirates’ lead four minutes later with a try in the corner.
A penalty try in the 17th minute awarded to the Pirates’ benefit after a Kempsey ruck collapse, combined with a player entering the ruck from the side as the Pirates stormed the Kempsey tryline. This extended the score to 22-5 for the Pirates
The Kempsey team was rewarded with a further try three minutes before the end of play, to give the final score of 22-12.
Best for the Pirates were Williams, Ryan Hoskin, Peter Coertzer and Halliwell.
The Pirates’ Under 18 team will face the winner of next week’s Kempsey and Coffs Harbour final.
