ARCH-RIVALS Port Macquarie and Hastings Valley will do battle for premiership glory on Saturday after the Pirates sealed a spectacular grand-final berth.
Oxley Oval is bound to be backed as the two Port-based sides go head-to-head in what will be a physical and skillful contest.
The Hastings Valley Vikings go into the game fresh, after earning a week’s break, while the Pirates enter following two tough contests.
Saturday’s preliminary final against Coffs Harbour started strongly for the Pirates, with Tim Sales showing his strength and ability to cross the Snappers’ tryline in the second minute of the game.
The Chris Young conversion gave the Pirates an early 7-0 lead.
Sales is coming out of the shadow of his older brother Peter, who in his day represented NSW Country.
The Coffs Snappers retaliated in the 10th minute to level the scores with a try to Adam Dunworth.
It was the wake-up call the home side needed as the Pirates put the foot down and never got headed.
Korie Paio, who is currently the form player in the Mid-North Coast Rugby competition, scored the first of his two tries with another of his trademark runs.
The Young conversion allowed the Pirates to enjoy a 14-7 lead.
A penalty goal from Coffs Harbour brought the visitors closer, but the Pirates then skipped away from the Snappers with tries to Scott Thompson and Paio.
This gave the Pirates a comfortable 26-10 lead at the half-time break.
The match degenerated into a penalty feast in the second stanza, marring the game as a spectacle for the supporters of both teams.
Coffs Harbour were able to draw closer to the Pirates with an unconverted try in the 54th minute, which brought the scoreline to 26-15 and that score remained firm until full-time.
While Hastings Valley has seemingly had the edge on the Pirates all season, their major semi-final encounter went down to the wire, meaning Saturday’s grand final is going to be a cracker.
The Vikings will start favourites, but a Port Macquarie win would be far from an upset.
It’s going to be a big day for the Pirates, with sides in all four grand finals – the first instance in the Mid-North Coast competition.
SATURDAY’S GRAND FINAL SCHEDULE
First Grade: Port Macquarie Pirates v Hastings Valley Vikings.
Reserve Grade: Port Macquarie Pirates v Bowraville Goannas.
Under 18: Port Macquarie Pirates v Coffs Harbour Snappers.
Under 16: Port Macquarie Pirates v Southern Cross University Marlins.
