By MATT NICHOLLS
PORT Macquarie Sharks kept their Group 3 rugby league finals hopes alive with a thrilling 28-24 win against rivals Port City on Saturday.
The Sharks are still fifth on the ladder, one spot behind a finals berth and the fourth-placed Breakers, but needed a win to stay in the race.
With three rounds remaining before finals, only one Port Macquarie-based team will play finals this season.
The Sharks should make it back-to-back wins this Saturday against the lowly Wingham Tigers, while Port City hosts third-placed Forster Tuncurry on Sunday in what is shaping as a must-win match.
Little separated the two Port teams at Regional Stadium on Saturday, but the Sharks found a way after a topsy-turvy contest.
The Breakers were the first to hit the scoreboard, but the Sharks scored the next three to lead 16-4 midway through the opening half.
Port City then scored the next three tries to lead 24-16 in the second half.
But with their season on the line, the Sharks regrouped in front of a vocal crowd to pinch the win with tries to Sam Wara, Oral Monaghan and Harley Gore.
In other Group 3 matches on the weekend, Forster Tuncurry hammered Old Bar Beach 46-18, while Wauchope blitzed Wingham 72-4.
Captiions
Rugby League 1: Sharks five-eighth Sam Wara puts up a bomb for the Breakers’ backs to defuse.
Rugby League 2: Port Macquarie’s Ethan McKenna fends off Breakers rival Dean Rogerson.
Rugby League 3: Oral Monaghan scored two crucial tries in the Sharks’ win.
Rugby League 4: The crowd celebrates after a Monaghan try in the first half.
