Port Macquarie Pirates continued last weekend with a strong win against the Hastings Valley Vikings. The Pirates won the match 28 points to 5.
It was a successful day all round for the Pirates on the field and, combined with the Pirates Charity Day which, at early counting of the income from raffles, auctions and donations, showed a healthy result for Hastings Legacy, with over $4000 raised.
The match nearly did not get a start, with the heavy rain that fell on Stuart Park last week. The efforts of Glenn “Wilbur” Fletcher, Kennard’s Hire and a band of willing volunteers pumping the excess water from the ground surrounds to enabled the match and the charity day to proceed.
The game started in the usual very tight manner that is a feature of the clash between the two local teams. The scores were deadlocked at nil-all until the 34th minute of the game when Paul Chaplin kicked over the Pirates’ defence line to Tim Platt. Platt collected the ball and headed for the Vikings’ line, evading defenders all the way to place the ball over the tryline and, with the Sam McNeill conversion, the Pirates sprang to a 7-0 lead.
The Vikings replied five minutes later with a Lachie Tolman try that was not converted.
The Pirates went to the break with the 7-5 lead.
The second half was only seven minutes old when Ryan Owen scooted down the wing to score a further Pirate try, which was converted from the sideline by crowd favourite Chris Geary.
The Pirates sealed the match with further tries to John Talamavao and a second try to Tim Platt. Both tries were converted by Chris Geary from difficult positions.
The Pirates Reserve Grade team also had success, with a 37 to nil victory over the Vikings. The Pirates held the Vikings at bay in the opening stanza of the game but, as the match progressed, the power of the forward pack led by Joel Riddle dominated the Vikings.
With a combined weight of nearly one tonne, it was always going to be difficult for the Vikings to handle.
The dominance of the forward pack allowed the Pirates’ backs to deploy their speed and agility. Nearly every player in the Reserve Grade team is pressing the first fifteen for places.
Outstanding for the Pirates Reserve Grade team were captain Joel Riddle, Aaron Robinson, Nathan Ives and Dan Blackman.
To complete the day for the Pirates, the Under 18 team had an overwhelming 72-0 victory over Southern Cross University. This game was played at Coffs Harbour to assist the fledgling club. The Pirates dominated from the outset, even though they travelled with the bare fifteen players required.
Best on the field for the Pirates, though coach Werner Coetzer emphasised it was a team effort, were Tom Blanch, Tim Williams, Jordan Gleeson and Fraser Yuile.
It was a very successful day, both for the Port Macquarie Pirates and Hastings Legacy.
