The Hastings Valley Vikings proceeded to the Mid-North Coast Rugby Grand Final with an exciting win over the Westport Club sponsored Port Macquarie Pirates on Saturday at Stuart Park, Port Macquarie.
The exciting match was forced into extra time to gain a result.
The Vikings ran out winners 21-18 over the Pirates after the scored were locked at 18-all at full-time.
The match was a grand advertisement for local rugby union, with both teams playing an exciting brand of running rugby interspersed with torrid forward engagements.
Both sets of forwards were nearly reduced to a walk at the end of the game, such was the intensity of the encounter.
The Vikings were first on the board with a strong forwards try to Colin Rogers. The try was unconverted.
Ryan Owens had the Pirates’ reply in the 16th minute with an exciting backline movement that started with a Matt Mane burst through the Vikings’ defence.
A penalty goal was added to the Vikings’ tally, followed by an unconverted try to Rogers to take the Vikings’ lead to 15-5.
The Pirates came back in the 12th minute of the second half with a Lucas Webb try which, with the conversion, brought the scores to 15-12 to the Vikings. Aaron Robinson levelled the scores in the 32nd minute with a penalty goal from in front of the posts.
The remainder of the second half saw a penalty goal each, with the scores locked at 18-all at full-time.
The Vikings sneaked ahead with a further penalty goal in the first portion of extra time and were able to maintain this lead until full-time.
Matt Mane nearly snatched the equaliser with a field goal but unfortunately for the Pirates, it strayed away from the posts.
Coffs Harbour now play Hastings Valley Vikings at Coffs Harbour next Saturday.
In the Under 19 encounter, the Port Macquarie Pirates made their way to next week’s Under 19 Grand Final against Kempsey, with a dominant 24-14 victory over South West Rocks.
The young Pirates led at the half-time break 10-0 after unconverted tries to Christo Wilken and Tom Maguire.
The South West Rocks Gaolers came back in the second half after a slow start from the Pirates, when fullback Conner Fuller scored for the Gaolers.
The Pirates put the match beyond doubt with further tries to Sam Williams and Martin Roods. Sam Meadows converted both tries to add the extras. This gave a Pirates a 24-7 lead.
In the last moments of the game, the Gaolers crossed for a try, to give the final score of 24-14 to the Pirates.
In the Reserve Grade Final, South West Rocks defeated the Southern Cross University Marlins 15 to 7.
