The Port Macquarie Pirates again had a fruitful day on the rugby field with wins in all three grades against the Kempsey Cannonballs.
The day culminated in a strong display by the First Fifteen and an emphatic 59 to 27 victors against a Kempsey Cannonballs team that continued their fight to the very end.
The visitors were first out of the blocks at Stuart Park on Saturday with a penalty goal in the first minute.
Ryan Dodunski, playing in the centres in place of Jacob Law who was unavailable on Saturday, had the Pirates on the board five minutes later and with the Sam McNeil conversion, the Pirates led 7-3.
Kempsey hit back with a tremendous 40 metre field goal that brought them closer to the Westport Club sponsored Pirates.
The Cannonballs then hit the lead with a converted try in the 12th minute jumping to a 13 point to 7 lead.
Tim Platt then pounced for the Pirates in the first of his four tries.
Platt started the movement from well in his own half. He found a rampaging John Talamavao then looped in support to gather the ball as the defense stopped Talamavao.
Platt then strolled across the Kempsey line. The McNeill conversion gave the Pirates the lead again 14-13.
Captain Joel Rabbidge was next to score for the Pirates after a strong break by McNeill.
Whilst this extended the Pirates lead to 21-13 after the conversion, Kempsey came right back into the game one minute before half time with a try and a conversion from the side line.
The teams went to the break with the scores at 21 to 20 in favour of the Pirates and the good crowd looking forward to an exciting second half of rugby.
The second half was only three minutes old when Tim Boyle pounced and scored a further Pirates try to extend the lead to 26-20.
Tim Platt then burst into the game with two tries in two minutes to have the Pirates leap to a 40-20 lead.
The first of the two tries was a typical Platt weaving run that eluded the defense and brought the crowd to its feet as Platt weaved his magic.
The second try had Platt joining the backline from a scrum win in an incisive movement that split the Kempsey defense.
Kempsey hit back midway through the second half with a converted try that had them back in the game with a 13 point deficit.
The Pirates were reduced to 14 players with Lucas Webb given a ten minute rest by referee Andrew Birch after repeated ruck infringments by the Pirates.
Tim Platt and replacement hooker Matt Orr both scored tries under the posts in the latter stages of the match.
Daniel Byrnes, returning to the Pirates after a stint in Brisbane and who had played a full Reserve Grade game, came into the match late in the second half as a replacement and in his short time on the field added a try and two conversions to the Pirates tally.
The Pirates ran out winners 59-27.
Outstanding for the Pirates were Tim Platt, whose form improves from week to week and he is playing the best rugby of his career.
Geoff Lee, Rabbidge, Talamavao and McNeill also impressed.
The Reserve Grade team continued their good form with a strong win against a tough Kempsey team.
The Pirates ran out winners 29 to 7.
Peter Sales and Aaron Robinson combined all day to create attacking opportunities for the Pirates. Sales was rewarded with two tries.
Adam Cross is finding form at his new club and bagged a try.
The boot of Aaron Robinson added two conversions and a penalty for the Pirates and his general play earned him three points in the Pirates best and fairest awards.
Matt Orr and Daniel Byrnes were also rewarded for their strong games as well.
The Under 18s put paid to Kempsey with a 34-7 victory.
The young Pirates had to contend with a very physical game which included the Kempsey coach invading the playing field to remonstrate with the referee.
The pitch invader was removed by ground officials.
Fraser Yule, who travels from Armidale to join the Pirates each week, was voted players player with yet another outstanding display in the young Pirates front row.
Riley Mahon had a strong game on the wing and Yule was supported in the front row by Tom Blanch.
Blanch never fails to impress for the Pirates.
The Pirates have this weekend off with a bye.
The second round of the Tri Zone Championship was scheduled to be played but because of deferred matches, zone officials decided to cancel the Championship and instead play the outstanding matches which affects the Hastings Valley Vikings, Kempsey Cannonballs and most of the Lower Mid North Coast Zone.
