This season’s unbeaten record of the Coffs Harbour rugby team came to an end on Saturday at the hands of the Westport Club sponsored Port Macquarie Pirates.
It was the first loss at home for the Coffs Harbour team since round 3 of last season.
The Pirates came away with a 34 to 29 victory over Coffs Harbour in tight encounter that saw the scores locked together for long periods of the match.
Ryan Owens was the first to cross for the Pirates in the third minute and with the conversion by Sam McNeill had a lead of 7-0. Coffs Harbour replied with tries in the 11th and 18th minutes of the game and had a 10- 7 lead until a penalty goal from Mcneill after a Coffs Harbour infringement leveled the scores at 10 all.
Chris Geary gave the lead to the Pirates with a try after smart lead up work from Tim Platt and Chris Matheson. McNeill added the conversion.
The Pirates held a 17-10 lead until a smart try from Dylan Hurley for Coffs Harbour.
This try and the conversion gave the half time score of 17 all.
The first points on the board were by courtesy of a penalty try awarded by referee Andrew Birch for a ball being stripped from a Coffs Harbour player as he was about to ground the ball over the try line.
This penalty try and conversion allowed Coffs Harbour to skip ahead 24-17.
The Port Macquarie Pirates came storning back with three tries scored by Lachlan “The Hound” Bassett, Joel Riddle and Joel Rabbidge.
The Pirates had taken an unassailable lead with five minutes to play.
Coffs Harbour had a consolation try in the dying moments of the match which allowed them to come within 5 points of the Pirates. This try was scored right on full time.
Best for the Pirates were Lucas Webb, John Talamavao, Sam McNeill and Tim Boyle.
The Reserve Grade team had a 26 to 10 loss to Coffs Harbour in a game in which the Pirates never really troubled Coffs Harbour. The Pirates pack was dominated by Coffs Harbour and the Pirates spent much of the match trying to counter the dominance of the Coffs Harbour pack.
Best for the Pirates were Chris Turnham, Jeremy McKechnie and Daniel Byrnes.
The Under 18’s also returned to Port Macquarie without a win going down to their hosts 17-10. It was a close encounter which saw good games from Tim Williams, Riley Mahon, Fraser Yule and Peter Coetzer.
