The Kempsey Cannonballs suffered a narrow 44-34 defeat against rivals the Port Macquarie Pirates at Crescent Head on Saturday.
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The momentum swung back and forth between the sides in a tough and physical game but ultimately the Pirates' superior forward pack proved the difference.
"They had a big forward pack and controlled the ball well," Cannonballs coach Carl Thurgood said.
"They managed to work their way down the field by keeping the ball in tight.
"We kept responding really well but again our defence was our downfall."
The Cannonballs were also forced to take the field without flyhalf Heath Lancaster and fullback Corey Gale.
In the one game the Cannonballs fielded a full strength side, they earned a comfortable victory over the Southern Cross University Marlins.
"We haven't been able to field the same side from week-to-week which has prevented us from developing our combinations," Thurgood said.
"But the blokes who have came in and filled in at various positions have done a great job.
"Caeden Allan, who is a 17-year-old that has played scrumhalf for us all year, stepped out and played flyhalf for us on the weekend and despite being under a lot of pressure was probably our best on the field.
"The unavailability of players is definitely testing our depth but we just need to continue to improve each week."
Thurgood claims the Cannonballs have the potential to beat any side in the Upper Mid North Coast Rugby Union competition if they are able to string a complete performance together.
"We have a very good side but we just haven't been able to put it all together for the full 80-minutes," Thurgood said.
"I know if we can play to our potential the whole game then we are capable of beating anyone.
"There are only five sides in the competition and top four make finals, so we just need to get ahead of at least one team and I know we can shake things up in the finals series.
"But there is still a lot of work to be done if we are going to make the finals."
The competition will take a break this weekend for the NSW Country Championships and there will be five Cannonballs players in action.
Thurgood, Braeden Farrawell, Kini Dauvucu, Iulio Tavete and Hugh Shannon will represent the Mid North Coast.
The Cannons return to action the following weekend in a tough road trip against the Hastings Valley Vikings.
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