Port City claim fifth place by beating Old Bar

Hooker Matt Everitt was assisted off midway through the first half after damaging his knee and he looks to be the player most in doubt for next Saturday's elimination semi-final against Forster-Tuncurry at Tuncurry.

"We've got a few busted blokes,'' coach Dan Kemp admitted.

"We had no bench after 20 minutes. That's a worry.

"We'll take the result, but injuries are the last thing we need.''

The Breakers had to win the match to claim fifth place, although against a thrown together Old Bar side that was never really in doubt. The score was 32-6 at halftime.

Centre Ricky Arnell ran in six tries in a 10 try romp for the Breakers, with a few long range efforts among the half dozen. Halfback Anthony Cowan kicked eight goals.

The Breakers were too fast and too well-drilled for the Pirates. But being fair, Old Bar had half a first grade team either sitting on the sideline injured or overseas.

They sustained more injuries during the game, losing hooker Dylan Towers with a badly cut forehead and centre Justin Berry, who limped off after aggravating a hamstring problem. Captain and prop Shannon Ellem's day looked to be finished when he was replaced early in the second half after again damaging his troublesome shoulder. Yet Ellem barely had time to sit down in the dug out when he was back on the field replacing Towers.

"We don't have anyone else,'' he replied when asked why he was returning to the fray.

Old Bar coach Jamie Moorehead liked what he saw from the Breakers.

"They're going to be a smokey, athough not playing at home in the semi-finals is uncharted territory for them,'' he said looking at the big matches ahead

He couldn't fault the commitment from his players.

"We had five or six players backing up from under 18s and reggies (reserves),'' Moorehead pointed out.

Prop Jarad Wooster was again the standout for the Pirates and he was still working hard in attack and defence long after the game had been lost.

"He's class,'' Moorehead said.

"Jarad gets through a mountain or work and remember, he's only 19.''

Impressive Port City fullback Cody Robbins opened the scoring with a 95 metre try after the Pirates applied the early pressure.

Robbins picked up a grubber kick, stepped to beat a tackle and then raced away from the cover defence to set the tone for the day. Cowan kicked the conversion.

Robbins added another soon after but Towers burrowed over to open Old Bar's account with Ben Witchard's goal reducing the margin to 12-6. There was nothing much for the Old Bar supporters to get excited about for the rest of the first half as the Breakers threw the ball around to run the defence ragged.

Arnell only had one try at halftime. Fifteen minutes after the resumption he had four and he ran in two more after that. Once he saw a bit of space, Arnell showed plenty of pace while his anticipation to get into the right place to finish off a raid was first class.

Old Bar at least had the final say, running in three tries in the final 20 minutes to Matt Halliday, Wooster and under 18 player Troy Clarke to add some respectability to the final tally.

Moorehead's convinced there's better days ahead for the Pirates, despite the fact they've finished second last.

"There's a nucleus of a good side there,'' he said.

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"Hopefully the boys stick together and we can build on that for next year.''

Old Bar's league tag side almost produced the upset of the season before going down to the unbeaten Port City 8-6. Mia Lyons scored for the Pirates and Caitlyn Cameron kicked the goal.

The Pirates had to work overtime to beat Port City 12-4 in under 18s, with the same sides set to meet in the preliminary semi next Sunday. It's season over for Old Bar's reserves as they were thrashed 66-0.

Port City 56 (R Arnell 6, C Robbins 2, J Robbins, T Clarke tries A Cowan 8 goals) defeated Old Bar 18 (D Towers, M Halliday, J Wooster, T Clarke tries B Witchard goal).