Travelling down the Pacific Highway to Old Bar, the Mustangs were only able to bring fourteen players with them and were down to thirteen early in the game after five-eighth Timothy Bull went down injured.

Coach Reuben Jones was incredibly proud of his team's effort.

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"We didn't play great but it was a courageous, gutsy effort and I'm really proud of the boys who turned up after a few pulled out," he told the Argus.

"Old Bar are a really strong side and they're starting to put some wins together after a tough start to the season."

Try-scorers for the Mustangs were Ethan Thompson and Mason Powick with a double. Thompson was awarded man of the match and players player.

The game saw the Pirates hit the early lead to go 4-0 up but the Mustangs managed to fight back and eventually the score read 16-12 their way until Old Bar equalised.

With the clock ticking down and the referee's full-time whistle about to blow, Mustangs' Tirell Dungay brought the ball off their own line and proceeded to run 50 metres after stepping three Pirates players.

With a winner looking on the horizon he was brought down by a desperate Old Bar defence to finish the game as a draw.

Currently sitting in third place on eight points above the Mustangs are Macksville Sea Eagles and Wingham Tigers on ten and eleven points respectively.

The Macleay Valley men have a strong run home now with Port City Breakers at home this Saturday and Wauchope Blues at home again the next weekend. The Mustangs will then end the normal season with the bye.

With the Sea Eagles and Tigers playing each other this weekend in Wingham the Mustangs have a huge chance to place significant pressure on the top two sides.

"If we can win we have the potential to move up to second spot and put pressure on those two teams," Jones said.

Kick off for this Saturday's game against the Breakers will be at 3pm, Verge Street Oval.