The Wingham Tigers were at home at the Regional Australia Bank Stadium on Sunday to the Wauchope Blues in 4 grades, and Lake Cathie in Under 18s.
In every grade, the Tigers were underdogs with the opposition sitting higher on the competition table. Wingham were also in the middle of an injury crisis six regular First Graders injured, and another one suspended.
Jacob Cross was elevated to make his First Grade debut, along with veteran Reserve Graders Craig Hailes and Andrew Gilbert. Jett Gilbert was starting his first game in the starting line-up, sitting out the Under 18s.
First Grade
It was a good start for the home team with Tim Bridge running into a hole in the defense for a try. Ethan Ferguson added the extra points. Soon after, Wauchope got on the board with a try in the corner to trail 6-4. The Blues went ahead midway through the first half with a kick into the in-goal area. Soon after, another try in the corner gave Wauchope a 14-6 advantage.
With ten minutes of the half remaining, captain Shannon Martin ran 10 metres from dummy half to score our wide. Ethan Ferguson converted the try to reduce the deficit to 14-12. Then Wauchope put on a blitz with three tries in seven minutes, all from varying kicks to lead 28-12 at the break. A quarter of an hour into the second half, Nash Atkins scored, and Ethan Ferguson converted to make the score 28-18. When Ethan Ferguson scored with under 20 minutes remaining, and then converted his own try, the Tigers were in with a chance trailing 28-24.
With about ten minutes remaining, Braithe Tubnor scored in the corner to level the scores at 28-28. The crowd then went wild when Nash Atkins scored under the posts when a chip kick bounced the Tigers' way. Ethan Ferguson added the extra points, and Wingham held on for a famous victory 34-28, with a 22 point second half.
(Nash Atkins 2, Tim Bridge, Shannon Martin, Ethan Ferguson, Braithe Tubnor tries, Ethan Ferguson 5 goals)
Reserve Grade
The Tigers Reserve Grade team was at the bottom of the competition table, with Wauchope on the top. An early try to the Blues was countered by Mason Lewis, who had played the full game of Under 18s. Wauchope then forged ahead 10-4 with a converted try. Just before the break, Cameron Oliver scored out wide, and Tajh Colquhoun kicked the goal to go to half time at 10-10. Ten minutes into the second stanza, Tajh Colquhoun put Wingham ahead with a try in the corner.
Five minutes later Wauchope responded to again level the scores at 14-14.
Then in the final minute of the game, Tahj Colquhoun made a break and ran 80 metres to score under the posts. Jacob Smith converted the try to give Wingham an exciting victory 20-14.
(Tajh Colquhoun 2, Mason Lewis, Cameron Oliver tries, Tajh Colquhoun, Jacob Smith goals)
Under 18s
The Tigers Under 18s were sitting in fourth position, and played the Lake Cathie Raiders who were third. It was a tight game with Wingham leading 2-0 at the break with a Luke Croker penalty goal. Ten minutes into the second half, Lleyton Moore barged his way over under the posts. With the conversion, the Tigers extended their lead to 8-0. Then with ten minutes remaining, Lleyton Moore scored his second try. Luke Croker's conversion was successful, and Wingham held on for a great win based on strong defense by 14-0.
(Lleyton Moore 2 tries, Luke Croker 3 goals)
League Tag
In the League Tag competition, Wauchope were 4th, and Wingham 6th on the competition table. An early try to the visitors gave them a 6-0 advantage.
But two tries to Aliesha Bell, and a conversion to Chloe Buddle gave Wingham a 10-6 half time lead. Second half tries to Jonty Hemmingway, Georgia Wall and a third by Aliesha Bell gave the Tigers a good 26-6 win.
(Aliesha Bell 3, Jonty Hemmingway, Georgia Wall tries, Chloe Buddle 2, Jade Fowles goals)
Womens Tackle
The Tigers Women's Tackle team remain winless losing 52-0 after trailing 30-0 at the break.