The Wingham Tigers travelled to Tuncurry on Saturday for an evening game against the Forster Tuncurry Hawks.
First Grade
Injuries meant that the Tigers were without captain coach Mitch Collins, Nathan Campbell, Jake Mullen and Aaron Groom. Midway through the first half, Wingham got on the scoreboard with a try in the corner by Ronald Uhila after a 40-20 kick by Nash Atkins. Jarrad Gibson scored in the opposite corner less than ten minutes later for an 8-0 lead, which they held at the break. The Tigers also lost Lleyton Moore, Kyran Bubb and Tim Bridge to injury, leaving only one player on the bench.
Early in the second half, Brannon Murray scored beside the posts and Ethan Ferguson slotted the conversion for a 14-0 advantage. A quarter of an hour into the stanza, Matt Bridge scored in the corner, and Ethan Ferguson kicked the sideline conversion for a 20-0 advantage. An injury to Jackson Mullen meant that there were no more reserves. Against a tiring Tigers outfit, the Hawks scored with 14 minutes remaining to trail 20-6. But Wingham tenaciously held on for a gutsy victory.
(Ronald Uhila, Jarrad Gibson, Brannon Murray, Matt Bridge tries, Ethan Ferguson 2 goals)
Reserve Grade
The Reserve Grade Tigers started well with a try to Blake Thompson.
The Hawks levelled the scores at 4-4 inside the last five minutes of the first half.
Forster Tuncurry added another try just after the break to lead 8-4.
Two tries in the final five minutes gave the home team a 20-4 win.
(Blake Thompson try)
Under 18s
The Under 18s game was very competitive.
Wingham led 12-0 at the break after tries by Luke Croker and Zac Schafer, both converted by Kyle Marron.
The Tigers added two more tries in the first five minutes of the second half by Ricky Carrington and Jonathon Aiken.
The score remained 20-0 until the final siren.
(Luke Croker, Zac Schafer, Ricky Carrington, Jonathon Aiken tries, Kyle Marron 2 goals)
League Tag
The Wingham Tigers League Tag team went down 24-0 after trailing 18-0 at half time.
Women's Tackle
The Tigers Women's Tackle team trailed 18-0 at the break, and 34-0 at full time.
The Wingham Tigers are at home on Saturday in the local derby against the Taree City Bulls.