Port 56 def. Helensburgh 24

A dominant opening 25 minutes by Port Kembla has laid the foundation for a convincing but at times untidy win for The Blacks. Port raced to a 30-0 lead after just 25 minutes before Helensburgh hit back with two tries close to the break to put some respectability into the half time score.

Port started well, playing out their initial set of six and then reefing the ball into Helensburgh's territory with a good kick. Helensburgh winger Matt Tope took the ball too close to the sideline and Paul Lokys, returning to the top grade to replace the absent Clinton Schrader, piles the Burgh flyer into touch. From the ensuing set, two minutes into the match, Port threw a loose ball across field, eventually finding fullback Jason Sullivan. Sullivan, playing his 50th grade game for The Blacks, drew the final line of defence and passed inside to Paul Lokys who came infield to score an easy try, bringing up his 100th point for Port in the process. Mark Simon collected the goal from in front, registering his 100th point for the season.

Port enjoyed most of the ball for the next five minutes, but it wasn;t until the 10th minute when Grant Bobbin got a great ball away as he was falling to the turf. Greg Hoper was the lucky recipient who fell over the try line, giving Mark Simon another simple conversion. Port led 12-0 after 10 minutes of play, and it took only another three minutes for Mark Simon to leave his indelible mark on the game. Simon stepped four Helensburgh defenders and ran 40 metres to score and convert his own try.

19 minutes had elapsed when Andrew Bobbin found himself with the ball on the final tackle. In what looked like a scrappy bit of play, Bobbin kicked, giving chase together with Mark Simon. The ball eluded Simon and the Tigers fullback, bouncing into the waiting arms of Andrew Bobbin who galloped the required ten metres to score Port's fourth try of the match. Simon kept his perfect record in tact giving The Blacks a 24-0 lead after 19 minutes.

Port scored again in the 23rd minute. After working the ball upfield on the back of a penalty inside their own half, some quick hands from the Blacks found Greg Hooper on the end of a backline movement resulting in the four pointer. Simon added the extras and Port led by 30 unanswered points with fifteen minutes left in the first half.

Any thoughts coach Craig Simon may have had of an annihilation were laid to rest when Helensburgh answered with tries in the 32nd and 35th minutes of the half. The first try came against the run of play, Port throwing a loose ball inside the Burgh ten. Lanky second rower Jason Brown found himself in the clear and proceeded to gallop towards the Port line. He reached the Port forty before passing to Reece Wellington. Wellington was chased by Lokys, but just managed to get to the try line, giving Matt Tope an easy conversion.

The second Burgh try came when one of their forwards were held up in a tackle. Unaware of the loose hands, The Blacks defence was caught anawares when the pass inside found hooker Steve Laws diving over under the posts. Tope converted and Helensburgh went to the break down 30-12.

Andrew Bobbin kicked off the second half in style, turning a ball inside to Grant Roberts, who in turn passed to Grant Bobbin, the burly prop scoring in close proximity to the sticks. The conversion after six minutes had Port up by 24 points. Johno Johnson then engineered another Port try when a great dummy half run saw him split the defence wide open. Running out of room to move and in desperate need for help, Johnson found a willing accomplice in Jason Sullivan who swerved in and out, standing up his opposing number to score under the crossbar. Port had skipped to a healthy 42-12 lead after nine minutes of the second stanza.

Helensburgh's never say die attitude saw them score in the seventeenth minute through Matt Tope. Tope converted his own try to get The Burgh's score up to 18. Jason Sullivan broke the line two minutes later and looked like scoring, only to see the ball forced loose over the line under the weight of the Helensburgh defence.

Port did score again after 22 minutes of play when a Nick Nikitaras break and a perfect ball on the way down to McPhee resulted in the rookie scoring out wide. Simon missed his first conversion for the day, but Port led by 46-18. The rookie then muffled what looked like being a certain Helensburgh try. The Tigers attacking player had an unmarked winger on his outside, but elected to kick, McPhee charging down the ball and then forcing the turn over.

Perhaps the try of the day was then engineered by captain Mark Simon. Under some concerted pressure from the Burgh defenders close to Port's line, quick hands from Andrew Bobbin found Mark Simon lurking out wide. Simon ran forty minutes before passing to replacement forward Luke Roberts. Roberts strode out for a short distance before passing back inside to Mark Simon. Nearing the final line of defence, Simon chipped, chased and cleanly regathered, running the final twenty metres to score a scintillating try. He could not convert his own try, but The Blacks had hit the fifty with twelve left on the clock.

It took just three more minutes for Port to score their final try of the game. Sloppy play from Helensburgh saw a loose ball thrown inside their own ten. Lulia Lulia had the easiest of pick ups and needed only to take two steps to plant the ball over the line. Simon convert and Port had racked up 56 points. Helensburgh ended the scoring in the 35th minute when a clever grubber close to the Port line found replacement Matt Sruhan crossing over. Tope converted and Port had the game by the throat at 56-24.

The final whistle sounded three minutes short of the correct time, but Port had scored an important win, the big margin closing the gap on percentages in which Wests hold a lead now of around 30 points (for and against).

Mark Simon turned in a show stopping performance, continually breaking the Burgh line and always in a position to back up his forwards. His kicking game was superb and his personal haul of 24 points was indicative of his presence in the match. Grant Bobbin led the forwards with some punctuating bursts and his try will no doubt be talked about around the bar for weeks to come. Paul Lokys in his return to the top grade also had a solid game.

Port now sit in third place, two points shy of Wests and four points behind competition leaders Collegians (still with a game in hand).

BLACK's TEAM:  1.Jason Sullivan, 2.Juita Suka, 3.Lulia Lulia, 4.Glen McPhee, 5.Paul Lokys, 6.Greg Hooper, 7.Mark Simon, 8.Clint Hill, 9.Johno Johnson, 10.Grant Bobbin, 11.Nick Nikitaras 12.Andrew Bobbin, 13.Grant Roberts, 14.Luke Roberts, 15.Daniel Jiminez, 16.Jason Hardy, 18.Matt Skora

Reserve Grade again started off slowly, allowing Helensburgh to score tries in the 8th and 19th minutes before they finally got their act together, holding Helensburgh scoreless for the remainder of the game.

Port's first try cam in the 24th minute when a Luke Roberts kick on the fifth tackle was knocked on by the Helensburgh fullback. Contrary to coaches please all around the world, the ball was not killed by the Tigers and Daniel Jiminez was able to toe the ball through, diving on it over the Tiger's tryline. Joel Murton converted and Port were behind 6-12.

Three Minutes before half time and a Wayne Harvey long ball found Jason Hardy who made his way to the try line. He threw a final ball into Harvey who scored the unconverted try. Port took the lead for the first time in the game right on the stroke of half time when Victor Daly continued his recent good form, making a 55 metre break. Daly was tackled five metres short of the Tiger's line, but a sterling pass from Wayne Harvey on the last tackle found Luke Roberts who crashed over for the try. Port went into the break ahead 14-12.

"Capper" broke the line again three minutes into the second half, this time passing inside to Ben Carr who scored. Murton missed the conversion attempt, Port led by six points.

For the next three sets, Port were stuck on their own line, fending off the Tiger's raids. Their resilience paid off when, twenty minutes into the half, Don Kane received a well directed pass and swerved to evade the Burgh defence, crossing in the corner. Matt Richards then made a stirring foray into the Tiger's half, being brought down 25 metres out from Helensburgh's line. Dan Kane went in again two tackles later to give Port a 28-12 lead.

The scoring was completed two minutes from full time when Daniel Jiminez broke the defensive line, only to stumble by tripping over his own feet whilst trying to decide which way to step. From the play following, George Webb made a weaving run before finding Kane inside who scored his third try for the afternoon, Port wrapping up the scoring at 32-12.

Wayne Harvey was a standout for The Blacks, inciting his players to a greater effort than that of the first twenty minutes. With results going their way, Port now find themselves in outright second on the ladder, only two points behind leaders Wests.

BLACK's TEAM:   1.Don Kane, 2.Troy Fleming, 3.Jason Hardy, 4.Victor Daly, 5.George Webb, 6.Joel Murton, 7.Ben Carr, 8.Daniel Ryman, 9.Mohamad Alchaar, 10.Shane Glasson, 11.Luke Roberts, 12.Daniel Jiminez, 13.Wayne Harvey, 14.Matt Skora, 15.Matt Richards, 16.Brad Handcock, 17.Matt Campbell, 18.Ben Fera, 19.Paul Pulcins

Port's Under 18's remain atop their respective ladder after a convincing win against Helensburgh. Kane Armstrong was a late withdrawal due to injury, Cprey Condon stepping up to fill the void left by the effervescent hooker.

Matt Michalowski scored in the 4th minute, Keiran Jack in the 23rd minute, Keith Lulia with a solo effort in the 26th minute, Michalowski again in the 29th minute, and Scott Crowther in the 33rd minute of the first half. Keith Lulia converted all five tries for Port to take a commanding 30-0 lead into the main break.

Helensburgh put up firmer resistance in the second period, scoring first after just ten minutes. Port hit back through Christian Kupenga in the 16th minute, before The Tigers scored again in the 25th minute, the score now 36-10 in favour of Port.

The Wollongong Asphalt Under 18 Blacks ended the scoring in the 31st minute when winger Jared Stewart ran 70 metres to cross the Tiger's line. Lulia kicked straight and Port had the game won at 42-10.

Matt Michalowski was involved in just about everything, his game a standout against a team which seems to be able to rise to the occasion of any game. Keith Lulia was again solid, while Keiran Jack sent out a timely reminder to the NSW Country selectors that his omission was noticed by many down Illawarra way.

BLACK's TEAM:   1.Scott Crowther, 2.Joel Court, 3.Oscar Ferreira, 4.Keith Lulia, 5.Aaron Troiano, 6.Matt Michalowski, 7.Christian Kupenga, 8.Anthony Harris, 9.Corey Condon, 10.Jon Koot, 11.Keiran Jack, 12.Elis Dale, 13.Joseph Gander