Port 28 def. Dapto 26

The first Grade match erupted with bruising defence and strong attack from the opening whistle. It was the home team who crossed first when Juita Suka monstered a Dapto attacker with the ball. With the player heading towards the sideline in Suka's grasp, he threw an errant pass inside which missed all except for Mark Simon who scavenged for the loose ball and sprinted 25 metres to score under the posts. His conversion gave Port a 6-0 lead after just six minutes of play.

The Blacks were in again four minutes later When Clint Hill made an incisive foray into the Dapto line. Hill popped a ball back which was gathered up by the Dapto defence. However, Suka was at it again, hitting the Dapto player hard in the tackle forcing the ball loose. Suka grabbed the pill and ran a short ten metres to score an unconverted try - Port leading 10-0 after ten minutes.

It only took another four minutes of play before Dapto again popped ub the ball under some punishing defence. Mark Simon toed the ball through, regathered, and scored his second try of the afternoon. Port had a 16-0 lead inside of 15 minutes and looked like a team possessed, pouncing on every opportunity given to them.

But as for the last four years where the Canaries made four Grand finals, winning three of them, they would not concede any match without a fight. They hit back after 19 minutes when Adam Blake exposed a momentary lapse of concentration to plunge over in the corner. His sideline conversion had Dapto back in the game but down 16-6.

Dapto then looked like going over after 22 minutes when they regathered a bomb and crossed the Port line. Referee Mick Dupille ruled a knock on and Port were let of the hook briefly. Almost 15 minutes passed with some cracking tackles and entertaining play before a deft blind side move resulted in Greg Clarke crossing for a Dapto try after handling twice in the movement. Dapto were back threatening at 16-10, looking every bit the premiership contender they have been in recent years.

Then, just before half time, Port were pinned for stripping the ball in front of their posts, only 20 metres out. Dapto played out their set of six and on the last tackle, halfback Damien Bryson grubbered through. Port's defence seemed to stand still and Bryson grabbed the loose ball, planting it over the line with authority. Blake's conversion tied the scores at the break.

Nothing changed in the second half as both teams went at it hammer and tong. It took a kick from dummy half and on the last tackle from Johno Johnson to break the deadlock. Dapto missed the ball and Johnson won the secondary race to it touching down in good position for Mark Simon to convert and give Port a 22-16 lead.

The Blacks were already down one player through the loss of Luke Roberts in the first half with an ankle injury. This compounded the unavailability through injury of regulars Nick Nikitaras and Paul Denniss. Nathan Heffernan then left the field ten minutes into the second half with a knee injury, Heffernan's pain heard across the field when the tackle was made.

Two minutes after Heffernan's departure, Dapto were penalised for an infringement in the ruck directly in front of their sticks, 25 metres out from their line. Port opted for the kick at goal, and Mark Simon calmly guided it between the sticks. Port had a handy 24-16 lead.

Dapto hit back five minutes later when Blake scored his second try of the day and the margin was just four in favour of Port. Halfway through the period Port winger Clinton Schrader did some good work to keep the ball in play when it looked like heading for a 40/20 from a Dapto kick. However, the touch judge ruled Schrader had a foot in play and Dapto had the scrum feed 20 out from Port's line.

Schrader then saved a try on the sixth tackle of Dapto's set, batting the ball over the dead ball line under some heavy Dapto pressure. Craig Simon then defused a towering bomb on the final tackle of the next set, but the Dapto chasers forced him in goal and Dapto were given yet another repeat set. The pressure was taking it's toll on Port, having to sustain five sets of Dapto raids to their own one. Then finally, Port's defence broke allowing David Kelly in for a try. Blake converted and Dapto had the lead by two points with 10 minutes remaining.

The scoreboard wasn't the only thing in Dapto's favour, Port on the end of a 7-1 penalty count in the second half alone with 10 minutes to play.

Then, with seven minutes of play remaining, Dapto were forced towards the sideline on the halfway line. The ball was dropped in field and Mark Simon cleaned up the crumbs giving the Blacks vital possession. The ball was worked up field and then late in the tackle count, Jason Sullivan, playing at fullback, found a gap up the right side, brushed off a couple of defenders and planted the ball over the line under attention from the Dapto defence. Mark Simon's sideline conversion attempt went agonisingly close but falled just short. Port had regained the lead by two points with just over five minutes left on the game clock.

The game threatened to errupt in the final five minutes with high shots let go unchecked and players starting to feel the heat in the pressure cooker of Noel Mulligan Oval. The ground may well have been called "The Cauldron" as everyone was on the edge of their seats willing their respective team on to victory.

Port played out their set and Greg Hooper guided the ball over the touch line on the final tackle. Dapto had the scrum feed thirty out from their own line. Port were then penalised on a touch judge report, allowing Dapto to enter their territory at a crucial stage of the game. On the final kick of the match, Dapto were ruled off-side, allowing Grant Roberts to take the tap and end the game under the euphoric roar from the Black's faithful.

The game had everything from bone-crunching defence to skilful attack. The crowd were well entertained by two great teams in a game that will be remembered by all who witnessed it.

For Port, there were many contributors with Jason Sullivan, Johno Johnson and Andrew Bobbin having big influences on the outcome of the match. Port now face the prospect of facing the reigning premiers on their own turf next Sunday. Both Port and Thirroul will have at least five players backing up from the divisional semi final the day prior. Anyone who wants to witness two teams in a great match up will no doubt make their way to Gibson Park next Sunday.

Reserve Grade put in perhaps their best performance of the year with a decisive victory over Dapto. Glenn McPhee set up Port's first two tries in similar fashion. The first saw a ball thrown and knocked down by a Dapto player, allowing Wayne Harvey to scoop up the ball and cross under the posts. The second saw a similar set of circumstances, this time allowing Don Kane to score. Port led by 10-0 after 15 minutes.

Victor Daly was sin binned by the referee after 17 minutes. Both teams then traded missed opportunities, dropping the ball with the line wide open.

With 13 minutes to go in the first half, Grant Sullivan broke free from a scrum and sprinted 95 metres to score Dapto's only try of the game. Then with 8 minutes to go in the half, a rare sight saw Ben Fera bust the defensive line and actually outrun the Dapto chasers to score a forty metre individual try. Wayne Harvey goaled and Port led 16-6.

The Blacks ended their first half scoring when Matt Campbell defied gravity, his years and the odds to score his first try - EVER! Port went into the break with a healthy 22-6 lead.

The second half was a more even affair, but Port still crossed through Joel Murton (20 min), and Don Kane (27 min) after a great Victor Daly break.

Port were well served by the entire team with Glenn McPhee having a stand-out game. Mohamad Alchaar at hooker and Ben Fera in the front row also stood out for The Blacks.

Dapto scored first after just four minutes before Corey Condon ran 70 metres for an intercept try, surprising all present with his pace. Osman Elmir goaled from wide out and Port led 6-4. Kane Armstrong then broke the line with an elusive dummy half run and off-loaded to Joel Court who crossed for Port's second try.

Dapto hit back as the result of a bomb on the bell, allowing both sides to go to the break having scored 10 points.

Scott Crowther broke the line after five minutes of the second stanza and got the ball in to Aaron Troiano. Troiano off-loaded to Matt Michalowski who scored to regain the lead for Port.

Dapto fullback Ian Catania crossed after 10 minutes of play allowing Dapto to regain the lead by 2 points. Port missed a penalty goal which would have levelled scores with 13 on the clock, But Port grabbed the lead for the final time when Anthony Harris crashed his way over for a try with ten remaining in the game.

Port win was built on the back of some enthusiastic and strong defence, repelling the Dapto attack time after time. Kane Armstrong had a big game, as did Osman Elmir and winger Aaron Troiano.