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Port
Kembla 18 (Mohamad Hijazi (2), Daniel Bunt Tries; Daniel Bunt (3), Ben
Nagy Goals) DREW WITH University 18 (Luke Hunter, Simon
McVeigh, Ben Nicholson Tries; Ashley Smith (3) Goals)
Port headed into this game with a
great opportunity to grab themselves a share of fourth spot on the
competition ladder. With Dapto losing to pace setters Collegians, a win
would give The Blacks a share of fourth spot on eight points.
Any thoughts The Black's had of
grabbing the share of fourth place were well and truly put on the
back-burner when Uni crossed after eight minutes of play through Luke
Hunter. Ashley Smith's goal gave Uni a 6-0 lead, but not long lived as
George Webb broke the University defensive line, setting up Ben Carr who in
turn threw a speculator inside to Mohamad Hijazi. Hijazi shrugged off two
defenders and scored adjacent to the post for Bunt to level the scores after
11 minutes of play had expired.
The Books scored next to the
uprights through Simon McVeigh to regain the lead by six with ten to play in
the half.
Port scored first four after the
break when the ball was spread along the backline, finishing in the hands of
Keiran Jack who crossed in the corner in his first game back from injury.
The wide conversion attempt sailed wide and Port trailed Uni by two points.
A penalty to Port 40 metres out from
Uni's line and almost directly in front gave Daniel Bunt the opportunity to
level the scores which he took with open arms.
With time running down and just 13
minutes on the clock, Port gave away a penalty for a ruck infringement when
Uni were on their fifth tackle. From the first, Ben Nicholson ran through a
yawning gap to cross, Smith's goal giving the Books a six point buffer.
Port went close with nine remaining
but were pulled up just short. They received a penalty, but immediately
turned the ball back over to University. Keiran Jack looked to have touched
down with six on the clock off a George Webb kick, only to have the touch
judge rule that the ball had been knocked forward by Jack first.
With just four to go, Uni fed a
scrum ten out from their own line and dropped the ball on the first tackle
putting Port in great field position. Mohamad Hijazi went over on the first
tackle giving Bunt the chance to level the scores. His kick about 15 metres
in from touch went to the left of the sticks to the cheers of the Uni bench,
the game seemingly in the clutches of The Books.
Then, after the final siren had
sounded, referee Andrew Riolo issued Port with a penalty for a University
professional foul. Bunt had the kick from almost the exact spot he had
missed from moments earlier. He obviously learned from his past miss and
piloted the goal directly between the posts for a Port draw.
The point puts Port in outright
fifth place, just a solitary point behind this week's opponent in Dapto. The
winner will take outright fourth place at the conclusion of round nine.
Bunt had a great game for Port,
while Mohamad Hijazi, starting at lock, was solid in both attack and defence
and earned his Player's Player award. Michael Yatras and Darren Irwin gained
some valuable field time with their new club, while Nathan Heffernan's time
on the field will no doubt do him good in his comeback from injury.
PORT KEMBLA TEAM
1.Terry Hol, 2.Troy Fleming, 3.Daniel Bunt, 4.Nathan Heffernan,
15.Matt Richards, 6.George Webb, 7.Ben Carr, 24.Kim August, 9.Jesse King, 10.Matt
Skora, 11.Julian Ulukita, 12.Daniel Ryman, 13.Mohamad Hijazi, 14.Brent
Douglas,
16.Matt Campbell,
17.Peter Hooper, 18.Michael Yatras, 19.Kane Armstrong, 20.Keiran Jack,
25.Darren Irwin
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