Port Kembla vs Thirroul
Sunday 14th August, 2005
WIN STADIUM - MINOR SEMI FINAL

Port Kembla 26 (Jason Sullivan (2), Nathan Heffernan, Daniel Jiminez, Luke Roberts Tries; Mark Simon (3/7) Goals) Defeated Thirroul 20 (Todd Grose, Mark Corrigan, Mark Sheppard, Pat Ginti Tries; Aaron Beath (2/4) Goals)

It took most of the eighty minutes, but Port Kembla were victorious in their fourth game in the space of seven days to advance to the Preliminary Final of the 2005 Illawarra Tooheys League competition in a fortnight's time. Their opponents will be decided next week when Minor Premiers Collegians face second placed Wests Illawarra, the winner in the Grand Final, the loser to meet Port in an elimination match.

The advantage going into the game was with Thirroul, the Butchers well rested after a week of recuperation and planning for Port. The Blacks, in stark contrast, had come of the most gruelling week of football in the club's history. It all started with a Sunday game against Dapto to force a three way play-off for fourth spot. Then the Blacks laid to rest a depleted Corrimal outfit on the Tuesday night, before backing it up with a sparkling 42-4 win over Dapto on the Thursday. Just three days later, and their fourth game in seven days, and Port Kembla have done the unthinkable by beating Thirroul.

The two teams entered the game having split the honours this year evenly. Both wins were by a margin of six points either way and this game ended with a similar result, a six point margin to Port, taking the "tie-breaker" in astounding fashion.

The Butchers had lost captain courageous Ben Couchman to injury, but welcomed back Todd Grose to the team that lost to Collegians in round 18. Lincoln Hutchison suited up for Port, but sat the game on the bench.

Port couldn't have asked for a better start when Craig Simon broke the line after just two minutes of play, advancing to Thirroul's twenty before finding Jason Sullivan on his outside, the winger celebrating his 50th First Grade game with the first try of the match. Mark Simon's first conversion attempt started an unhappy day with the boot for the star half, the ball rebounding from the right hand upright to leave Port with a four point lead.

Josh Edwards applied pressure in a tackle in the 5th minute, forcing the ball free and giving Port another shot at the Thirroul line. Under intense pressure, The Butchers were penalised for off-side play, affording Mark Simon a gift two points to extend the lead to six.

Mark Simon threatened to break free in the 11th minute, only to see the gap close at the last second. Thirroul made their way up field easily on the next set and put a set ending grubber in goal which was just cleared by Port, however play was pulled back on a touch judges report handing possession to The Blue and Whites twenty out from Port's line.

Thirroul attacked and a strong Aaron Beath run put The Butchers in great position to launch a raid, but the Butchers kicked to strong with the wind at their back, effectively giving possession back The Blacks. Port looked tired at times in the opening thirty, and with sixteen gone, turned the ball over working their way out from their own line. On the next set, Todd Grose made room for himself and two passes later, Mark Sheppard was over in the corner.

Beath's first conversion attempt swung late but missed the target leaving the two teams locked at four a piece.

It took just four minutes for Thirroul to add to their score when a kick on the fourth deflected of the leg of Junior Phillip. The ball evaded all except for Mark Corrigan trailing through. The ball sat up nicely for the back rower and Thirroul had their second, and with Beath's conversion, a 10-4 lead midway through the half.

The two teams traded blows for the next few sets before Nick Nikitaras was held up over the line thirteen out from half time. Port attacked and Mark Simon looked to manipulate the Thirroul defence, passing to Lulia Lulia who was called back for a forward pass just as he was to plant the ball over the line.

Port continued to apply the pressure, often given good position by Thirroul mistakes early in the tackle count. The Butchers received a relieving penalty twenty from their own line and worked their way down field where Todd Grose found Pat Ginti on his inside, the replacement forward going the distance to score for Beath to convert. Thirroul had a 16-6 lead with under ten to go in the first half of play.

Port tried in vain to narrow the gap before the break, but errors early in the tackle count thwarted their attempts. Thirroul were playing like a finals team and could sense that The Blacks were a moment away from collapsing with the tiredness gained from their recent schedule. With two and a half on the clock, Craig Simon cleverly intercepted the ball and Port had one more chance before half time, but The Butchers held firm, taking a 16-6 lead into half time.

The worst case scenario eventuated for Port in the second half, Thirroul scoring inside the first two minutes of play through a Todd Grose try, the centre reaching at full stretch to plant the ball over the line with two defenders in tow, Thirroul leading 20-6 and looking the goods to progress to the Final.

But then, Port found something that had seemingly eluded them for most of the first half - belief. They found a belief in themselves, first through a Mark Simon grubber which found Luke Roberts on the charge, scoring to reduce the margin to ten points. As Mark Simon lined up his shot at goal, brother and coach Craig was making his way back to his own half, barking encouragement at his charges, instilling in them the will and the belief to take the game from The Butchers.

Port tried in vain to breach the line. Time after time fifth tackle kicks would roll over the Butcher's dead ball line. The Simon brothers were starting to involve themselves more, running and kicking and guiding the Blacks towards Thirroul's tryline.

Thirroul withstood everything that Port could throw at them, diffusing bombs, dismantling set moves, and tackling themselves to a standstill.

Mark Simon tried to squeeze through gaps that seemed to close at the last moment, while Stuart Philpott, playing off the bench, injected himself more often to give his tired forwards a break. Michael Cross and Junior Phillip took control of the game up front and Nick Nikitaras threw himself around in both attack and defence.

Then with eighteen minutes to go, Craig Simon took the chance to run the ball on the fifth. He threw a cut-out pass to Jason Sullivan who shrugged off one defender to cross in the corner. The conversion was beyond Mark Simon today, but Port were back in it at 14-20.

With 68 gone in the game, Port seemed to have an overlap, but a Mark Simon kick effectively diffused the situation for Thirroul. The pivotal point of the match cam in the 70th minute when a piece of Mark Simon magic saw The Blacks draw level. Simon took on the line on the fifth, and just when it seemed as though the play would die in his hands, he somehow threw a miraculous pass around the back of two Butchers defenders to find Daniel Jiminez in support, the second rower crossing near the sticks. Simon converted the important kick and the two teams were set to play the final ten minutes on even terms.

Port attacked again with eight remaining but a forward ball on the final play gave possession to Thirroul. Junior Phillip attempted what looked like a one on one strip, but was penalised for his efforts.

Then with six to go and Port in possession just inside their own half, Pat Ginti and Paul Air were pulled up for an ugly coathanger on Matthew Michalowski, the Black's junior on the field for the final fifteen minutes of play.

Port were fired up and weren't about to let their comeback efforts end in vain. In the 76th minute of play, Craig Simon heaved the ball high, coming down just inside the Butchers in goal area. With a barrage of players contesting the ball, Thirroul lost control and Nathan Heffernan fell on it just inside the dead ball line. After an anxious few seconds watching Mick Dupille consult with his in-goal touch judge, the try was awarded to the delight of the Port Kembla players, bench, and the huge contingent of Black's supporters in the grandstand and on the hill.

Mark Simon converted and Port just had to hang on for another three minutes to secure the unlikely victory.

Thirroul tried hard but only succeeded in giving away penalties to Port, the final one coming with 20 seconds on the clock. Mark Simon elected to take the penalty attempt, the siren sounding as he placed the ball on his kicking tee. The kick was academic, and who knows if Simon even tried to make it count, the bottom line was, Port Kembla had won their fourth game in seven days to save themselves from an early elimination.

Thirroul's Todd Grose was outstanding and by far Thirroul's best. While the loss of Ben Couchman was obviously a big one for Thirroul, Joel Attenborough made good yards, while Aaron Beath and Paul Air at half directed play well.

For Port, there were none better than Mark and Craig Simon. The brothers orchestrated just about all of Port's plays and between them were instrumental in all of Port's five tries. Up front Michael Cross and Junior Phillip had the better of their opponents, while the back-row rotation of Nikitaras, Roberts, Jiminez, Dove and Darren Irwin worked tirelessly for the team. Jiuta Suka came to life in the latter stages of the second half, while Jason Sullivan was almost brought to tears through the emotion of his 50th First Grade game in the Black and White jersey.

The win was perhaps the gutsiest victory seen by a Port side in many a year given the context of the last week. They have definitely earned their two week's rest, and can sit back and watch Collegians and Wests go at each other in the Major Semi Final.

PORT KEMBLA TEAM