Port Kembla vs Western Suburbs
Sunday 26th March, 2006
Parrish Park, Figtree

Western Suburbs 40 (Adam Russell, Ben McCrone, Jarrod Woodford, Troy Barnes, Greg Reh, Adam Bristow, Todd Bates Tries; Troy Barnes (6)  Goals) Defeated Port Kembla 28 (Matthew Michalowski, Jason Sullivan, Clark Webb, Mark Simon (2) Tries; Mark Simon (4) Goals)

The Blacks endured a physical encounter at Wests made all the more difficult by some crucial refereeing decisions and a clock which seemed to run over time.

Port opened the scoring after just three minutes with Jason Sullivan diving on a Mark Simon grubber out wide. The lead was extended six miutes later when Sullivan combined to send Mark Simon over under the sticks for a converted try.

Wests fought back and pinned Mark Simon in goal in the 12th minute to establish some attacking position. The Devils went over four later when Troy Barnes received a well timed offload to score and convert his own try.

Wests were at it again when Greg Reh broke the line and dummied his way past Matthew Michalowski, Barnes' conversion handing Wests a two point lead after 20 minutes of play.

The Devils looked likely to continue their scoring spree when fulback Martin Jackson regathered a Troy Barnes chip kick, only to be ruled off-side with the Port line begging.

There was twelve minutes left in the first half when Craig Simon swooped on a loose Wests pass. The centre ran 40 metres to the alfway line before off-loading to Clark Webb. Webb didn't have the pace to outrun the chasing Wests defenders, but managed to jink his way past four defenders to touch down in the corner. Mark Simon's sideline conversion had the Port hill crowd in raptures as the Blacks went ahead 16-12.

Wests lost the ball forty out from their own line with eight minutes of play remaining, and from the ensuing scrum, Matthew Michalowski broke the line to score under the posts. Simon's conversion gave Port a healthy 22-12 lead.

With three minutes remaining in the half, Juita Suka went high in a tackle. The whole crowd (Wests officials included) expected a penalty and for play to proceed, but on the advice of his touch judge, Suka was sent from the field leaving Port to play out the 43 minutes with just 12 players.

Then, in what seemed to be the 42nd minute of the match, Wests wrapped up the half with a Todd Bates try and Barnes conversion to trim Port's lead to just four. Two independent observers both had the half clocked well over the forty minutes allotted for play.

Port threatened immediately after the break when a Mark Simon bomb was knocked on by Wests. From the ensuing set of tackles, Lulia Lulia off-loaded for Mark Simon, but the ball was too difficult for Simon to handle. If caught, the diminutive half would surely have scored.

Craig Simon tried to lead from the front, effecting six tackles in two sets of play before Ben McCrone crossed in the 12th minute with Port caught short out wide. Barnes goaled allowing Wests to take a two point lead.

Mohamad Alchaar rolled his way through the ruck three minutes later and found Mark Simon in support. The ball went through the hands of Lulia, Alchaar and Lulia again, before Mark Simon rolled his way over the line to score and convert - Port taking back the advantage at 28-24.

With half of the second period gone, Wests were running the ball on the fifth tackle whenever they had the opportunity. On this ocassion, three "speculators" saw Jarrod Woodford cross for Troy Barnes to convert and give Wests the lead back at 28-30.

With twelve left in the game, Matthew Michalowski returned a Wests kick, only to be ruled to have knocked on when getting up to play the ball, ten metres from Port's line. In the set of tackles Wests had from the scrum, a tackled player got to his feet, placed the ball on the ground, picked the ball up and then played it to the dummy half. From the next tackle, Wests scored through Adam Russell. Craig Simon and Jason Sullivan argued the call with referee Todd Yarrow but to no avail. After having their own side pulled up for the same infringement earlier in the game, the Port players and faithful felt they were hard done by.

The game was 76 minutes old when Wests finalised their scoring with an Adam Bristow try and Barnes conversion, the Wests five eighth tallying 16 personal points to match his Port Kembla opponent, Mark Simon.

While factors went against the Blacks, Wests were worthy winners, in what was otherwise an entertaining and physical game of football.

Mark Simon was his usual brilliant best while Junior Phillip would have played the entire match if it were not for some injuries sustained during the game. Craig Simon was a rock in defence out wide, while Clark Webb showed glimpses of the class the Port crowd can expect to see throughout the year.

The Blacks have another tough test in their first home game next Saturday against a resurgent Wollongong Bulls club who disposed of Collegians in their opener yesterday. Under 18s will kick off at 12pm, Reserve Grade at 1.30pm and Firsts at 3pm. As is the custom in the first Bulls-Blacks game of the season, both teams will be playing for the Noel Mulligan Memorial shield.

PORT KEMBLA TEAM

Port Kembla 28 (Joseph Gander (2), Mohamad Alchaar, Brent Douglas, Rod Keen Tries; Daniel Bunt (4) Goals) Defeated Western Suburbs 12 (Clay Campbell (2) Tries; Tony Burgin (2) Goals)

Port's reserve grade side stood stoic with a hard fought but inspiring sixteen point win over their Wests opponents. Port opened the scoring in the fifth minute with a Mohamad Alchaar try, converted by Daniel Bunt. Wests levelled the score in the 24th minute through a Clay Campbell try and Tony Burgin conversion. The Devils took the lead three minutes before half time when Campbell went in for his second try and Burgin potted his second conversion.

With Port down by a converted try, pressure was exerted on the Devils attack. Wests completed just two of ten sets in the second term, one in the first minute and one in the final minute of the half.

Port winger Rod Keen found himself on the end of some quick hands to cross in the 8th minute to trim Wests lead to just two points. Brent Douglas had a barnstorming game and crossed the Wests line in the 12th minute, Bunt adding the extras for a four point lead.

Joseph Gander was the recipient of a swift backline movement in the 20th minute, scoring for Bunt to goal, before a 60 metre sprint from Gander resulted in his second try in the space of three minutes. Bunt converted for the final scoreline of 28-12.

Joseph Gander was outstanding out wide, while Brent Douglas and Mohamad Alchaar were the pick of the forwards. Port debutants Chris Richards, Phil Stewart, Jason Smith, Scott Auld and Scott Morgan all had solid games.

PORT KEMBLA TEAM

Port Kembla 36 (Sandy Ulukita, Kane Linnett, Ivan Buchanan, Fouad Hijazi, Nathan Michalowski, Ali Ibrahim Tries; Fouad Hijazi (4) Goals) Defeated Western Suburbs 16 (Dan Hearnden, Kaufonga Fangupe, Jack Borgo Tries; Brent James (2) Goals)

The Wollongong Asphalt Under 18s Blacks started the season in fine fashion with a solid win over Wests. Wests played the match with 16 players while the Blacks had only 14 available, Ali Ibrahim from Port's Under 16's providing the only interchange for Port.

The Blacks established a halftime lead of 14-0 before extending to 36 unanswered points. Wests rallied late in the second half to post three tries, but the damage was done with Port convincing victors albeit understrength.

Port's best were Ivan Buchanan, Josh Michalowski and Ben Pearce, while Shane Makea was strong up front, ignoring an injury sustained during the match to lead the Port charge.

PORT KEMBLA TEAM