Port Kembla vs Wollongong
Saturday 1st April, 2006
Noel Mulligan Oval, Kemblawarra

Port Kembla 50 (Mark Simon (4), Matthew Michalowski, Jason Sullivan, Nathan Heffernan, Clark Webb, Joshua Edwards Tries; Mark Simon (7/9)  Goals) Defeated Wollongong 24 (Ramone Filipine, Grant Scott, Ben Sammutt (2), Trent Head Tries; Ben Sammutt (2/5) Goals)

Port's main grade team bounced back from a sapping loss to Wests the previous week to dominate Wollongong today at Noel Mulligan Oval. The Bulls were coming off a surprise win over reigning premiers Collegians, while Port suffered a defeat at the hands of Wests when down to 12 men for the second period of play.

Minus Junior Phillip and interchange players Jiuta Suka and Mohamad Alchaar, Mark Simon orchestrated the Port victory with majestic ease, overshadowing his more illustrious opposing number, Willie Peters.

The game was only a minute old when Craig Simon picked up where he left off last week, breaking the Bulls defence to team up with brother Mark in putting Josh Edwards over for the first points. Mark's conversion gave Port an early 6-0 lead.

Only four minutes passed when some good lead up work by Aaron Henry and Josh Edwards put Port in good position to send Matthew Michalowski on his way to the tryline, the good field position coming as a result of a spiralling Mark Simon bomb which was not handled by Wollongong.

Wollongong registered their first points in the 14th minute of play when Moana Kini Kini threw an "out the back" ball to find Grant Scott in support. Scott's try was followed ten later by a Ramone Filipine four pointer, the centre bursting through some feeble defence to touch down. Ben Sammutt missed his second conversion attempt, leaving the Bulls trailing by two points.

Eight from half time, Mark Simon kicked with pin-point accuracy, finding touch five out from Wollongong's line with a forty-twenty. From the scrum, Simon ducked his way through the Bulls defence to reach out and touch down for his first try of the game. He converted his own try and Port led 16-8.

Just three minutes later, interchange hooker Scott Commins broke the line to set up Jason Sullivan to score two plays later. Mark Simon's conversion from two metres inside the touch line curved perfectly on the breeze to give Port a commanding 22-8 lead just out from half time.

Wollongong gave themselves some hope when Ben Sammutt broke through the Port line to score an unconverted try, sending the Bulls into the main break trailing the home side by 22-12.

Wollongong opened the second stanza full of purpose and made huge yards in their first set, resulting in a Bulls player breaking free and seemingly certain to score, before he was chased down by Jason Sullivan who jolted the ball free in his tackle as the Bulls attacking player fell over the tryline. This may have been the decisive play of the day, with Wollongong's energy seemingly sapped by the incident.

In the 46th minute, Linken Hutchison strode through the defence and set in motion a scintillating Blacks try. The ball left Hutchison and went through the hands of Mark Simon, Michalowski, Mark Simon again and Nathan Heffernan, before finally finding livewire Clark Webb who crossed for Mark Simon to convert.

Seven minutes ran off the clock before Nick Nikitaras hit the line and off-loaded perfectly for Mark Simon to cross, referee Andrew Riolo getting cleaned up by a Bulls defender in the process.

Craig Simon broke through at the 55th minute, linking with Josh Edwards to send Mark Simon over for his hat-trick of tries. With the conversion, Port had established a game winning 40-12 lead over the Wollongong foe.

Nathan Heffernan added four points after a Mark Simon kick was fumbled by two competing Bulls, Anthony Harris collecting the dregs to send Heffernan on his way.

Wollongong scored two late tries through Trent Head (65th minute) and Ben Sammutt (70th minute) to bring the margin back to 20 points, before Mark Simon closed the game with an opportunists intercept try. Simon's conversion of his own try gave him a personal tally of 30 points in Port's 50-24 victory.

Mark Simon was at his very best, but had a wealth of help through the likes of Linken Hutchison, Craig Simon, Clark Webb and Joshua Edwards. Scott Commins and Anthony Harris played well off the interchange bench also.

For Wollongong, the much heralded signing of Willie Peters was mostly a non-event, the half never really stamping his authority on the game. Steven Duggan tried hard for the Bulls, while Moana Kini Kini may have been the pick of their players.

PORT KEMBLA TEAM

Wollongong 30 (Brad Viegel (2), Craig Grayson (2), Stephen Heyman, Ata Hau Tries; Brad Viegel (3) Goals) Defeated Port Kembla 14 (Scott Morgan, Julian Ulukita, Joseph Gander Tries; George Webb Goal)

Port's reserve grade team suffered their first loss for the year when they found they couldn't handle a big Wollongong outfit. The damage was done in the first half when Wollongong scored 18 unanswered points through tries to Stephen Heyman (13th minute), Craig Grayson (18th, 24th minutes) and Ata Hau (30th minute), with Brad Viegel landing one conversion.

Port's sole points in the first half came from a Julian Ulukita try in the dying seconds of the period. Port went into the break down 18-4.

Any chances of a Black's comeback were stifled when Ulukita was sent to the sin bin in the 41st minute of the game for a professional foul. Viegle went in for Wollongong shortly after before a Scott Morgan try and George Webb conversion brought Wollongong's lead back to 14 once more.

Viegel crossed for his second try in the 50th minute of the match, wrapping up Wollongong's scoring with his conversion. Joseph Gander crossed with six remaining to give a final score of 30-14 in favour of the visiting Bulls.

Chris Richards had a solid game for Port, while Julian Ulukita provided much needed go-forward for the Blacks. Improvement will be needed before they meet a Corrimal side which has so far defeated Reserve Grade heavyweights Thirroul and also Helensburgh.

PORT KEMBLA TEAM

Port Kembla 86 (Fouad Hijazi (3), Kane Linnett, Ivan Buchanan (3), Nathan Michalowski, Michael Abrahamas (2), Josh Michalowski (2), Aaron Griffiths, Nick Henry, Ben Pearce, Gavin Walsh (2) Tries; Fouad Hijazi (7), Aaron Griffiths, Mark Mangos Goals) Defeated Wollongong NIL

The Wollongong Asphalt Under 18 Blacks white-washed The Bulls in a one-sided match to open the days proceedings. Fouad Hijazi was instrumental to his sides performance, showing great skill on his way to a personal haul of 26 points. Hat-tricks of tries were scored by Hijazi and Ivan Buchanan, while Michael Abrahams, Josh Michalowski and Gavin Walsh grabbed doubles.

Port's first half tries came in the 3rd, 8th, 11th, 18th, 22nd, 28th and 34th minutes, to establish a 32-0 lead by half time.

The rampage continued in the second half to take Port to the top of the Under 18's table.

Fouad Hijazi was best on ground, while Josh Michalowski, Ivan Buchanan, Kane Linnett and Mark Mangos offered splendid support.

PORT KEMBLA TEAM