Port Kembla vs Bereley
Sunday 30th April, 2006
Noel Mulligan Ovsl, Kemblawarra

Port Kembla 40 (Mark Simon (2), Linken Hutchinson, Aaron Henry, Nathan Heffernan, Lulia Lulia, Luke Roberts Tries; Mark Simon (6/8)  Goals) Defeated Berkeley 12 (Dane Kershaw, Tyson Muscat Tries; Daniel Hodges (2/2) Goals)

The first grade clashed took shape with Berkeley attacking the Port line from the first set, Matthew Michalowski diffusing a fifth tackle bomb.

 Port were on the board first through a Mark Simon penalty goal when the lively half was taken high in a tackle by Grant Palmer. Berkeley committed a cardinal sin by kicking out on the full from the restart and Lulia Lulia took the ball well inside Berkeley territory before a dropped ball in the ruck gave Berkeley possession through a scrum. 

A desperate tackle from Josh Edwards stopped Stephen Bell from breaking through, but Edwards was penalized for not allowing the Eagle player to his feet. The error fest continued with Berkeley knocking on in the play the ball.

Port worked their way out of their own twenty with back to back penalties, before good lead up work from Josh Edwards on the preceding play saw Lulia Lulia cross for the first try wide out and a six point lead after eleven minutes of play.

A dropped ball by Port gave Berkeley possession inside Port’s quarter, but an early kick in behind play by Berkeley rolled dead in goal to put Port back on the attack. Clark Webb kicked early and was rewarded with a penalty when he was taken out of play after the kick. From the tap, Matthew Michalowski made a good break to allow Aaron Henry to reach over for a try fourteen into the match. Mark Simon’s conversion gave Port a 12 point lead.

Port continued to apply the pressure, kicking on the fifth to trap Berkeley close to their line. Pressure was relieved though when Port went on with a tackle for longer than the referee would have liked.

Halfway through the first period, Clark Webb ran the ball, drawing and off-loading to Matthew Michalowski who in turn set up Mark Simon for a short run to score and convert his own try for an 18 point lead.

Linken Hutchinson took play deep into Berkeley territory before an errant pass saw Berkeley back on the attack, but working play out from their own twenty. Late in the tackle count play was pulled up when Aaron Henry went high on Greg Gillett. Berkeley squandered possession just three tackles later, ball security seemingly at a premium. 

Clark Webb took off down the blind side fourteen out from half time exposing some lackluster marker play from the Eagles, but Port themselves squandered an opportunity, dropping the ball on the second tackle. 

With six minutes of play remaining in the half, Mark Simon kicked inside on the final tackle and a miraculous bounce found the waiting arms of Linken Hutchinson who touched down under the posts for Simon to convert and Port to take a 24 point lead. 

With inside a minute to go, Jon Koot collared by Kane Williams giving Port the final possession of the half, but the possession was nullified when the ball was spilt on the stroke of half time. 

Port opened the second half in poor fashion, throwing a loose pass and knocking on from the third tackle. Clark Webb went down injured just as Berkeley were awarded six more tackles fifteen out from Port’s try line. Webb left the field, replaced by Craig Simon who started the half on the bench. 

Berkeley’s fifth tackle kick slipped through the hands of Michalowski who knocked on, and from the scrum win, a wide ball saw interchange back Tyson Muscat opening Berkeley’s scoring. Daniel Hodges’ sideline conversion crept over the cross bar to leave Berkeley trailing 24-6 with five minutes of the half expired. 

Lulia Lulia sliced through three minutes later, only to have his line of sight obstructed by the referee, his pass finding the arms of a Berkeley trailer. Michalowski was ruled to have knocked on in the play the ball soon after, only to have justice served when Berkeley lost the ball from the scrum win. 

Junior Phillip strode free of defenders in the 12^th minute, and Tyson Muscat was sin binned for holding him down as he waited for his Berkeley team mates to retire to the defensive line. On the next play, Luke Roberts went over out wide to give The Blacks a 28-6 lead. 

Michalowski made a line break from the kick off and Port were attacking again until a loose pass halted their momentum. A few minutes later, Port won a scrum on their own twenty and Craig Simon looked to Put Michalowski through a hole, only to see the ball knocked forward. 

Port showed strong defence in forcing Daniel Hodges into touch in the 17^th minute, only to have play pulled back for a Berkeley penalty, the result of a high tackle. Grant Palmer was pulled up in the 20^th minutes for the same offence resulting in a Port Penalty and ten in the bin for the Eagles front rower. 

Port scored soon after through Nathan Heffernan. Simon’s conversion gave Port a healthy 34-6 lead with 18 minutes remaining. Mark Simon looked to score his second going on one of his usual weaving runs, only to stumble ten short of the line. 

Port continued to threaten the Berkeley line, Craig Simon going close after some good lead up work. Brother Mark grubbered on the fifth tackle forcing Berkeley to bat the ball over the dead ball line, only to see Lulia knock on from the drop out. 

Errors started to creep into both sides game, Port having the best of the attack only to lose possession when looking good in attack. Port made the most of the Berkeley errors, Mark Simon swooping on a loose ball in the 32^nd minute to run fifty metres and touch down for his second try of the game, bringing up his 100^th point for the season in the process. His conversion gave the game a 40-6 scoreline in favour of The Blacks, and took Simon’s personal season tally to 104 points in just five games. 

Berkeley added a try to their tally with three minutes remaining, orchestrated by a kick from a scrum forty out from Port’s line. Dane Kershaw showed good pace to beat Michalowski to the ball, the bounce allowing an easy regather and twenty metre run to the line. The Daniel Hodges conversion saw Port leading 40-12 and what would end the final scoreline. 

Although it was a comfortable win, Craig Simon and Chris Walsh would be unhappy with the scrappy nature of the game. Port were well served by Junior Phillip and Kal Baird in the forwards, while Matthew Michalowski and Craig Simon were in the thick of the action out wide.

PORT KEMBLA TEAM

Port Kembla had the Bye

Port's two points from the bye puts them in a five way tie for second spot four points behind competition leaders Collegians

Berkeley 26 Defeated Port Kembla 6 (Shane Makea Try; Fouad Hijazi Goal)

First and third faced off in the local derby at Noel Mulligan Oval to open proceedings for the days play. The hype surrounding the lead up to this match was built up by internet posts through the webofsteel internet site, and by the fact that Berkeley would welcome back their SG Ball players who had finished their commitments in town. 

Both teams exchanged early mistakes, turning over possession and resulting in no real ascendancy in the opening five minutes. Port gave away consecutive penalties, handing Berkeley good field position for attempts at penalty goals, but the Berkeley team elected to run the ball instead. Off a quick tap five out from Port’s line, hooker Kris Commins caught the Black’s defence unawares to dive over for the first try of the game. Teei Piawi converted for Berkeley to lead after nine minutes of play. 

Josh Michalowski looked to emulate his Berkeley opponent four minutes later but was found short of the tryline on the last tackle. Berkeley received a relieving penalty moments later to take play back into Blacks territory. 

From the set of tackles that ensued, Berkeley SG Ball representative Daniel Nicastri powered his way over out wide to extend Berkeley’s lead to ten. 

A Berkeley lost ball close to Port’s line relieved some pressure building on the Blacks halfway through the period. Kris Sullivan looked to engineer some Black Magic with an incisive run starting on his own 20 metre line. The Port half made it to Berkeley’s thirty where he passed inside for Kane Linnett, but the Port centre was unable to hang on to the ball. 

What looked like a dangerous tackle on Kris Sullivan was let go by the referee in the 23^rd minute before what looked like a good pass by Berkeley was pulled back, ruled to have gone forward. Port got the ball from the scrum that followed, and Ivan Buchanan knocked the ball forward trying to twist and plant it over Berkeley’s tryline. 

With ten minutes on the clock, Berkeley five-eighth Brenton Dean made Port’s outside backs look ordinary, standing up five Port defenders during his fifty metre run to the tryline to score. Nicastri piloted the sideline conversion through the sticks for a 16-0 lead. 

The Eagles kicked early in the tackle count that followed from the kick-off, trapping Nathan Michalowski in goal. The repeat set saw Kris Commins held up over Port’s line, and then ball knocked on from the restart. 

Port made good ground taking the ball out from their own territory and earned a penalty thirty out from the Berkeley line, but turned over possession early in the tackle count to nullify the good work they had done, forcing them to go to the break behind by 16 points. 

Teei Piawi plotted a penalty goal in the 5^th minute of the second half after a dangerous tackle, handing Berkeley a handy 18 point lead. 

Port played out their next set and finished with a fifth tackle grubber which was knocked on by Chris Onley just five from his own line. Port’s one out style of play saw Shane Makea held up over the line in the ninth minute before consecutive penalties resulted in a Gavin Walsh knock on in the play the ball with Port inches from the Berkeley line. 

Berkeley made yards at will and on the back of a penalty for a high tackle, made their way into Port’s half for one of the few times in the second period. But Port’s defence held firm in this instance, Berkeley knocking forward from a high kick on the fifth. 

Ivan Buchanan made a line break with fifteen to go, off-loading to Kane Linnett who was brought down with an ankle tap. The line beckoning on the final tackle, Port dropped the ball to again let Berkeley off the hook.

The Blacks opened their account when three consecutive penalties and a glut of possession saw some quick hands put Shane Makea over the line for Fouad Hijazi to convert. But Port’s comeback was put on hold when Mark Mangos knocked on from the kick-off. Port’s defence lifted, forcing Berkeley into touch on their third tackle. 

Port’s gamble with an early kick failed to pay off with Berkeley gaining possession then a penalty on the half way line. Kris Commins burrowed his way over for his second try a minute later, sealing the win for The Eagles with seven left in the game. 

Another try to Daniel Nicastri with three remaining rubbed salt into Port’s wounds, The Blacks suffering their first defeat of their 2006 campaign. Kane Linnett’s send off inside the final minute put end to a forgettable game for Port. 

PORT KEMBLA TEAM