REIGNING premier Comboyne was forced to scramble before claiming a win over Port Boardriders in their Hastings League clash on Saturday.
The Tigers eventually won the clash 20 points to 18 but not before two players were sent off on shoulder charge offences.
George Jones and Mark Gannon were expected to face the judiciary last night.
Comboyne jumped to a 12-0 lead through first half tries to Blake Reis, Dennis Jones and Mitch Williams before the Boardies responded with a try to Cliff Foggan and conversion to Rob Collins six minutes after the resumption to leave the score at 12-6.
The Tigers hit back with two unconverted tries to George Jones and Dennis Jones before the Boardies again refused to bend under the pressure with tries to Foggan and Danny Prescott. Damien Mathieson booted two conversions to leave the score at 20-18 with just six minutes remaining in the contest.
The Tigers were able to hold out the Boardies outfit to secure the competition points.
Lower Macleay v Beechwood
The Magpies scored a strong 78-4 win over the Beechwood Shamrocks in their clash at the fabulous Smithtown Oval on Saturday.
The home side burst out of the blocks to score nine first half tries through Darryle Russell, Michael Hughes (2), Byron Pryor, Zac McKiernan, Joel McGafferty (2), Junior Albert and Thomas Stevenson.
Luke Dufty booted six conversions.
Ben Phillpott got across the Magpies line for the Shamrocks in the seventh minute to post his side's sole points for the match.
The second half again saw the bigger Lower Macleay side run through the Shamrocks defence with tries to Ben Jackson, Dufty (2), Coby Meehan, Stevenson (his second) and Trent Brady.
Dufty booted just three successful conversions to leave the final score at 78-4.
Settlers Inn v Kendall
The Settlers Inn Sharks scored a solid 27-20 win over the Kendall Blues in what was the most entertaining clash of the Hastings League round.
Unfortunately the match was marred by the sending off of Blues replacement Ethan Barber who was expected to front the judiciary last night.
Kendall jumped to an early 14-0 lead with two tries to Dylan Boldry and one to Adrian Pensini with Shaun Pearce landing one conversion before Rob Murphy hit back with a try right on half time which was converted by Pateman.
The second half opened with the Sharks on fire crossing for tries to Pateman, Toukalan and Murphy and with Pateman landing one conversion the score had swung dramatically in favour of the Sharks who now led 20-14 with 20 minutes remaining.
It was then that Barber was sent off which only spurred on Kendall who crossed shortly after with a try to Boldry (his third) and a conversion to Pearce to put the score at 20-18 with 15 minutes remaining.
But the Sharks composed themselves and a Chris Cole try and conversion to Pateman 10 minutes from time pushed the score out to 26-20 before Cole struck with a late field goal.