THE Macksville Sea Eagles hosted Woolgoolga Seahorses on Sunday at Alan Gillett Oval, coming away victorious in all four grades.

The First Grade side needed a win to keep themselves in finals contention and started at a roaring pace.

The Sea Eagles put the first points on the board inside the first two minutes of the game with a try on the left to Daneil Donovan, converted by Andrew Blair for a 6-0 lead.

Off the back of a forced drop out then a penalty, Macksville soon scored again.

Rielly Laverty took the line on and burst his way over on the right side.

Blair converted again to put Macksville 12-0 up after only eight minutes of play.

Woolgoolga then struck back with a try to front rower Jake Elphick in the thirteenth minute.

An unsuccessful conversion took the score to 12-4 in favour of the home side.

Macksville added another try in the next set with Sam Shields crashing over from a Laverty pass.

The conversion sailed through the flags and Macksville extended their lead to 18-4 after sixteen minutes.

The Sea Eagles scored again in the 23rd minute after Blair expertly placed a grubber kick into the in-goal.

Brodie Barlett won the race to ground the ball and the conversion moved the scoreline to 24-4.

Woolgoolga were attacking the Macksville line when a pass went to ground and was picked up by Laverty, who raced 75 metres to score his second try.

The conversion again had the touch judges’ flags raised and the score was 30-4 with eight minutes remaining in the first half.

Three minutes before halftime Woolgoolga fullback Dane O’Hehir managed to get over for a try out wide, which was converted for a 30-10 scoreline.

A penalty goal right on half time saw the teams go to the break with Macksville leading 30-12.

The second half was more of an arm wrestle with points much harder to come by.

The only tries came from Woolgoolga forward Jackson Gisinger in the 52st and 73rd minute, both converted.

Now just six points behind, Woolgoolga were in with a chance to steal the game late, however it was not to be.

Macksville missed a long-range penalty goal attempt before Andrew Blair knocked over a field goal in the last minute to secure Macksville a 31-24 win.

Macksville showed much improved ball control in this game than they had for the previous few matches.

The pressure they created in the first half was converted into points, unlike some matches earlier in the season.

Rielly Laverty was a stand out for Macksville, taking the line on, kicking well and defending strongly.

He really looks at home in the first grade number 6 jersey.

In Reserve Grade, Macksville remained undefeated with a 34-4 win.

The Women got a solid win as well, keeping their opponents scoreless with a 20-0 win.

The under 18’s got back on the winning list with a strong 40-0 victory.

Missing some fire power due to injury, they played with confidence and backed themselves in a stop-start game that featured plenty of handling errors from both sides.

On Sunday 21 July, Macksville will play away at Coffs Harbour in under 18’s, Reserve and First Grade.

The Sea Eagles Women’s team has the bye.

By Nigel WILBOW