Kempsey Cannonballs defeat Coffs Harbour Snappers 33-27 in Upper Mid North Coast Rugby

All grades were up against Coffs Harbour Snappers at Toormina with the 14's winning 32-12 and 16's securing a 19-12 victory.

The 18's moved into first with a strong 31-14 win as Lachlan Munday went over for a double.

Women's fought hard against the first placed Snappers but unfortunately lost 37-10 with the girls sitting in third.

Reserve grade showed why they're a top two side, winning 22-3 with Ethan Brown scoring first, supporting a sensational run off five-eight Brayden Davis.

Kempsey then put on two more tries and a penalty in the second half, one being a 50 metre effort from Stephan Blair off a scrum.

With the field now well and truly dug up, first grade ran on ready to get their hands dirty - literally.

An altercation saw Coffs kick three points early before Kea Pereira went over for a try minutes later with Tyler Allan converting.

In a match full of highlights, none could've matched the physicality of a hit two minutes following from Cannonballs centre Iulio Tavete.

With Coffs receiving a scrum 35 metres from their try-line, a backs move went horribly wrong for the home side.

Five-eight Zac Cross dummied short before passing to the outside centre running behind who was crunched in a textbook effort from Tavete.

The outside centre knocking on and not sighted on the field post tackle.

With quick ball movement, Snappers grabbed the lead back in the 15^th minute as Zac Cross converted to a 10-7 lead.

Coffs were in again seven minutes later off the back of a rolling maul, Cross pinpoint with his goal-kicking.

The Cannonballs replied quickly after a Caedan Allan short-side kick off landed in the hands of Zac Hough who got his side into attacking territory.

Captain Braden Farrawell then went over a few plays later.

An exchange of pick and drives before one final pass out wide saw Snappers go over at half-time with the score 24-14 at the break.

Kempsey were first to strike post half-time through the brilliance of Zac Hough.

Hough took a quick tap just outside his 22 metre line to run the field, beating three defenders down the left touchline in the process.

With substitute Owen Blair now on the field, his brilliance began to show as the Cannonballs turned defence into attack.

Off two passes, Blair had the ball in his hands down the left, running and chipping over the top before going over the line.

However, the touch judge ruled the winger knocked on after a tussle for the ball with the opposition fullback.

With fifteen minutes to go, Coffs kicked a penalty right in front to lead 27-19.

An excellent piece of foreshadowing from the games commentators suggested the eight-point lead may not be enough.

"Kempsey are going to come out fired up after this... it's like kicking the wasps nest," he said.

Three minutes later and the Cannonballs replied with Lachlan Munday notching up his third try for the day, scoring under the posts to make it 27-26.

"We knew kicking those points was going to kick the hornets nest and it has... the Kempsey Cannonballs have stung," the commentator justified.

With the momentum in Kempsey's favour, five minutes of persistence saw the ball on their attacking 22.

Fullback Lachlan Munday went into first receiver, passing to Iulio Tavete, onto Hough who found the dangerous Blair on the wing.

Blair burnt the cover defence, stepped inside the fullback to run all the way and score under the posts to send the away crowd into raptures as he was mobbed by teammates.

The referee made the point there was one play remaining after Tyler Allan's conversion.

Coffs kick off was to wide with the winger catching the ball but dragged into touch as the Cannonballs sealed a 33-27 victory.

The win makes it three in a row after success over Port Pirates and Hastings Valley in their last two matches.

Kempsey will face the Marlins next at Crescent Head.

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