NEWLY crowned Mid North Coast Northern Division first-grade men’s rugby champions Port Macquarie Pirates turned the clock back three decades last weekend to mark a special father-son sporting moment.
Premiership-winning forward Kaes Besseling emulated the deeds of his legendary father Peter Besseling when he lifted the rugby championship trophy following a thrilling 30-29 grand final victory over Coffs Harbour Snappers at Stuart Park sports field.
Club great Peter Besseling, a former Ken Catchpole Medallist who earned 15 caps with the NSW Waratahs, steered the Pirates to a first-grade men’s premiership in 1997 at the same venue in the same number eight jumper.
Tough-tackling Kaes was one of the best forwards on the park as the Port Macquarie warriors staved off a fierce challenge from the Snappers to secure back-to-back titles.
The former Member for Port Macquarie, who also served as Mayor of Port Macquarie-Hastings, Besseling senior would have been proud of his son’s tireless efforts this season in the Pirates’ engine room.
Both clubs produced a rugby classic with the Snappers storming home with two late converted tries by Mitch Walton and number eight Fred Ralulu after trailing 30-15.
The Pirates had extra reasons to celebrate post-match after dashing winger Jesse Suitor was named the competition’s Highest Points Scorer for a third successive campaign and skilful fly half Tyler Gordon-Oke took out this season’s Representative Player of the Year Award.
Minor premiers Coffs Harbour can reflect on a successful 2026 campaign. They finished the regular season as minor premiers on 46 competition points – winning eight and drawing two of their 12 fixtures.
But the Pirates had the edge on their rivals in the finals series, toppling them twice in gripping contests.
Both sides were locked at 3-all after Snappers’ fullback Charlie Oates and Pirates winger Suitor booted early penalty goals.
Port Macquarie fullback George Schmude chimed in to score the opening try after 13 minutes for an 8-3 lead before Snappers winger Daniel Yaya responded with a slick try converted by Oates.
The Pirates’ power running flanker Kye Marshall scored the first of his two tries just before half time to give his side a 15-10 advantage at the break.
Coffs Harbour struck first in the second stanza when centre Morgan French sliced through to score and level the game at 15-all.
But quick tries by Marshall and hooker Eli Smith, plus a Suitor conversion and penalty goal, put the Pirates in the box seat before a late Snappers surge.
Port Macquarie Pirates’ premiership-winning squad featured George Schmude, Jesse Suitor, Inosi Kuridrani, Doug Masani, Connor Robinson, Tyler Gordon-Oke, Peter Rubie, Kaes Besseling, Harrison Dal Molin, Kye Marshall, Tommy Wilmot (captain), Jock Chandler, Aaron Steel, Eli Smith and Mikha Everingham; Substitutes: Wallace MacKay, Jamieson Williams, Rex Barwick. Samuel Williams, Mackye Shore, Lewis McKechnie and Ivan Merli; Coaches: Nigel Hurlston, Mitchell Googe and Caleb Scholes.
By Chris KARAS
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