REVENGE was high on the shopping list of the Manning River Ratz when they met the Gloucester Cockies, their preliminary final conquerors of last year, in the first round of the Lower Mid North Coast rugby union competition at Taree Rugby Park on Saturday.
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The Ratz have been perennial semi-finalists without winning the premiership in the Lower M.N.C.’s eight-year history, but their elimination in last year’s final clash with Gloucester stunned them. Consequently, they were well-satisfied men in sending Gloucester home to the hills, 38-12 losers.
Gloucester’s coach, Steve Parkin, paid tribute to the Ratz, declaring “they deserved to win” only to say how the game hinged on a decision just before half-time when a 70-metre try by his team was overturned by the referee as the goal-kicker was about to shoot for goal, an assistant referee declaring “obstruction” of a Ratz defender.
“What was a very even game really turned around with that setback. It took the wind out of our sails and our young players did not adjust to having the try disallowed,” Parkin said.
“I’m not greatly disappointed. We have some new, inexperienced players and we will use the first three or four games as trials.”
Parkin said M.N.C. Colts squad member, Keneth Wamsley, has made a fine recovery from a severe virus and was outstanding at hooker. Others who performed well were strong-tackling three-quarter Luke Boorer, lineout jumper Lukas Dellsperger and fine, young utility player, Ethan Hamilton.
The old rivalry between the Forster Tuncurry Dolphins and the Old Bar Clams has lost its knives-drawn mentality with the brave but under-staffed Clams again struggling to keep heads above water.
Generous to a fault, the 12-member Clams combination, reinforced with Dolphins recruits, succumbed 12 tries to three and 76-17 in the opening round at their home ground of Trad Fields, the Dolphins seeking their fourth successive premiership, the Clams striving to stay afloat.
“We need more players, and we need them fast,” new club president and splendid referee, Anthony “Mac” Barber said in a plea for players, young and old, to join the Clams.
The Clams’ fate was sealed in the first 20 minutes when winger Jack Nicholson, 19, sped along the left wing for three of his four tries, the third created by the Dolphins’ man-of-the-match, Matt Nuku, who handled three times before providing the deft chip for Nicholson in the try of the match..
The skilful Nuku is one of the finest players of the decade since the division of the Mid North Coast Zone in 2007. In a willing affair, No 8 Troy Haines, prop Ben Manning and new arrivals, Nathan Laurie and Tom Homer, were sterling performers for the Dolphins.
Likewise, the return of James Clarke, 28, after a year in recuperation and building his new house, saw a revitalised hooker scorch in for three tries.
The Clams were not without their heroes. Front rower and skipper Teia Ambrosoli toiled relentlessly as usual, and their backs, Nick Petrisic and Luke Faugeras, and prop Aaron Swan gave strong performances.
At Nabiac, the Wallamba Bulls had an encouraging 27-15 win over a determined Myall Coast Mudcrabs, the Bulls’ coach Lee Sullivan declaring: “Not pretty, but valuable, and we’ll get better.
FORSTER TUNCURRY 76 (J Nicholson 4 tries J Clarke 3 T Haines 2 M Nuku M Hagarty B Murray tries; M Nuku 4 goals L Crozier 2 J Nicholson 2 goals) beat OLD BAR 17 (A Swan L Faugeras T Ambrosoli tries; N Petrisic goal). MANNING RIVER 38 beat GLOUCESTER 12. WALLAMBA 27 beat MYALL COAST 15.