THE Manning Ratz endured multiple yellow cards and a wave of penalties to overcome the Myall Coast Mudcrabs 17-12 in their Lower Mid North Coast Rugby Union game.
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The match, played at the Mudcrabs' home ground, started well for the Ratz when an Izaak Solomon short ball put inside centre Chris Fitzsimmons into space five minutes in.
Fitzsimmons galloped 70 metres, swerving past the Mudcrabs fullback in the process, to post the first try of the match.
Myall Coast then dominated possession and set siege to the Ratz line for 20 minutes.
Five-eighth Solomon broke the deadlock when he posted the second try for the Ratz, stepping over from close range.
The match was sealed when prop Wayne Gahan dived over after a blindside dart.
Ratz coach Jake Maurirere said the tough win was a prime example of the young Ratz side "muscling up".
"As we know from previous years, it's always hard to get the win down there, but the boys dug deep," he said.
The Ratz were heavily penalised throughout the match, with prop Brenden Fuller and winger Harry Race both yellow carded for marginal high tackles.
Coach Maurirere said 16-year-old flanker Bay Holborow was the Ratz best, with his cover defence and fearless hit-ups a feature throughout the match.
Fellow teenager Nik Mylonas, usually a breakaway, excelled with a late change to halfback. Maurirere also praised the performance of fullback Luke Bartlett, whose clearing kicks continually got the Ratz out of trouble.
"He might have found his spot for the year," Maurirere said.
The win takes the Ratz to third place on the ladder at the completion of the competition's first round.
