The Ratz take on unbeaten Forster-Tuncurry in the Lower North Coast competition at Tuncurry. Not only are Forster unbeaten, they’ve consistently rattled up big scores against opposing teams this year.

“They’re the benchmark,’’ Ratz coach Jake Maurirere said in something of an understatement.

However, Maurirere pointed out the Ratz conceded 50 plus points in the opening round loss to Wallamba. On the second occasion the sides met Wallamba won 9-5 in a game rated as the best of the season. The Bulls managed to keep Wallamba try-less.

Maurireresaid shutting down Forster-Tuncurry’s lightening fast backline is a must.

“Wwe can’t give them any room,’’ Maurirere said. “We’ve been working on that at training.’’

Maurirere will give centre James Farrawell every opportunity to be fit for tomorrow after he tweaked a hamstring in the win over Old Bar last Saturday.

Meanwhile Maurirere revealed that Lachlan Leeming has taken on the assistant coaching role. Leeming, who joined the club last year, is sidelined after injuring his neck in 2015.

The Dolphins will welcome back their two forwards leant to Myall Coast, flanker Tom Homer and front row forward Scott Walmsley, players who performed so well that Homer received two points and Walmsley one point in Myall’s best and fairest player awards last Saturday.   

Phil Wilkins reports that Wallamba Bulls’ game-breaking fullback, Chris Tout, has received a timely warning with a one-game suspended sentence after being red-carded on a late tackle charge early this month.

There are few more dangerous runners in the Lower Mid North Coast rugby union competition than the strapping utility back, and few more volatile and prone to over-react.

With seven rounds remaining before the semi-finals, the Nabiac-based Bulls are well-positioned in second place behind the Forster-Tuncurry Dolphins and can ill-afford to lose Tout if they are to claim a major semi-final berth and remain in contention for their inaugural premiership.

Tomorrow, the Bulls play the Old Bar Clams at Trad Fields where optimistically the ground is in better condition than last Sunday when rain turned the clay-based ground into a skating rink, no less than five players sustaining ankle injuries in the Myall Coast Mud Crabs’ 38-7 success.

Wallamba’s coach Lee Sullivan is developing the Bulls into formidable rivals though still far from satisfied, declaring: “The last few weeks we have been winning ugly.