The Manning Ratz have retained the Charlie Crook Shield after a clinical 76-0 demolition of Old Bar in their Lower Mid North Coast Rugby Union match on Saturday.
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Up 26-0 at halftime, the Ratz piled 50 points on the Clams in an efficient second stanza.
It was a match that started brightly for the Ratz when 18-year-old Nik Mylonas, deputising at number eight, sliced through from 40 metres out in the opening minutes.
The Ratz backline could smell blood in the water, and despite some initial jittery handling, five-eighth Chris Fitzsimmons managed to steady the ship, and winger Jack Chapman benefited with the first of his four tries.
Fitzsimmons would score two tries himself in arguably his best game of the year, which included well-timed passes to put centres Jock Maurirere and Brody Howard into space.
Luke Bartlett, who missed last week with a hand injury, combined superbly with winger Chapman, scoring one try himself and helping speedster Chapman add to his tally.
The biggest cheers of the day however were reserved for winger Adam Morton and his uncle, front-rower Jonathan Simmonds, who both scored their first tries of the year: Morton’s a winger’s effort on the end of a backline move, while Simmonds’ was a typical prop’s try, burrowing over from a metre out.
Another loud cheer went up when winger Steve Taylor clattered over at high speed in the corner. Mylonas scored his second to complete the rout.
The Clams never gave up in a spirited and physical display, but the loss of captain-coach Teia Ambrosoli in the opening minutes didn’t help their cause.
The Ratz sustained a big blow when 17-year-old backrower and grass-cutting tackler Bay Holborrow was helped off with an ankle injury. Early indications are that the young tyro’s season may be over.
For the Ratz, the win guaranteed third spot and was a strong performance ahead of the challenge of the Forster-Tuncurry Dolphins next weekend.
For the Clams, the match was a valiant effort pointing to a brighter 2017 season, after initial fears earlier this season that the club would be forced to fold due to lack of players.
In other weekend results, second-placed Wallamba thumped the Gloucester Cockies 44-21, while Myall Coast forfeited to competition front-runners Forster-Tuncurry.
Next week: Gloucester v Myall Coast at Gloucester; Manning River v Forster-Tuncurry at Taree Rugby Park; Wallamba v Old Bar.
