The Manning Ratz managed to down the Myall Coast Mudcrabs 27-17 in their Lower Mid North Coast Rugby Union clash on Saturday, despite playing the last 15 minutes of the match with just 12 men.
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The Ratz weathered a stacked penalty count which included three yellow cards and a red to defeat the Mudcrabs, who they will now play in the minor semi-final to be held this weekend.
The Ratz were also without captain Sam Hartnett, a late scratching with a neck complaint, but were buoyed by the inclusion of Izaak Solomon
A sluggish track and light rain contributed to a dour opening thirty minutes, with both sides exchanging missed penalty shots.
Shortly before halftime the Ratz backline cast the shackles off, with fullback Luke Bartlett busting through and linking with halfback Mikah Gibson, who unselfishly fed the ball to wing Steven Taylor for the first try of the match.
The injection of Izaak Solomon from the bench to five-eighth shortly after that try proved a masterstroke for the Ratz.
Solomon’s inclusion saw regular five-eighth Chris Fitzsimmons pushed into outside centre, and the two combined to launch numerous attacking raids.
With Solomon pulling the strings, the backline punched numerous holes down the blindside, with Solomon himself rewarded with two tries.
Hard-working prop Wayne Gahan contributed to the flurry of points, scoring a typical bulldozing try.
With a few Nik Mylonas penalty goals, the Ratz had shot out to a 27-0 lead with 55 minutes gone.
However, the Ratz would endure a difficult final stanza.
Firstly stand-in captain Dave Rees, who had already received a first-half yellow card for a high tackle, was again pinged for a similar offence, prompting the referee to show the big second-rower a red card.
A raft of penalties saw the Mudcrabs given ample opportunity to set-up camp on the Ratz tryline.
They capitilised with a penalty goal and two tries, sending the score to 27-17. Frustration at an ever-growing penalty count saw tensions boil over, with a push and shove erupting and man-mountain brothers Blake and Brody Howard both yellow-carded.
However the Ratz closed out the match and will now face the same opponent in the Lower Mid North Coast Rugby Union minor semi-final this weekend.
Glocuester’s and Old Bar’s seasons are over, after the former accounted for the latter 48-10 on Saturday.
Forster-Tuncurry, who defeated Wallamba 29-3 in their weekend match, will now play again in the major semi-final.