The Old Bar Clams know what it’s like winning cups and trophies, the celebrations and back-slappers. They won the Lower Mid North Coast rugby union premierships in 2009 and 2011 – and then went into decline and eventually failed to field a team.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The club’s revival has been more a matter of keeping heads above water, but after two years of struggle and frustration, there are now signs of a turning in the long road.
The Clams have failed to win a game this winter and last weekend’s defeat by the Forster Tuncurry Dolphins, 13 tries to nil and 77-0, was hardly auspicious.
But the match-long courage and tenacity of the young Clams combination has won widespread admiration at Old Bar’s home ground the Richard Crook Field.
Both the Dolphins’ man-of-the-match, Matt Nuku, and the Manning River Ratz coach, Jake Maurirere, have complimented the Clams on their never-say-die courage in recent games despite the apparent ease of their teams’ successes.
The Clams owe much to the tenacity of veteran captain, Teia Ambrosoli, and president Anthony Barber and his committee, and if they were a club in danger of sinking beneath the waves, they certainly did not behave like it at their sponsor’s watering hole, the Old Bar Tavern, last Saturday.
A more welcoming, convivial club spirit there never was at new owner Mark O’Neill’s pub, down from his Gloucester property and prowling about with a cheery grin on his face, warning Forster Tuncurry Dolphins players: “Enjoy your moment in the sun.”
Much of the buoyant attitude at the Clams is due to their new coach, Tim Tout, a tough, resilient rugby man, who is desperately in need of flood lighting for training and a shed for the club’s scrummaging machine.
Apparently flood lighting is high on MidCoast Council’s list of promises, and a priority in the Clams’ needs.
The Clams certainly have talent, players like five-eighth Brendon Roberts, the Petrisic brothers, Ben and Nick, locks Mitch Beschko and Adam Franc, flanker Kayne Beattie, centre-cum-lineout jumper Lloyd Laughlin, and hooker Dylan Barrett.
Ever the optimistic one, coach Tout said: “We’ve been looking at the program of our last seven games and with wins over Gloucester and Myall Coast, we just might sneak in to the semi-finals.”
The Manning River Ratz are playing their rain-delayed second round game against the Gloucester Cockies at Taree Rugby Park tomorrow , but other Lower Mid North Coast clubs have the weekend off.
However, the Clams will be training - and training hard.
(Old Bar’s next match will be against Manning Ratz at Taree Rugby Field next Saturday).
