THE last month of winter’s rugby union in the Great Lakes promises to be a showpiece with the season’s outstanding teams, the Forster Tuncurry Dolphins and the Wallamba Bulls, starting proceedings next Saturday with the minor premiership the prize at Nabiac.
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Both teams have won 13 games by a bonus point margin this season, losing to each other once, Wallamba winning 29-21 at Nabiac and the Dolphins winning 24-14 at Tuncurry.
The Dolphins duly completed an 84-3 execution of an under-strength Gloucester Cockies team at Peter Barclay Field, Tuncurry, while the Bulls travelled to Hawks Nest to overcome the Myall Coast Mudcrabs, 45-14.
Over some years Gloucester have been an enterprising and occasionally formidable team. They still have young players in Ryan Yates, Kenneth Wamsley, Doug Laurie and Alex Wright to rebuild a fine future, but beginning with 13 players against the defending premiers was no way to gain the crucial bonus point they needed to claim fourth semi-final position for August’s play-offs.
The Dolphins’ 1000-point plus marksman, Lee Crozier, helped reinforce the Cockies’ scrum and later the club’s warhorse, Chris Marchant, arrived, but by then the Dolphins were sharks in a 12-try frenzy.
Adding to the Cockies’ misery, the Dolphins’ Matt Nuku had an incredible day, kicking nine successive goals, most from the side-line, while Jonathan Paff continued his valuable exploits from fullback for two tries and three goals. Midfielder Mark Hagarty was exceptional for his three tries.
The Cockies were worthy adversaries at the scrum where front rowers Mick Wooster and Mitch Meredith displayed their worth against the strong Dolphins’ front row of Ben Manning, Scott Walmsley and Gavin Maberly-Smith.
But no player toiled more industriously than Dolphins flanker Tom Homer while Troy Haines was his usual bull-at-a-gate self for two tries.
The Dolphins have regained the services of Kurt Forester and James Clarke, Forester becoming the “Mr Versatility” of the back line, and four-times premiership-hooker Clarke proving envaluable anywhere in the front row after almost severing his thumb in a butchery accident.
Likewise, half-back Liam Brady celebrated his return from gashed hands with a try after a six-week absence and wingers Rob Avard, Zac Palmer and Johnny Bell continued valuable performances.
The Dolphins completed the occasion with yet another successful “race night” function in which Mark Coble revealed his prowess as Ken Howard’s race-calling successor.
Next Saturday’s 15th round games: Wallamba v Forster Tuncurry at Nabiac; Gloucester v Old Bar at Gloucester; and Manning River v Myall Coast at Taree Rugby Park.
FORSTER TUNCURRY 84 (M Hagarty 3 T Haines 2 J Paff 2 T Harris K Forester Z Palmer J Bell L Brady tries; M Nuku 9 goals J Paff 3 goals) beat GLOUCESTER 3 (M Wooster pen goal). WALLAMBA 45 beat MYALL COAST 14; MANNING RIVER 69 beat OLD BAR 12.
