Four Lower Mid North Coast clubs fielded new women’s sevens teams in which two potentially outstanding young players were unearthed, one a possible champion, while two Australian Rules players made astonishing transitions to rugby for Forster-Tuncurry club’s men’s team, the Dolphins.

A 15-year-old girl student from the Great Lakes Senior Campus at Tuncurry, Jess Henwood, displayed blistering speed to run in three tries from halfway and beyond in the women’s seven-a-side trials and then appeared in a representative soccer game at Wallsend the following day.

For the impressive Wallamba Bullets women’s sevens team, lightweight halfback, Chantelle Guihot, displayed exceptional penetration and elusiveness with splendid support from her captain, Kaley Barrett, Lena Donnelly and Kirsty Schumacher.

In the men’s10-a-side game, former Bendigo flanker, Tom Holman, 25, and ex-Brisbane ruck-rover, Nathan Johnson, 27, both new to the rugby code, produced outstanding performances for the Dolphins against the Old Bar, Holman in the centres and Johnson at hooker.

“Jess Henwood was magnificent, a really exciting player,” praised coach Mark Hudson, former premiership-winning Dolphins captain. “Australia’s selectors won the women’s seven-a-side gold medal at the Rio Olympics with young speedsters, and Jess comes right into that category.”

On an afternoon of 32-degree heat, the carnival provided Old Bar, Forster-Tuncurry, Wallamba and Gloucester clubs with valuable workouts for the newly-introduced women’s sevens beginning on April 7, players revealing lack of experience, but courage and excellent tackling.

Old Bar deserve much praise for their enterprise at Richard Crook Field, unfortunate injured being the Dolphinettes’ Ivannah Haines, who sustained a shoulder displacement in the first tackle of the afternoon, and Wendy Wilkins with a possible fractured ankle.

Wallamba’s premiership-winning men’s team of last season was engaged elsewhere, but clearly the club will be a force again this winter, being particularly strong in numbers.

The Dolphins’ men’s team sent spirits soaring after lacklustre training efforts. The return of backrower Brad Murray following a season’s absence and the appearance after a decade of regular army service by tenacious utility back Blake Newcombe made for a delighted dressing room. Under coach Tim Tout, the Clams are rebuilding pleasingly, flanker Phil Koch and centre Kani Kaleppo appearing extremely valuable players. But more players are needed throughout the competiion.