MANNING Ratz rugby players have reacted positively to an ultimatum from coach Danial Stone.
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“I told them they had to change their attitude,’’ Stone explained.
“We had the week off from training after our last game because there was no match on the long weekend. I told them that when they returned their attitude had to improve.
“If not we’re just wasting our time.’’
Stone’s blast worked.
“We had 20 players training this week and they were brilliant. Now we have to maintain that for the rest of the season,’’ he assured.
The Ratz meet Wallamba tomorrow at Nabiac, with the Bulls coming off a loss to Old Bar last start – a result declared the biggest upset in the Lower North Coast competition’s history.
“This is as good a time to get them as any,’’ Stone reasoned.
“Play them while they’re down I say. And apparently they have a few injuries.’’
Stone said it is imperative that the Ratz show some authority from the kickoff.
“We’re the worst starters in the world,’’ he said.
“Apart from Old Bar we’ve been behind at halftime every game this year. But we haven’t lost a second half – the closest we came was 7-7 with Forster last game.’’
Christ Fitzsimmons is expected to miss the game through injury along with Damian Minett.
Homer out for a month
By Phil Wilkins
The news of the Forster Tuncurry Dolphins’ captain, Tom Homer, became bleaker yesterday with medical advice for the dynamic breakaway to remain out of rugby union for another month as a result of his chainsaw accident.
In his profession as a timber cutter, the 31-year-old Homer’s left hand was badly lacerated when his chainsaw rebounded unexpectedly from wire embedded in a log he was cutting a fortnight ago.
Initially, it was hoped he would return for tomorrow week’s clash with the defending premiers, the Wallamba Bulls, at Barclay Field, but the wound was considered too serious for him to justify the gamble.
The Dolphins are fortunate to have the mobile, hard-tackling Brad Murray as Homer’s back row partner and for him to have swung effectively from blind-side to open-side breakaway in their recent 31-7 defeat of the Manning River Ratz.
The expectation is that coach Ron McCarthy will retain Murray in the position with Australian Rules recruit Nathan Johnson, lineout specialist Jack Woods and utility forward Pat Randall jousting for the remaining back-row roles in their demanding game tomorrow in the ranges against the Gloucester Cockies.
There is no tougher scrum in the Lower Mid North Coast premiership than that of Gloucester with front rowers Mick Wooster, Ken Walmsley and Mitch Meredith and locks Ethan Hamilton and Tim Threadgate a formidable “tight five”.
Wooster is a prolific goal-scorer for Gloucester, only for the team’s defence to be vulnerable out wide with the necessary introduction of inexperienced players to their three-quarter line.
The Cockies swung M.N.C. Axemen’s representative fullback, Ryan Yates, to five-eighth in a bid for more penetration and his clash with the Dolphins’ play-maker, Matt Nuku, should be a highlight of the game.
Likewise, the return of Dolphins wingers, Zac Palmer and Sean Hassett, and their combination with the increasingly dangerous outside-centre, Tom Holman, will cause head-aches for the Cockies.
At Nabiac, the Wallamba Bulls will be in vengeful mood against the Manning River Ratz after their 26-27 defeat by the Old Bar Clams at Richard Crook Field.
The defeat was the Bulls’ first of the season and makes more fascinating the battle with the Dolphins for the Kennards Hire minor premiership. Old Bar have the bye.