THE sleeping giant within the Wallamba Bulls rugby union club stirred in a win over the Wauchope Thunder three weeks ago and now has roared to life in beating the Manning River Ratz, 29-22, at Aub Ferris Field in Nabiac.
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Back-to-back champions of the Lower Mid North Coast's Kennards Hire premiership in 2017 and 2018, the Bulls slumped to heavy early-season losses to the Ratz (15-52) and then to the Forster Tuncurry Dolphins (14-41), defeats which reflected the club's heavy depletion of players in the summer months.
Apparently, an alarmed Wallamba club management has engaged in serious discussions at its Nabiac Hotel headquarters, managing to enlist several players in its search from what appeared a limited pool, and benefiting from the recruitment. If so, well done for initiative and good fortune.
From the evidence of their 32-22 win over Wauchope late last month, the signs were encouraging that Wallamba were turning the corner. Now, by beating the premiership contenders, the Ratz, they have injected dramatic new life into the men's competition.
Meanwhile at Peter Barclay Field in Tuncurry, the Dolphins extended their unbeaten sequence into round eight of the competition, crunching the Old Bar Clams, 76-8. As a result of their bonus point success and the Ratz' loss, the Dolphins have extended their competition lead to two valuable wins.
Wallamba's trip to Tuncurry to play the Dolphins next Saturday will be accompanied by the sweet aroma of sweat and vengeance.
In a difficult winter, the Clams' forwards performed heroically, outweighed as they were by the Dolphins' quartet of Tongan forwards, whose unexpected arrival this year has provided a new dimension of weight to their pack, some 500kgs-plus of muscle and power.
It is reasonable to ask: Is the Dolphins' pack the biggest in NSW Country rugby union?
This embarrassment of riches marks a rare season for the Dolphins' coach, Ron McCarthy, who spent much time on Saturday alternating players throughout the game, determining which was his most effective First XV.
With so many positional changes, it was difficult gauging performances, but to a man the Dolphins voted Hau Honemau as their players' player for his powerful midfield charges, others excelling being centres Mark Hagarty and Jesse Logan, front rower Lorenzo Latu, and lock Blake Polson.
Andrew Louden was strong in the lineouts for Teia Ambrosoli's Clams, as ever Phil Koch was tireless in his endeavours at five-eighth and Simon Bartlett was resolute at fullback.
In the match of the day in the Women's 10s competition, the powerful Wauchope Thunder overcame the defending champions, the Gloucester Cockies, on Gloucester No 1 Oval.
