A WEEK before the annual NSW Country rugby union championships in Tamworth, the Manning River Ratz's dynamic, young centre, Bruwyn Tisdell, has plundered the Old Bar Clams' defence for a prodigious 32-point haul at Richard Crook Field in the Lower Mid North Coast premiership on Saturday.
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"Bruwyn's the most destructive, young rugby prospect I have seen," enthused the Ratz's coach, Jake Maurirere. "He was exceptional. They have to pick him for the MNC Axemen next weekend."
Predictable as the Clams' fate might have been, it was in Wauchope where the shock result of the Kennards Hire premiership occurred when the Thunder ended the unbeaten competition run of the Wallamba Bulls, 17-8, restricting the Bulls to a single try.
A rugby league product who turned to rugby union two years ago, the 22-year-old Tisdell ran in four tries and kicked six goals against tackle-shy opponents in the Ratz' 78-10 demolition of the Clams.
Behind a big pack of forwards and their skillful hafback partnership, the swift-serving Brenton Streeting and constructive Ricky Campbell, Tisdell enjoyed a feast of possession, enabling him to reveal his pace, step and swerve - and his hunger.
When Old Bar's desperate defenders focused on Tisdell, they gave five-eighth Campbell more latitude, allowing him to reveal his creativity.
Regrettably, all too often, players of Campbell's quality are ignored by the selectors as they favour men from the Upper MNC in their search for the next champion Axemen's side. If they add Tisdell to their squad following his stellar performance at Old Bar, they should include Ricky Campbell as his smart, experienced side-kick.
With the Forster Tuncurry Dolphins' damaging backrower, Blake Polson, and wily, tough loose-head prop, Aaron Booby, already invited to represent the MNC Axemen in Tamworth, it is surely not expecting too much to have four players from the Lower MNC representing a region from Gloucester in the mountains to Forster on the coast.
Forster had the bye last weekend, and though they have displayed glimpses of quality this season, if the players' attitude to training last week is any indication, their challenge for an eighth premiership in 14 winters is withering fast on the vine.
The Manning River Ratz have maintained their spirit and will-to-win, their only loss to the Wallamba Bulls gnawing at their consciences. They cannot wait for the return bout against the premiership-pace-making Bulls on June 19.
The scoreline does not suggest it, but the Clams were brave to the end against the Ratz. Their defence was a major liability, but they were competitive at the scrum through the likes of Brad Lewis, Mitch Mitchell and Teia Ambrosoli, delight flooding through the ranks when Mitchell ploughed over for a much-needed try.
Likewise, the Clams had a competent lineout with Andrew Louden winning valuable possession, a fine game from a player in his 40s.
However, the club's tireless leaders, Brian and Sue Groughan, were sorely missed through illness, rugby die-hards who have toiled mightily to keep the club afloat. But, urgently, the Clams need new players.
On Saturday, they began with 12 players and, commendably, the Ratz reduced their team to a similar number. There are many reasons to continue loving the game.
There will be no club rugby this long weekend due to the representative program in Tamworth. For the Dolphins' coach, Ron McCarthy, it will provide an opportunity to have much-needed surgery to overcome a debilitating pinched nerve condition in his back.
The former NSW. Country five-eighth, David Birch, playing partner of ex-Test halfback, Steve Merrick, and the Dolphins' first premiership captain, flanker Mark Hudson, will run the team in McCarthy's absence.
