Dominating the opening stages of the game to the extent they scored four tries in 24 minutes to seize a 24-5 lead, the Dolphins found themselves on the retreat through the tenacity of the Ratz and a 23-6 birching for a multitude of sins by referee Lee Sullivan before winning 36-27.

The Ratz now meet a cock-a-hoop Gloucester combination in a bruising preliminary final at Taree Rugby Park next Saturday after the Cockies’ convincing 15-3 minor semi-final success over the injury-riddled Wallamba Bulls. The winners continue on to the grand final.

The Ratz of Taree appeared to be headed for a trouncing when the Dolphins’ winger Steve Stanton mauled the ball from a rival to race 80 metres for an outstanding solo try midway through the first half only to turn the tables around with three tries in 12 minutes and transform defeat into a possible miraculous victory.

Twenty minutes remained for the Ratz to score twice, but the Dolphins gathered their senses and assembled their defences to halt the Ratz’ late rampage for a crucial win. Importantly, the Dolphins’ injured troopers, Tom and Colin Harris and goal-kicking prop Lee Crozier, appeared to emerge unscathed.

At the heart of the Dolphins’ early blitz was man-of-the-match, Ryan Scott, who barreled off Rick Clifton’s stable scrum to bruise and break the Ratz’ midfield alignment, aided and abetted by one of the finest of utility men, Tom Bolton, and the fullback with flair, Mark Hagarty.

The Dolphins’ halfback combination of slick-passing Tim Chilton and brains trust Jamie Fernando capitalised on their forwards’ ball service in which tight head Ben Manning continued an outstanding season.

But minds wander after early avalanches, concentration wanes, lust dies. Referee Sullivan’s recent trip to remind the Dolphins of the laws of the game appeared blanked from memory, and penalties came hand over fist.

Additionally, the Ratz won the lineouts, 16-11, through Glen Mathiske and Chad Lambert with big Pete Wilson snaffling five at the back, and hooker Jon Annand stole a tight-head to the Dolphins’ one wheeled scrum. They had ample first phase possession.

Initially, the speed of the Dorvik Steel Dolphins’ attacks and penetration stunned the Ratz, but a Mathiske lineout and back line move saw swift-moving right winger Luke Maloney weave past defenders for the Ratz’ first try, and he was deprived of a second by a forward pass on half-time.

Brentt Hodge was another to cause alarm in the Dolphins’ ranks, but a recurring knee injury appears to have sidelined the gifted playmaker for the sudden-death final.

Major semi-final: Forster-Tuncurry 36 (T Bolton 2 M Hagarty R Scott S Stanton T Chilton tries; L Crozier 3 goals) beat Manning River 27 (M Hardcastle 2 L Maroney B Hodge tries; Hodge 2 goals.

Minor semi-final: Gloucester 15 (J Andrews 2 tries; T Wooster goal pen goal) beat Wallamba 3 

(C Tout pen goal).

Phil Wilkins