Reputedly only fair-weather footballers, the Dolphins put the criticism to the sword with a sizzling 60-21 success to celebrate their 10th successive win in this year’s competition to avenge their 22-26 first-round loss to the Cockies in the ranges.

Bringing a special gloss to the performance was the timely return of midfielder Chris Wynne, an abrasive tackler with a lethal turn of speed who replaced the injured Kurt Forester, recovering from a compound fracture of the nose from the rugged encounter with the Myall Coast Mudcrabs.

Earlier in the season Wynne was troubled by the footballer’s nightmare of a groin strain, but an invitation to a friend’s wedding ceremony in Canada followed by time climbing in the Rockies proved an unusual if apparently successful recovery path.

With hooker James Clarke returning after a shoulder injury, a necessary hard edge came into the Dolphins’ scrum against David Cox’s strong Gloucester pack where former No 8 Chris Marchant performed well at prop and ex-five-eighth Jamie Andrews ran energetically from the back row.

In the first half Marchant and Andrews capitalised on the 10-3 penalty count against the Dolphins and their forwards’ possession to barrel through for three tries only for the Dolphins to reciprocate with five, in the process gaining a bonus point, retaining their four-point competition lead over the Manning River Ratz.

With four minor premiership rounds remaining before the play-offs, the Dolphins and the Ratz’ 88-5 defeat of a sadly outgunned Old Bar  at Trad Fields make the clubs near certain major semi-finalists while Wallamba locked up a minor semi-final berth in defeating Myall Coast, 22-7, at Nabiac.

On the ground and in the air, No 8 Sean Hassett has been a dominant force in the Dolphins’ pack this winter, but his 17-year-old brother, Justin, was his equal in splintering the Cockies’ defence with some electrifying running on the wing for three tries.

The Dorvik Steel Dolphins’ prop trio of Lee Crozier, Ben Manning and Colin Harris have built a rock wall in the front row while lock Nigel Pereira’s muscular work at the coal face is complemented by the line-breaking athleticism of his partner, “Buka” Naqito and flanker Troy Haines. 

Three welcome observers at the game were the Dolphins’ major sponsors in Stephen Moy, of Dorvik Steel, Terry Green, of the Tuncurry Beach Bowling Club, and Paul Wynne, of the Lakes and Ocean Hotel. 

There is another bye round next Saturday with the Tallwoods and Harrington Waters-sponsored rugby competition resuming on Saturday week (August 9) in which the Dolphins meet the Ratz at Taree Rugby Park.

FORSTER-TUNCURRY 60 (J Hassett 3, S Hassett 3, C Wynne 2, N Naqito T Harris tries; L Crozier 5 goals) beat GLOUCESTER 21 (C Marchant 2 J Andrews tries; M Wooster 3 goals). MANNING RIVER 88 beat OLD BAR 5; WALLAMBA 22 beat MYALL COAST 7.

Lakes and Ocean Hotel’s $50 dinner voucher-winner: Chris Wynne.