Forster Tuncurry Dolphins preserved their unbeaten record with a seventh successive win in the Lower Mid North Coast rugby union premiership on Saturday while the Wallamba Bulls continued their vibrant challenge with a conspicuous win in the ranges over Gloucester.
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But it was the weekend’s “double header” by the Mud Crabs in recovering from their 43-14 loss to the Dolphins on Saturday to make the 100km journey to Old Bar and inflict a 38-7 defeat on the Clams in appalling conditions on Sunday which stunned clubs.
The Mud Crabs experienced a palace coup this month when both the club’s president and vice-president resigned, threatening Myall Coast’s very continuation in the competition.
Yet, the day after the Dolphins leant two forwards to the under-manned Mud Crabs for Saturday’s game at home at Myall Park, Hawks Nest's industrious Welsh flanker Tom Homer and resolute front-row Newcastle newcomer, Scott Walmsley, a full-strength Crabs team ran in six tries to one in defeating the Clams.
“Conditions were horrific in the rain and mud,” club secretary, Annie Scully, said as the team prepared for the long journey home on Sunday night.
But the bane of country rugby, long-distance travel, struck again with last season’s grand finalists, Gloucester forfeiting to the Dolphins their postponed game from round seven’s “Big Wet” weekend of early June. The Dolphins journeyed to Hawks Nest last Saturday, concerned that that the off-field ructions within Myall Coast might wreck the club, fears soon allayed by their rivals’ spirited performance on-field.
It was only the scintillating running of the Dolphins’ backs, try-scorer Mark Hagarty and fullback Jack Nicholson, which cracked the Mud Crabs’ defence in their seven tries to two loss. The Dolphins’ restructured pack found itself confronting willing rivals in the forward clash, hooker James Clarke returning successfully after a month’s absence from slight concussion and lock Jack Woods back from a trip to Bali.
Woods and backrower Brad Murray shared the lineouts, Murray continuing his fine season, while tight forwards Chris Simon and Colin Harris did damaging work in the heavy clashes.
The Wallamba Bulls’ tension-filled 16-14 defeat of Gloucester at Gloucester Park was a timely reminder that the Dolphins will not enjoy a one-horse race to this winter’s premiership in registering their sixth win from eight games.
Forster-Tuncurry 43 (M Hagarty 3 J Nicholson 2 J Paff M Nuku tries ; L Crozier 3 goals M Nuku goal) beat Myall Coast 14 (A Rushby C Sando tries; Rushby 2 goals). Sunday, Forster-Tuncurry won on forfeit.
Jeanene Duncan
Jeanene has more than 40 years experience as a regional and rural journalist starting at The Land Newspaper. She also worked for Stock Journal Newspaper (SA), McPherson, Fairfax newspapers and Rural Press, and contributed to various magazines.
Jeanene has more than 40 years experience as a regional and rural journalist starting at The Land Newspaper. She also worked for Stock Journal Newspaper (SA), McPherson, Fairfax newspapers and Rural Press, and contributed to various magazines.
