Both the Forster Dolphins and the Ratz suffered through injury disruption, with the Dolphins the better in overcoming the personnel crisis, winning seven tries to one and 45-7, against their ever-willing Taree rivals.

An interruption for 20 minutes in the second half due to a match official requiring ambulance transportation to Manning Base Hospital, broke the game’s  momentum and with a substantial 31-0 half-time lead, despite big lock Blake Howard barrelling through a yellow wall of negligent high tacklers for the Ratz’ single try, the  Dolphins lost focus.

The Dolphins’ injury concerns only worsened during the game when M.N.C. representative tight-head, Ben Manning, came off with a possible broken collar bone, leaving veteran Gavin Maberly-Smith as replacement prop although still limping from an ankle sprain.

The Dolphins’ fifth victory from six games in the Lower Mid North Coast competition was accomplished through the nerveless zeal of flankers Tom Homer and Troy Haines, the lineout domination of Jack Woods (13 successful jumps) and the success of a newly created halfback pairing in Liam Brady and Jack Nicholson.

With five-eighth Matt Nuku a concerned onlooker and nursing a rib cartilage injury, coach Ron Rae drew a rabbit out of his hat in moving wing speedster Nicholson to pivot.

The partnership worked a treat, Nicholson showing a quick mind and a smart pair of hands in his back line organisation.

It was inside-centre Mark Hagarty’s blistering turn of speed which pierced the Ratz’ defence in the fifth minute and their rivals had no adequate attacking response for all the efforts of the Ratz’ young bloods, flanker James Grainger, five-eighth Josh Ross and prop Stephen Fitzsimmons.

The Dolphins’ centre Jesse Logan and ageing champion, Tom Harris, still essential anywhere from wing to breakaway, played punishingly in defence and creatively in attack, combining with fullback Jonathan Paff to keep the Ratz on their toes.

Nicholson was responsible for the best individual try of the day, receiving the ball near half-way, veering to the right wing and then bursting clear of Ratz speedster, Jack Chapman, for the try under the posts.

But the best unrehearsed try was that by No 8 Chris Simon, claiming Woods’ lineout ball on the blind side wing and careering into the corner, a move which he has not practised previously due to being too far domiciled for training.

The Ratz have recruited well in appointing former player Ben Hunter as team manager.

Likewise, it was good to see Jock Maurirere back walking again after his ghastly fall from a building last year.