The grand final is two months away, but the Forster Tuncurry Dolphins have had the special satisfaction of ending the Wallamba Bulls rugby union club’s nine-game winning streak at Peter Barclay Field, Tuncurry, on Saturday.
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The Dolphins outsped the Bulls across the park, overcoming their rivals’ strong scrum to finish deserved winners, four tries to two and 24-14, joining the Bulls in the competition lead on 45 points in the Lower Mid North Coast premiership.
Everything points to the two clubs meeting with the minor premiership and a home ground play-off advantage at stake when they play again in the 15th round, immediately before the semifinals on July 29 at the Bulls’ home ground at Nabiac.
Regrettably for the Dolphins, the weekend’s game may have ended the involvement, temporarily, perhaps permanently, of their major game-breakers, the MNC Axeman representative, Naibuka Naqito, and their prolific try-scorer, Jack Nicholson, shattering losses.
Midfielder Naqito and wing speedster Nicholson are irreplaceable, Naqito bound for Alice Springs and Nicholson returning to Sydney, the latter fulfilling his match-day vow with two tries.
This was a critical Dolphins victory after their first round 21-29 loss to the Bulls at Nabiac, a significant win from a morale point of view in the competition’s closing stages.
A second win by the Bulls would have assured them of the minor premiership and a throttle-hold on the competition.
The outcome certainly appeared anything but a foregone conclusion as the Bulls’ front row of PaulDe Szell, hooker Luke Griffis and Aaron Gordon, and later Dan Sawyer, made life most unpleasant for the Dolphins’ scrum.
The inclusion of Gavin Maberly-Smith in the Dolphins’ front row, however, had a most beneficial scrummaging impact, allowing cleaner service from Scott Walmsley’s pack for halfback combination of Tom Harris and Matt Nuku to fire their back line.
No 8 Jack Woods troubled the Bulls lineout, flanker Troy Haines again exceptional in his fearless driving the ball into the Bulls’ defence and Naqito at times unstoppable with his pace and strength.
The centre combination of Mark Hagarty and Jesse Logan has improved with every game.
It was Logan’s superb, one-handed flick pass off the ground which sent Nicholson scorching down-field for his second try.
The Bulls’ No 8 Daniel Aldridge proved a threat anywhere near the line for his two tries, but the season’s injuries have taken their toll on their ranks.
At Myall Park, the Gloucester Cockies resumed their struggle for a semifinal position with a bonus point win over Old Bar, 34-12, while the third-placed Manning River Ratz repelled the fourth-placed Myall Coast, 43-22.
At Richard Crook Field, the Cockies resumed their struggle for a semi-final position with a bonus point win over Old Bar, 34-12, while the third-placed Manning River Ratz repelled the fourth-placed Myall Coast, 43-22, at Myall Park.
FORSTER TUNCURRY 24 (J Nicholson 2 tries N Naqito T Homer tries; M Nuku 2 goals) beat WALLAMBA 14 (D Aldridge 2 tries; S Curnow 2 goals); GLOUCESTER 34 beat OLD BAR 12; MANNING RIVER 43 beat MYALL COAST 22.