Three seasons in the Upper Mid North Coast competition burned the Thunder sufficiently for the club to return to the perceived weaker rugby of the Lower M.N.C. only to discover the Dolphins were not the soft touch anticipated.

Behind the masterly hand and foot of five-eighth, Matt Nuku, and an abrasive pack of forwards suddenly strengthened by the arrival in Forster of three Tongan front rowers for a building project, the Dolphins were too fast and penetrative for the Thunder.

For Forster's women's team, the Dolphinettes, however, the occasion of meeting Wauchope's unbeaten and seemingly all-conquering team with a cruelly crippled side due to multiple injuries became an afternoon to forget.

Reduced to Savannah Clements' team of the bravest five players, numbers supplemented by two Thunder players, the Dolphinettes were overwhelmed in a seven-a-side game, 79-5, the forfeit made the more painful by the loss of hooker Demi Fox with a shoulder dislocation.

With the Manning River Ratz having the bye in the Kennards Hire premiership competition, Forster's Dolphins and the Ratz remain unbeaten after five rounds, with the premiers of the last two seasons, the Wallamba Bulls, displaying their spirit with a 39-31 defeat of the Old Bar Clams despite depletion of numbers.

At Barclay Field, it required only four minutes of the men's competition for Matt Nuku to pierce the Thunder's defence from close range and set the Dolphins scorching to their eight-try victory.

With number 8 Sean Hassett winning line-outs, Tom Harris playing his usual invaluable role and lock Chris Simon stealing a try, they had their bonus point for a fourth try before half-time.

Yet the Thunder fielded a resolute forward pack, scrummaging powerfully and foraging for possession, only for their defence to prove vulnerable in their own quarter.

Dolphins' coach Ron McCarthy introduced the first Tongan, Austin Latu, after 20 minutes and the forward rotation continued beneficially throughout the game, Austin and Lorrenzo Latu both celebrating their first appearance for the club with a try apiece.

The Thunder were impressed with the performance of the Dolphins' newcomer, Kaleb Trudgett, a hard-tackling, versatile back, while hooker Nathan Johnson is settling in well in the pack with prop Blake Polson continuing his powerhouse runs.

On a day when victories were shared by the two clubs, Wauchope proved the most agreeable guests, bringing food and socialising splendidly in the Dolphins' clubhouse, their song providing a fascinating spectacle, the best perhaps since "C'mon Aussie, c'mon."

FORSTER TUNCURRY 48 (M Nuku 2, R Avard S Hassett C Simon H Sweeney A Latu L Latu tries; Nuku 3 goals Sweeney goal) beat Wauchope 0; WALLAMBA 39` beat OLD BAR 31; GLOUCESTER bye.

WOMEN'S 10s: WALLAMBA 29 beat OLD BAR 19; WAUCHOPE beat FORSTER TUNCURRY on forfeit; GLOUCESTER bye.