The 2009 and 2011 premiership glow about Old Bar Clams rugby union club and its stalwarts, Richard Crook and Darren Drury, has passed, the cracks are widening alarmingly and the future of the club is increasingly precarious.
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In the wake of rugby league discussion of an amalgamation between Old Bar and Taree City rugby league clubs, the Clams forfeited their scheduled sixth round rugby game against the Manning River Ratz last Saturday due to lack of numbers.
The forfeiture appears the grim but inevitable outcome from the early-season development when Old Bar began the Kennards Hire premiership by fielding 12 players for their first-round game against the Ratz, and lost, 83-3.
With only 11 or 12 men available last Saturday and Manning River insisting on running on an entire 15-player team, Old Bar forfeited rather than suffer an humiliation.
What with Myall Coast's original withdrawal from the Lower Mid North Coast rugby competition after their 2012 premiership success and Gloucester club's failure to muster a men's team this year, the signs are increasingly disturbing.
Reassuringly, the Wallamba Bulls men's team, premiers of the last two seasons, emerged from an early-season slump by overcoming the Wauchope Thunder, 32-22, both team running in a bonus point for scoring four or more tries Speed kills.
The expression is as true in rugby as on the road, and all too evident when the Gloucester Cockies women's rugby team swept aside the injury-plagued Forster Tuncurry Dolphinettes at Peter Barclay Field in Tuncurry on Saturday.
In a display reminiscent of their premiership-winning performance of last season, the Cockies overwhelmed the Dolphinettes, 79-5, running in 13 tries to their rivals' one.
By unfortunate chance, the outcome was identical to the Wauchope Thunder women's success at the same ground a week earlier, the Dolphinettes losing by the same margin, 79-5, with hooker, Demi Fox, displacing her shoulder one week and hospitalised with a knee injury the next.
When Gloucester failed to field a men's team, the club survived through the pride of the women and spirit of the likes of club legend, Chris Marchant, and the "Lady from Wairarapa", Jacki Peachey.
How well they performed on Saturday.
Coach Marchant fielded a blend of experienced and youthful players, but all appeared blessed with one attribute - pace.
Likewise, as a splendid team does, they passed and handled the ball superbly.
In the feast, Chloe Shultz and Charlotte Maslen both ran in three tries, Ellie Schumann and Bronte Wisely two each, with Taylor Scanlon scoring a try and enjoying a fine game.
For the hosts, their try was a remarkable effort by Daniela Crowther, still recovering from a back injury yet defying pursuers from 60 metres out, while others to impress were the young bloods, Christina Davis and Carla Pereira-Odlum.
From Gloucester's performance, the Wauchope Thunder may not be the certainties for the Kennards Hire premiership title as first thought, even if they possess a champion in Ellie Johnston.
Wallamba's strong performances continued last Saturday, however, eclipsing Wallamba, 62-10.
Sixth round details: (Men): Wallamba 32 (4 tries) beat Wauchope 22 (4); Manning River beat Old Bar by forfeit.
Forster Tuncurry bye.
(Women): Old Bar 31 (4) beat Manning River 16; Wauchope 62 beat Wallamba 10; Gloucester 79 beat Forster Tuncurry 5.