It was a full house at Nabiac with plenty of support for both Manning Ratz and Wallamba Bulls in what was the match of the round and possibly match of the season to date.
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Matches kicked off with the women's 10s giving Mid North Coast rugby president and his entourage a display of a solid four quarters of play with both teams stretching their opposition going into the half time break 17-all.
The crowd was wowed by the phases that were played yet it was Manning that had the edge over Wallamba eventually sailing away to a 49-29 well deserved win.
As stated many times this year women's rugby has taken the area by storm showing its worth to all who were in attendance.
Manning are developing to a side that could be the team that can break the strong hold of Wauchope Thunders' claim to winning the 2019 lower Mid North Coast Rugby 10s Premiership.
With camp drafting at the Nabiac showground a back drop to the home ground of the defending premiers had a huge task in front of them from the 52-15 win Manning delivered in the first round encounter.
However, numbers were not an issue for coach Pete White this time around.
White's charges had to undergo some deep self belief skill as he sent his boys on their way to take on an 80 minute David and Goliath fight against a well prepared and sizeably larger 15.
Manning came out of the blocks hard shattering the premiers with some rib cracking, thigh manipulating defence which had the crowd oohing as they watched the young guns from Wallamba take it in their stride.
That was until Manning's big forwards drove home with some heavy pick and drives 10 metres from Wallamba's line posting the first try of the day.
With a successful conversion Manning went to a lead of 7-0.
The Ratz were looking the goods in both attack and defence and it seemed that it wouldn't be long until they broke their opposition even though Wallamba slipped over for a unconverted try.
But, it was the Ratz who delivered the next blow taking the half time score to 14-5.
There was now a game on their hands with the defending premiers' hopes of holding on a 50/50 chance.
Yet, come the second half the game delivered some spectacular defence from both sides with the Ratz driving wide for another unconverted try now moving to a 19-5 lead.
But, that's where coach Whites' soldiers had held strong during the first 50 minutes of the massive Ratz bombardment holding strong on the composer combining well in a counter attack keeping the score board rotating with Wallamba moving closer to the big Manning boys as the score went 19-17 Manning's way.
One could only feel the energy from the crowd as Wallamba crossed over again breaking the tiring defence of Manning and taking the lead at 22-19.
Wallamba held this slight lead until Manning was handed a penalty to level the score, 22-all.
It could be demonstrated by Wallamba's young guns as nothing less than true courage and belief that kept the defending premiers focused when they crossed over the line and converted with 10 minutes to go and eventually coming out over the top with a bone shaking, crowd thrilling 29 -22 final result.
Saturday's game was 80 minutes of true grit rugby union from both sides putting all on notice that Wallamba had found their groove and not a week too soon for the super calm coach.
This Saturday Wallamba take on old sparring partners Forster Tuncurry Dolphins at Tuncurry.
Other games, Wauchope will host Manning Ratz and Old Bar will line-up against Gloucester.
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