MANNING Ratz will have two key players watching from the sidelines in Saturday's Lower Mid North Coast Rugby Union grand final against unbeaten Forster Tuncurry Dolphins at Tuncurry.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
This follows the suspension of utility back Ricky Campbell and hard working forward Dave Rees.
Campbell was sent off in the Ratz win over Wallamba in the final and will now miss three games. Rees has been banned for one game for a third yellow card offence.
PHIL WILKINS reports:
To lose both Rees and Campbell from the season-ending match is a harsh bodyblow for the club, seeking its initial premiership glory.
The consistency of the Dolphins and the Ratz has long made the clubs the logical Kennards Hire grand finalists this winter. Games between the clubs are always the hardest, most unrelenting spectacles.
As far back as April the teams met in Tuncurry, a game honouring the Dolphins' wonderful club member, the late "ten-quid Irish-Australian", Phil Guiney.
The game was a miniature classic. The Ratz led twice in the first half and then recovered from a 10-22 deficit to draw the game, 25-25, through the last-minute goal by centre, Bruwyn Tisdell.
Subsequently, the Dolphins built an unbeaten minor premiership record, eventually overcoming the Ratz in the major semi-final in another splendid affair, recovering from 0-17 down to score four game-winning tries in the last 20 minutes.
RELATED: Campbell to miss grand final
The Ratz displayed their courage and temperament to put behind them the shattering defeat and overcome the Bulls in the preliminary final, their performance highlighted by the scrummaging of their massive tight-head prop, Bronson Rangi.
Tomorrow, Rangi will oppose the Dolphins' durable loose-head, Gavin Maberly-Smith. If Maberly-Smith prevents Rangi from dominating or at least destabilising the Dolphins' scrum as he did the Wallamba pack, the Dolphins should win the competition for the seventh occasion in 12 seasons.
The Dolphins' five-eighth. Matt Nuku, is a special craftsman, one of the finest to play in this region. He has the skills to have represented NSW Country had he made himself available for selection. Like centre Mark Hagarty, it is sad he never trialled.
The Ratz will outweigh their rivals although the loss of the hefty Rees is a major setback.
Above all, the suspension of Campbell will weaken the Ratz, as he is a shrewd tactician, ball in hand or in midfield, angling away his kicks.
The match will kick off at 3pm.