In a game of drama, tension, yellow cards and physicality, the Ratz of Taree overcame the Wallamba Bulls of Nabiac, 24-21, at Aub Ferris Oval to retain their unbeaten record of the season.

The Ratz' president, Mr Jim Boyce, spoke with pride of his team and the spirit they have displayed through the years of setbacks.

"There has been a wonderful response in the district through the numerous difficulties created by the pandemic, all of which has contributed to the bonding of our team and attracted players to the club this year," he said.

The Ratz have never won the premiership shield since the rugby union competition was reborn in the region in 2004.

But nobody left Nabiac on Saturday believing skipper and play-maker Ricky Campbell's Ratz could not win the Kennards Hire trophy this year, allied with the coaching wiles of Jake Maurirere and Daniel Stone.

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But, likewise, the relatively new club, the Wauchope Thunder, "thrown together" as club president Paddy Bowen disarmingly put it, continued on their unbeaten path, overcoming the once formidable Gloucester Cockies, 62-0, at their Wauchope home ground.

Dismayingly, Old Bar are another club under threat, the premiership-winning Clams of 2009 being thumped by the Barbarian Hogs, 73-8.

But it was a special afternoon for the Ratz in their comeback behind their big pack of forwards and enterprising young backs in Bruwyn Tisdell, Matt Bridge and Toby de Stefano.

The score was rivetingly close at the end when it appeared the Ratz had the game by the throat after running in three tries and leading, 21-0, before the Bulls' fine comeback despite losing lock Jeremy Kelly with concussion and requiring ambulance attention and then centre Rhys Hessing helped off with a leg injury.

But, tenacious to the thrilling end, three splendid Bulls' tries, all converted by Tisdell, locked the score at 21-all, before Corey Wheeler hammered over the penalty goal to reclaim the Ratz' match-winning lead.

This unique winter has introduced a competition far different to the normal.

The Kennards Hire minor premiership has been reduced by half, the competition now abridged to 10 games before the four-club semi-finals, in effect doubling the value of each win.

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The spectacle of the afternoon at Nabiac came with the Manning River women's team eclipsing Wallamba in the curtain-raiser, 39-17, Lucy Green playing a starring role despite Courtney Currie extending her try-scoring feats.

But Wauchope Thunder's women's team displayed glimpses of their championship form of last season in overwhelming the usually powerful Gloucester women, 49-5, leaving the competition wide open for a dramatic conclusion to the minor premiership.

Results in the Lower MNC minor premiership's fourth round (men): Manning River 24 beat Wallamba 21; Wauchope 62 beat Gloucester 0; the Barbarian Hogs 73 beat Old Bar 8.

Women's 10-a-side games: Wauchope 49 beat Gloucester 5; Manning River 39 beat Wallamba 17.

Old Bar, bye.

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