With two members of the Forster Tuncurry Dolphins club in their forward squad, loose-head prop Aaron Booby and backrower Blake Polson, the Axemen accounted for the formidable New England team on Saturday, 54-10, and then the Western Plains Zone XV in Sunday' final, 80-19.

Booby arrived in the Great Lakes just before the Kennards Hire premiership kicked off this year, soon establishing himself as a fearless and technically skilful front rower, his reputation enhanced by his performances in the Bathurst Bulldogs' premiership triumph last season.

In the off-season, Booby gained a position as a Tallwoods golf club greenkeeper.

What Booby did not reveal to his new team-mates in Forster was that he was a former provincial representative forward.

Polson is a bold running 105kg backrower who joined the Dolphins in 2019 and whose powerful charges contributed to his finishing second to Thomas Harris for the Bruce Greensill best and fairest player medal as well as aiding the Dolphins to an unbeaten season in the Kennards Hire premiership.

Western Plains defeated Central North on Saturday and MNC coach, Joe De Dassel, had his team primed for the kick-off.

Josh Rayner (SCU) put first points on the board off a strong set-piece play.

Wilson converted and MNC led 7 - 0.

Western Plains responded with a converted try before Bleddyn Gant scored out wide for a 12-7 lead.

Western Plains levelled the score before Gant drove over again.

Wilson's conversion provided a 19-12 lead, and there was no stopping the Axemen.

With the MNC scrum extremely strong, with front rowers Bleddyn Gant, Aaron Booby and Matt Potts dominating their opposition, half-back Dave Nicol spotted a gap on the blind and scored a vital try just before half-time.

The conversion by Chris Watkins gave MNC a 26- 12 lead at the break.

The feeling in the team at half-time was that a good start after the break would establish victory but well aware that the Western Plains would never toss the towel in.

The start could not have gone better with Booby, rewarded for an excellent shift up front with a try two minutes after the resumption for a comfortable 40 - 12 lead.

With Wilson and Watkins benefiting from good ball from the forwards and half-back Nicol, the defense opened up with Wilson scoring twice in five minutes.

The match was all but won.

Tries to Josh Sketchley, Arek Werstak (2), and Jeremy Winn with conversions by Watkins and AJ Gilbert the Axeman had notched up 80 points in a polished display of running rugby.

Not to be disgraced, the Western Plains were able to stand tall with a team try in the 80th minute to take the final score to Mid North Coast 80 Western Plains 19.

Bruce Worboys, the Mid North Coast Zone's executive director, said of the Axemen's performance:

"This was probably the best team the zone has ever fielded.

"Overall, it was the most successful Mid North Coast campaign for many years and possibly our best performance by a very well organised and committed team.

"The tight five were tremendous with locks Andrew Mallam and Brad Thorn tireless throughout both matches.

"AJ Gilbert captained the team well and the forwards gave the inside backs the time and space to play five-star rugby."

Port Macquarie's Bleddyn Gant was named player of the final, a reward for his dominant play up front, and a number of players certainly put the Country selectors on notice that rugby is alive and well on the Mid North Coast.

The Mid North Coast Tomahawks' women's team exceeded their own expectations in the NSW Country Championships.

After receiving a horror draw the girls knuckled down to the job and played with skill and determination that won the respect of all.

After a win over Central Coast and a loss to eventual winners, Newcastle Hunter, on Saturday the girls had to back up on Sunday with two more games.

The first game against Central North at 8a.m. saw the Tomahawks trailing, 0-5, at the break but a try in the 12th minute of the second half to dynamic fullback, Danielle Buttsworth levelled the score then moments later Taleah Waitoe scored to give MNC the lead.

A conversion by Shikira Porter gave us a 12-5 lead with 15 minutes to play:

"An outstanding defensive effort gained the girls a thoroughly deserved win and promoted the Tomahawks to the third/fourth play-off where again we had to play Central Coast, who we had already defeated."

With only 90 minutes to recover the Tomahawks took the field again.

Fatigue and injuries would always work against MNC.

A fresher Central Coast scored two tries in the first half with the Tomahawks fighting back through a try to Danielle Buttsworth.

A score of 5-12 at half time was reduced to only four points by a Shikira

Porter penalty goal only for the Central Coast girls to score two quick tries to lead 8-31.

With several girls clearly injured, the Tomahawks refused to give up and Naomi George was rewarded for her strong performances throughout the tournament with a try next to the posts to finish the game.

Shikira Porter converted to make the final score 15-31.

In a team of splendid performers, five-eighth Taleah Waitoe was outstanding in all four matches, as was full-back Buttsworth.

Greta Smith at open side breakaway was always on the ball and led the pack well.

The tight forwards had to adapt to the 15-a-side game with no player better than Wauchope Thunder's Naomi George.

Did you know? Great Lakes Advocate online subscribers not only have 24/7 access to local and national news, sport, what's on and entertainment - they also have access to our print editions in digital format, with all the advertisements and classifieds at their fingertips.