THE Old Bar Clams will share a small chapter of rugby union history with the Forster-Tuncurry Dolphins this Sunday when they meet in the inaugural grand final of the Mid North Coast’s Southern Shield after ending the Nabiac-Bulahdelah Bulls’ season at Old Bar Reserve on Sunday.
In a sudden death struggle more gruelling than heroic, more important than spectacular, the Clams won the preliminary final, 17-0 and three tries to nil.
“Our handling was terrible. We should have scored three or four more tries,” coach Jack Mundey said.
“If we handle as badly as that in the grand final, Forster will kill us.
“But our set piece play of scrum and lineout was excellent against the Bulls and I think we will dominate Forster through the forwards.
“The 12 forwards in our squad have been terrific since last January as far as training is concerned, turning up week after week. I wish our backs had been as conscientious.”
Before the game, coach Mundey was dismayed to learn yet again that one of his players, husky centre Sam Kalolo, was still in Sydney and would not play, necessitating winger Jamie Murray to move into midfield beside Andrew McDermott.
Likewise, although reluctant to start interchanging players at this late stage of the season, Mundey switched No 8 Matt Oates to lock beside Darren Drury with Wayne Sinclair moving back to No 8, a move which revitalised a lethargic pack of recent weeks.
As well, Mundey restored the captaincy to the highly respected lock Drury, allowing No 7 Chad Lambert to focus on his vitally important scavenging at the breakdown and his equally important winning of the ball at the front of the lineout.
Lambert had yet another sensational game, claiming no less than 13 possessions. He has made the lineout sky his personal kingdom this season.
With Teia Ambrosoli back as hooker and tight-head Brett Ramage continuing as the most dominant scrummager of the southern pool, the Clams won several tight-heads, bringing the Bulls’ scrum under enormous pressure.
Inevitably, it was through the forwards that the Clams gained their first try in the seventh minute, Lambert taking two lineouts before halfback Matt Thompson attacked an unguarded blind side and raced into the left wing corner.
With reason, halfback Thompson was hailed as “the comeback king” after head injuries less than two months ago which would have driven many players out of the game for life.
The Clams forwards continued applying the pressure without capitalising on their possession and with the sou-wester behind them, they must have felt they had squandered the advantage when leading only seven-nil at the break.
The Bulls had opportunities to strike back, but their back line lacked authority and failed to organise cohesive attacks. Their handling was also poor.
Seven minutes into the second half, No 8 Sinclair was at the base of the Clams’ scrum to touch down for a pushover try and lock Oates completed the scoring from a series of rolling mauls.
The Clams were just too big and too heavy to stop, which will be a warning to the LJ Hooker Dolphins and their coach Ron McCarthy, watching from the sideline.
The Bulls were unfortunate to be without tigerish utility forward Josh Ede due to injury, but skipper Daniel Hessing, Daniel Clifton and Saul Clough tackled furiously at the breakdown, attempting to regain possession.
One player who always makes an impression off the bench and who deserves acclaim is utility player, Anthony Zarb. The Abigroup grand final between the Dolphins and the Clams will be played at Tuncurry’s Harry Elliott Oval, kicking off at 2.30pm next Sunday afternoon.
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