North Tamworth Bears started the game with a try from the kickoff and never let up as they hammered Wee Waa 62-2 in their Mercy Rule Whitehaven Coal Group 4 First Grade win at Jack Woolaston Oval.
Zack Doring drove a deep ball off the kicking tee for the Panthers for it to land in winger Senirusi Raque’s arms 10m out from his line.
The Fijian winger ran the ball up, crashed his way through two or three defenders, found himself in the open and then raced 80m for a stunning try.
It was the first of four for the flyer they have nicknamed Bruce, the stunning start setting the scene for a first half slaughter where the Bears scored 10 tries and led 58-nil at the halftime break.
Zack Doring did kick a penalty goal for the Panthers in the fifth minute of the second half but four minutes late the game ended when prop Quinton Pomare-Anderson crashed over.
The Bears had needed to score big points and do it in good style to help them finish off the season in what will be testing time with three other clubs all vying for three spots in the semi-finals behind Moree.
Wee Waa coach Matt Freeman was disappointed with his side while conceding how well the Bears played on their home turf.
“I asked the boys to play their game today,” said Matt Freeman.
“It didn’t happen. We got a bit flustered at the start. North Tamworth are a team if you don’t turn up to play they will roll you and roll you hard. The boys found that out today and got a big score put on them today.”
Angus Gallagher and Lane Rees were two of the better Panthers along with skipper Ray Stahn.
The Bears had plenty of good players, none better than “Bruce” and his four try effort for which he won their players player award.
Coach Paul Boyce also thought Mark Simon was another to shine.
“He was great in the middle,” he said of Simon.
“Missa (Misaele Vakacegu) was strong. Ballie was outstanding too, one of his best.”
Ball’s service from dummy half has become a feature good too.
Skipper Mitch Sheridan says they did what they needed to do.
“We had to win and win well,” he said.
“We stuck to our structure and prepared for next week.”
The Bears play Kootingal Roosters at Jack Woolaston Oval on what his North Tamworth’s Old Boys Day.
“We’ve got two big games, Kooty and then Werris Creek. We could end up second or we could up out of the four.”
Coach Paul Boyce said “every game counts now”.
“For and against is going to be vital too. Getting that 60 points today was a job well. We were pretty solid in that first half and played to the game plan. We could have thrown the ball around but we kept it simple and got it done.”
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