The South West Rocks Marlins showcased their premiership credentials in a 62-10 victory over fellow competition heavyweights the Kendall Blues at Smithtown on Saturday.
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The Marlins crossed for 12 tries to two in what was a battle of the competition leaders.
The dominant victory lifts the Marlins into outright first position on the Hastings League ladder, one competition point ahead of the Laurieton Stingrays.
Despite an injury to forward Thomas Donovan in the opening minutes, the Marlins' big boppers were able to lay the platform for the backs to run riot.
The Marlins were first on the board as five-eighth Mal Webster found winger Jimmy Stokes with a long ball and he dived over but the Blues quickly answered and took a 6-4 lead.
The Blues were in again in the 17th minute when a Kendall forward showed determination to reach the line from 20 metres out and the Blues held a 10-4 advantage.
However, that was the end of the celebrations for the Blues as the momentum swung in favour of the Marlins and they never relinquished it.
The Marlins brought on co-coaches Sam Howe and Sam Drew and their attack began to straighten up and confidence returned to the side.
Steve 'Rock' Walker put the Marlins on the right path with a beautiful try in the 24th minute to lock up the scores.
Through numerous offloads, the Marlins' attack began to tire the Blues defence and Howe crossed to regain the lead before Drew scored under the posts to give South West Rocks a 20-10 lead at half-time.
The dominance continued after the break as the Marlins' big men Jim Evans, Jordan Smith, Beau Russell-Doherty kept them on the front foot.
On the back of the go-forward, Marlins hooker Alfie Drew attack was brilliant and combined with halves pairing Webster and Neville Donovan to pile on the points.
Webster, Howe, Curtly Scott and Drew found the line inside the first 10-minutes of the second half to take the lead to 36-10 and the Marlins showed no mercy as they continued to pile on the points.
Donovan was next on the score sheet after he received a perfect flick pass from Webster to score under the posts.
Jamhl Toby, Peter Bula, Drew and Scott crossed the stripe to complete the scoring and the Marlins' whitewash of the Blues.
The South West Rocks Marlins have only lost one game this season at the hands of the defending premiers the Long Flat Dragons in a 20-18 nail biter.
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