NELSON Bay Marlins are a force to be reckoned with in the 2025 Hunter Central Coast Senior Men’s Black Diamond Plate competition.
The much-vaunted Marlins outclassed Cardiff Hawks’ seconds team by a staggering 219-1 in an opening round fixture at Dick Burwell Oval – stamping their mark as premiership favourites.
Top Marlins forward Billy Barton led the way with a superb solo performance – booting an incredible 15 goals to set up a resounding victory.
Jake Voyzey and Mitchell Hall (four), Louis Dews (three), Matthew Blyth and Mark Spencer (two), and Austin Jones and Wayd Blackburne, also grabbed six pointers as the Marlins chalked up 32 goals and 27 behinds in the massive triumph.
Nelson Bay registered nine goals to lead 61-0 at the first break and added another 10 to rack up a commanding 125-0 lead at the half time interval.
There was no stopping the Marlins as they booted seven more goals to lead 176-0 at the end of the third quarter before powering to victory with another six in the final term.
Superboot Barton was a stand out for Nelson Bay, along with Blyth, Voyzey, Jayden Baldwin-Rymer, Adam Grant and Tim Anderson.
The Marlins will take some stopping when they host Singleton Roosters in second round action at Dick Burwell Oval.
A rusty Singleton team crashed to a 117-44 loss to Terrigal Avoca Panthers in their premiership pipe opener showdown at Hylton Moore Oval, and need to improve considerably to match it with the marauding Marlins.
By Chris KARAS
