After coming up short the previous week Nambucca were never going to hand the two competition points to Macksville. Each grade saw good open football with Macksville making it a clean sweep. The first grade saw the Macksville Sea Eagles get home 34 points to 24. In reserve grade it was Macksville 32 over Nambucca 14 and Ladies League Tag Macksville won 16 points to 12.

The Ladies League Tag laid the platform for the day in a fiercely competitive match which saw great skills shown by both sides. After shifting clubs this year Maleeka Darcy proved the difference between the teams with both sides missing key members. Darcy displayed great awareness and a deft touch in regathering her own kick to score one of the Macksville tries.

Reserve grade saw aged prop Jason Rolff lead the way for Macksville in a man of the match performance. Rolff was in everything, at times playing out the back in a similar vein to Alfie Langer and the next run saw him charging forward like Blocker Roach. Rolff was rewarded with a try after a tap 10 out which saw him bullock his way over, scattering the Nambucca defence like tenpins.

Rolff was well supported by the versatile Leroy Buchanan and by young Jake Saunders, both having strong games.

Pressure then mounted on the Macksville first grade side to complete the clean sweep for the many supporters who travelled to Nambucca. The Roosters were always going to come out strong at Coronation against their arch rivals. The Sea Eagles wore through the emotion and got into the grind of the game with the scores even after 10 minutes.

The Macksville defence was strong in the middle, forcing the young Roosters halves pairing of Larnus Leisha and Marcus Duckett to take other options. Skilful kicks from both Leisha and Duckett provided entertaining football and opened scoring opportunities out wide for the Roosters.

Macksville stayed in the grind and holes started to appear in the middle of the Nambucca defence. Macksville Captain Brad Southan demonstrated great leadership in defence and directed his team around the park as per the game plan. Billy Cockbain showed generous speed for a big human by scoring a determined runaway try that by the end of the game he was describing as at least 100m.

Other try scorers were brothers Brad and Cameron Southan, Jake Simpson, Michael Tyerman and Tyler Blair.

In what was touted as a potential time bomb, both captains and coaches should be commended for the way in which the game was played. The Roosters Matt Field never stopped trying and led the way for his team with determined runs and persistent defence.

Field was constantly encouraging his young team and inspired a gritty performance. One incident marred the day to the disappointment of supporters from both teams which saw a player from each side sent from the field.

Macksville have another home game this Sunday up against the beatable Coffs Harbour in four grades of what will be entertaining football from 11am.