By Jon Geddes

A 16-man Warringah side beat West Harbour 29-24 after an emotion-charged finish to their Shute Shield thriller at Rat Park on Saturday.

The Warringah team took the field carrying the spirit of their late clubmate Lachie Ward, who tragically passed away while playing in a fifth match against Gordon on June 10 2017, aged just 24.

The afternoon was a celebration of Lachie’s life and he was at the forefront in the minds of the team, which fittingly included his brother and Rats’ legend “Slammin’ Sam”  – back in the starting side for the first time since coming out of retirement.

When Rats’ replacement forward Rory Suttor dived over for the match winning try with his side trailing 24-22 just 36 seconds before fulltime, it appeared someone was looking down on the team from above with a fist pumped in the air.

Warringah’s stalwart centre Tyson Davis explained the significance of the result for everyone involved.

“It means a whole lot to me and was super special for the Ward family,” Davis told Rugby News. “With the season we’ve had it’s been really tough – and I think we needed that 16^th man out there.

“There was just that little more motivation to do well for the club and the fans and especially the Ward family.”

Davis said it was an awesome feeling when Suttor scored his try and he looked up to see there was no more time on the clock.

 “I’m super proud of the boys for going the full 80 minutes and showing that Tobruk spirit and the spirit of Lachie Ward,” he said.

A MESSAGE FROM THE HEART     

DAVIS revealed that Lachie’s brother Sam and coach Mike Ruthven addressed the playing group about him during their team meeting last Monday. He said that played a big part in securing the Rats’ second win of the season and getting them off the bottom of the ladder.

“I think everyone knew there was a lot more on the line than just a win today,” Davis said.  “You could see in the last two minutes the whole team was working off the ball and working super hard.”

Davis’s centre partner Seb Wileman said the message resonated through the whole team, and especially for the players like him who knew Lachie.

“I think you could feel it – there was certainly a reverence from the guys who didn’t know him and they understood his impact,” Wileman said.

As Ruthven said: “I’ve no doubt the boys lifted an extra cog there to make sure we got a result and a performance that the Ward family would have been proud of.”  

OH BROTHER, WHAT A WIN

NO player was more invested in the game, both physically and emotionally, than Sam Ward himself whose close-knit family were all in the grandstand for the special day.

How timely was it that the hard-nosed backrower got back for Saturday’s game after tearing his calf in the local derby against Manly.

 “I’m ecstatic, there’s no better feeling than winning a game, it was so good,” Ward said.

“This one was special – special because I had been gone for so long, special because we’ve had a rough time, special because it was on today,” he said. “And it was special for me because it was my first game back (in the starting side) and never thought I would get presented with my 8 jersey again.”

And Ward received no favours from the big Wests forwards pack who seemed to target him during the game.

“I haven’t been hit like that for years,” he said.

TURNING POINT

IN the Rats dressing room at fulltime there was a real belief that hard-fought win was just what the team needed to get back on track.

“I’m proud of the group, just the resilience there,” Ruthven said. “We were out on our feet and found a bit of energy and spark to go and ice that game which is something we haven’t been able to do this year.”

And Ruthven doesn’t regard a spot in the top six as mission: impossible.

“I’ve always believed in this group,” Ruthven said. “You’ve got to be positive, we just have to make sure we win every game that’s remaining.

“If we can do that, we give ourselves a chance.”