By MARK CASHMAN

Warringah will contest the red card shown to their tighthead prop Sam Needs in the Rats’ 47-24 win over West Harbour at Pittwater Rugby Park on Saturday.

The Needs red card (for striking) along with the one given to Wests backrower Visi Vaohea is due to be heard on Tuesday by the SRU judiciary and the Rats are very hopeful of having having him available for their next game against Eastwood in Round Five.

This was always going to be a tough one for the home side to negotiate off the back of the draining loss to Southern Districts at Forshaw last weekend and that’s pretty much the way it all panned out.

Warringah scored seven tries to four in the end and were able to bank a bonus point victory against a side that seems to be coming together quite nicely.

The home side had to cope with some late changes as well as the red card with Rory O’Connor pulling out of the game late after struggling all week with a viral infection and flyhalf Dean Blore out after copping a head knock the week before.

That meant that Ben Marr came up from fullback to play in the No.10 jersey and his all action style and enthusiasm were there for all to see on Saturday.

Skipper Marr ended up the day with 13 points to his name from a try and a handful of conversions but must have been rueing his final attempt after the full time siren which he pushed to the right.

They also rotated Wes Thomas out as starting hooker giving Jack Nettleton his first run on game for the rats and he rewarded them by scoring the first try of the day from the back of a rolling maul.

Rats coach Mike Ruthven said he was happy with the way that his 10 and 15 combination was developing at this stage of the season.

“It’s a good position for us to be in having that sort of talent in those areas,” Ruthven said.

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“Ben (Marr) came up and slotted in quite naturally and was his usual self, always a threat with the footy.

“I’m happy with the way that those combinations are developing and the extra room at fullback allows Ben (Marr) a bit more freedom.

“Wests strong point is their scrum and I thought that we did a good job there and elsewhere they are a side that if given time and some space they can punch through the gain line.

“Both sides had periods of momentum so at the end of the day I am happy to bank those points. It wasn’t a complete 80 minutes but definitely something that we can build on.”

IMAGE: JB PHOTOGRAPHY