THE COFFS Harbour have started their season in dominant fashion with a 78-7 thrashing of the Hastings Valley Vikings in Round 2 of the Mid North Coast Rugby Union season.

Playing their first match of the season, the Snappers came out all guns blazing against the defending premiers, scoring five tries to take a 35-0 lead after 30 minutes.

It was beautiful attacking rugby with try after try from the sensational Snappers.

Snappers player/coach Mitch Walton was beaming after such an outstanding performance to start the season.

“We haven’t beaten the Vikings like that for a long time, if ever,” he said.

“It was nearly the complete, full performance, and we only had a couple of lapses here and there.

“To be honest this result will send a few shockwaves in the comp, but internally we knew what we were capable of.
“But you don’t win premierships in the first round.”

Despite piling on the points, Walton was more pleased with his side’s defensive efforts.

“I’m more pleased with keeping them to 7 and I’m most pleased with our defence,” he said.

“When I last played for the Snappers in 2009, we had a really hard edge, and the last couple of years we have scored a lot of points but given up a few, and I wanted to get that hard edge back.

“I know it’s cliche, but if you focus on defence the rest will take care of itself.

“We’ll score points, but for us it’s about focusing on stopping the other team which we did today.”

In addition to their big win in first grade, Snappers sides won 6 of their 7 games against the Vikings in their first games of the season.

The Coffs Harbour Snappers are at home to the Port Macquarie Pirates this weekend, while the SCU Marlins host the Grafton Redmen.

By Aiden BURGESS