The Bulls ended the Dolphins’ 12-game winning streak with a deserved 21-17 win at their now splendid Nabiac ground while the Mudcrabs downed the second-placed Ratz at Hawks Nest, 13-5, the win keeping the Myall men in the semi-final race and presenting the minor premiership to the Forster Dolphins. 

Any stranger at the Nabiac ground would have believed the Wallamba Bulls had won their first premiership as the band of blue-jumpered men gathered arm in arm and bellowed their club song after a win which ended the three-year hoodoo the Dolphins had clamped on them.

Four minutes into injury time, referee Graham Sonter whistled a close to a swift, engrossing game after young Dolphins speedster Justin Hassett crossed for his second try to provide the his team’s bonus point for scoring less than seven points against the winners.

The Bush Telegraph worked overtime with a Wallamba supporter passing on some solace for the Dolphins that Myall Coast had overcome the Ratz, news which confirmed that the major semi-final between the Dolphins and the Ratz would be played at Tuncurry, perhaps at Harry Elliott Oval.

Wallamba have at last resolved their positional problems, restoring tenacious skipper Daniel Hessing to his rightful open-side flank with his brother Rhys on the blind side while winger James Watt is off the wing to prove a most worthy hooker beside Aaron Gordon and Dan Sawyer and back-up prop Kenny Bolt.

Equally commendably, coach Arthur Chapman ran Josh Ede as halfback to the spirited pivot and player-of-the-match, Jaiden Myer, combining well for strong-running centre Dale Higgins to surge through for his team’s two tries.

The fact that Watt stole two tight-heads from the Dolphins’ scrum and his forwards cut even in the lineouts through the brothers Clough, Saul and Kane, and worked fiercely at the breakdown is indicative of how abrasive the Bulls’ pack proved, refusing their rivals time and space to organise attacks.

Wet weather rugby is a different rugby, requiring patience, demanding more forward control, possession and aggression, best illustrated by the punishing bursts of Dolphins tight-head Colin Harris, attracting defenders infield, freeing up his backs out wide.

Penalties proved fatal for the Dolphins, however, the count against them being, 15-9, enabling fullback Chris Tout to convert Higgins’ second try just before half-time, and then banging over three penalty goals for a 21-12 gap which the Dolphins failed to bridge.

Myall Coast’s success keeps them within striking distance of fourth position to meet Wallamba in the sudden-death play-off on Saturday week. Myall trail the fourth-placed Gloucester Cockies by two points, but must travel to Tuncurry to meet the Dolphins on Saturday while the Cockies play the Ratz at Taree Rugby Park.

Suddenly, there is a new sparkle in local rugby after the demise of the Od Bar Clams.

Wallamba 21 (D Higgins 2 tries; C Tout goal 3 pen goals) beat Forster-Tuncurry 17 (J Hassett 2 tries T Harris try; L Crozier goal). Myall Coast 13 beat Manning River 5. Gloucester beat Old Bar on forfeit.

Phil Wilkins