The Lower Mid North Coast Rugby Union Competition Grand Final was played in Tuncurry on August 19, 2017.
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Minor premiers Forster-Tuncurry Dolphins (who had beaten the Bulls in two out of three games of rugby in the 2017 season) and the Wallamba Bulls (who led the competition for three rounds of rugby in the 2017 season) took their deserved place in the decider.
The grand final weather forecast predicted strong winds and overcast conditions and as if to script, it delivered with a strong southerly wind making the conditions difficult especially for the kickers.
As the teams took to the field, the enormity of the crowd supporting the Bulls was apparent in the sea of blue and white supporters erupting as the Bulls players passed under their grand final banner, demonstrating just how much faith the Wallamba community had in their team.
From the kick-off, both teams played with a ferocity only seen in grand final encounters between two finely matched teams.
The Bulls, playing into the wind, attacked hard from the first minute, using the width of the field to weave a path through the seemingly impenetrable Dolphins defence.
The Dolphins number 10, Matt Nuku played his usual highly impressive game, proving a thorn in the Bulls side as captain Aaron Gordon kept his team focused and disciplined in their attack.
The Bulls discipline was rewarded when Lee McDonald crossed ten minutes into the first half for The Bulls to take the lead 5-0. As predicted, the 25 knot southerly played havoc with the kicking game and the conversion attempt was unsuccessful.
As the Dolphins regrouped, they demonstrated exactly why this was their fifth grand final appearance, resetting into a bone crunching attack on the Bulls defences.
Matt Nuku continued his sizzling performance to out manoeuvre The Bulls defence and even the score.
The Dolphins conversion attempt, supported by an enthusiastic breeze, was successful and the Dolphins took the lead 7-5.
Throughout the first half, the Dolphins took advantage of the wind to gain valuable ground with their kicking game, an option that was futile for the Bulls.
This advantage, together with a blistering pace of attack saw the Dolphins cross for a successfully converted try and head into half time leading 14-5.
At half time, Bulls coach Lee Sullivan and assistant coach Jim Wilson drilled home to the players their game plan and the opportunity presented by the building breeze.
As the players rallied and headed back onto the field, the Bulls supporters roared as one, in a singular moment demonstrating what ‘the year of the bull’ truly means.
A penalty, inside the 22 saw captain Aaron Gordon elect to take the kick, and the breeze, together with the skillful boot of Christopher Tout, brought the Bulls one try from victory at 14-8.
What followed was 35 minutes of some of the most intense rugby ever played on the Lower Mid North Coast. The Dolphins attacked the Bulls defensive line time and time again knowing full well that one more try would in all likelihood give them the breathing space to take the premiership.
The Bulls in turn left no stone unturned and played not only for themselves, their coaches but for the crowd who had erupted in a chant of Bulls, Bulls, Bulls. The Bulls players would later recount the power of the chant drove them to attack with a renewed intensity that was rewarded when Paul de Szell scored the Bulls second try to bring the grand final victory within touching distance.
Christopher Tout was charged with the kick of his career to convert the try.
Showing the depth of his many years experience, Christopher sent the ball soaring over the crossbar to the eruption of the crowd and thrusting the Bulls to the lead 15-14 with about 20 minutes to go.
With both teams, tantalisingly close to victory, the Dolphins threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Bulls, who played a smart game in defence and despite coming painfully close, the Dolphins were ultimately unable to beat The Bulls defence.
At full-time, the Bulls had claimed the premiership 15-14 in what truly was truly the year of the bull.
The official ceremony saw ten years of effort by countless players, officials, volunteers, sponsors and supporters of the Wallamba Bulls rewarded when captain Aaron Gordon accepted the premiership trophy to the delight of the crowd of Bulls supporters who had descended in a sea of blue and white upon their victorious team.
An emotional Bulls coach Lee Sullivan paid homage to the Dolphins and praised the entire Bulls team who “have delivered more than we could ask every week for two years.”
Lee dedicated this victory to the clubs supporters who believed in ‘the year of the bull’.
The Joey (Tiger) Eason Bulls player of the match was Rhys Hessing.
As hundreds of players and supporters crowded into the Nabiac Hotel to celebrate the clubs premiership win, it was easy to see why this was #theyearofthebull.