Initially to be based in Bulahdelah at the inclination of its founding president, Harry Thompson, the Bulls’ inability to gain a major sponsor and immediate lack of a suitable playing arena saw the club turn its attention further north to Nabiac.

Now, the Nabiac-Bulahdelah Bulls have sent the nid north coast southern pool’s second-placed team, the Old Bar Clams, sprawling, 17-7, to claim fourth position in the minor premiership, displacing the Manning River Ratz as the Gloucester Cockies’ opponents in the minor semi-final to be played at Gloucester No 1 Oval on Sunday week.

The Bulls are the young, vital team any decent competition in the bush needs, some players barely out of secondary school, some of rugby league origin.

John Hessing is an exception, the veteran having played for the once formidable St George club in Sydney. Chosen by coach Peter Doyle as a flanker, Hessing tackled as bravely as ever in the defeat of the Clams last weekend.

“The whole town is behind us. After we beat the Clams, Richard Crook remarked that no team is safe against us. He couldn’t believe the improvement we have made in a few months,” Hessing said.

“We’re developing and only getting better, and I can tell you we have Gloucester in our sights in the play-offs.”

The Mid North Coast’s southern area is expanding pleasingly and the up-and-at-‘em official, Harry Thompson is at it again, having applied to the zone to form a new club at Harrington.

The Bulls would have been in a more secure position on the Abigroup competition table had not they been docked competition points for failing to have all players registered from the start of the premiership.

Only a week ago, they were devastated to learn another point had been deducted because of an old registration oversight, leaving them a point astern of the Ratz, 21 to 22.