Robust lock forward Scott Relf scored the first premiership try in the Bulls’ brief history while two father and son combinations, John and Daniel Hessing and Tim and Chris Tout played important roles in the triumph.

Running with the difficult sou-easterly cross-wind, the Bulls took an early 3-0 lead through five-eighth Tim Tout’s penalty goal after which Relf bullocked through two tacklers for an eighth minute try under the posts. The Bulls were never headed.

When Saul Clough, 18, the sandy-haired No 8 and youthful captain, weaved his way through a tackle-shy defence for the Bulls’ second try and a 17-0 lead after 32 minutes, it seemed all over for the Ratz.

But right on half time prop Steve Rees claimed an important intercept for the centre combination of Ashley Stewart and Glenn Smyth to clinch their team’s first try and keep the Ratz in the game.

The Ratz’s coaches, Graham and Ciaron Dunn, lectured their team about the importance of capitalising on the three-try wind and keeping the Bulls pinned in their quarter, and within four minutes prop Rees put the Ratz back in the game with a strong run for replacement Shannon Corbett to drive over for the try and a 17-12 scoreline.

The Bulls were nothing if not courageous with 16-year-old man-of-the-match, Chris Tout, excelling in splendid counter attacks and driving the ball low back into the teeth of the wind, aided by new recruit Wayd Bowden’s pace in the centres and tenacious tackling by Josh Ede, Alex Zarb and the Hessings.

Chris Tout and Bowden combined superbly for a 65-metre try to restore the Bulls’ lead to 24-12 and although Smyth capped off a strong game with his second try after several forward surges, the Ratz found their opponents’ tackling and resolve too hard to overcome.