Inspired by a slashing four-try performance by fullback Chris Tout, the Bulls’ forwards fought hammer and tongs with their Gloucester rivals to win possession for their enterprising backs to run in eight tries to the Cockies’ three for a 44-21 victory at Nabiac Showground.

For the Dolphins the first major accomplishment of the winter came as an anti-climax with the decision of the Myall Coast Mud Crabs to forfeit the game at Tuncurry after losing three front row forwards to injury in the week, preventing them fielding a safe, hardened scrummaging pack.

With only two rounds remaining before the play-offs, Myall Coast’s second forfeit has endangered their fourth position on the competition table and a semi-final berth. They have 19 points, one point ahead of Gloucester. A third forfeit will lead to their elimination from the competition.  

In hooker Mick Wooster, props Mitch Meredith and Andrew Pollock and locks Tim Threadgate and Lukas Dellsperger, Gloucester have as formidable a scrummaging unit as any in the competition, but it was Wallamba’s tenacious hooker James Watt who stole their thunder with an early strike against the feed. Gloucester would exact revenge.

Whereas the forward struggle was absorbingly even combat, Gloucester’s back line found no way to halt fullback Tout’s rampaging runs through midfield, for all the strong tackling of outside-centre Mark Gurusinga.

Wallamba’s jubilation after the game was understandable. They have developed remarkably this year under the coaching of Lee Sullivan and Jim Wilson.

Rarely recognised players such as mobile flanker, Bodie Vidler, working tirelessly after a three-week knee injury, strong-tackling outside-centre Tom Jenkins, constructive five-eighth James Dinnan, lock Aaron Griffis and lineout-winner Daniel Barber, are blending splendidly with stalwarts such as Dan Hessing and Saul Clough.

 There are two things which will stop the Dolphins from claiming their fourth successive premiership next month -  complacency and 25-year-old Chris Tout.

Any observer with one eye could understand why Sydney and Brisbane rugby league clubs attempted to win Tout’s signature with rich contract offers as a younger player. But Tout stayed at home.  “You can take the boy out of the bush, but you can’t take the bush.”

Gloucester were best served by their exciting young five-eighth Ryan Yates who displayed pace and penetration for two superb tries, his first a 90-metre dash in beating defenders down the left wing.

It has been a difficult season with rain disruptions, game postponements and a plague of injuries, but just five weeks remain before the grand final on August 27. Surely Myall Coast, the 2012 premiers, can summon the strength to finish with credibility.

Wallamba 44 (C Tout 4 tries J Dinnan D Hessing J Watt D Russell tries; S Curnow 2 goals) beat Gloucester 21 (R Yates 2 tries M Wooster try, 3 goals). Manning River 76 beat Oold Bar 0; Forster-Tuncurry beat MYALL COAST by forfeit.

Next Saturday’s 14th round:  Gloucester v Myall Coast at Gloucester; Manning River v Forster-Tuncurry at Taree Rugby Park; Wallamba v Old Bar at Nabiac.