More than 100 people attended the Bulldogs Rugby League Club reunion at the Services Club on the weekend.

The soiree on Saturday led in to a huge day on the fields on Sunday with the visit from the North Tamworth Bears.

“We had a really good turn out on the night,” Bulldogs club secretary Lauren McCoy said.

“Lots of the guys from the premiership winning teams of ’83, ’84 and ’85 came along and a few from the 1998 side.

“We had well over 100 and have since had plenty of good feedback.”

It’s been a long time between drinks for a lot of past players and Lauren indicated there’s now a strong desire to hold another event in the not too distant future.

“We had a reunion of sorts a long time ago but now we may look at every five years,” she said.

Some attendees only had to walk down the street while others drove considerable distances to join the event.

“We had lots travel. People from Redcliffe in Queensland, some from the Hunter Valley,” she said.

“I think the biggest drawcard on the night was all the old footage we were showing.”

The club has put a DVD together which can be purchased through them.

“Everyone really enjoyed the night,” Ms McCoy said.

“We held an auction where we auctioned off a signed Queensland State of Origin jersey.

“A former Gunnedah player and now board member at the Redcliffe Dolphins, Anthony Murphy, bought it for $800.”

The following day the Old Boys and current crop of players turned out at Kitchener Park for four big contests on the paddock.

In what would prove the closest contest of the day, the Bulldogs ladies league tag side were narrowly beaten 18-14 by their Bears opposition.

The under 18s couldn’t keep pace with the table topping Bears and were on the receiving end of a 52 point loss.

Reserve grade fared little better as they were beaten 50-20.

A man of the match display from Bears left edge player Jake McManus proving the difference as the 23-year-old ran in three tries in the first grade tussle.

McManus, normally a lock, is relishing the chance to play on the Bears’ left edge where the former Townsville player said the tackling load isn’t as heavy as it is playing number 13.

In the end the visitors proved too strong as they ran out 42-14 winners.

The Bears had two players – Ky Ruru and James Duchatel – sinbinned at different stages of the second half.

Ruru was later sent off for instigating a scuffle following a try scored by teammate Richard Clegg, which was later reversed following the post-try pushing and shoving.

While results didn’t go favourably for the Bulldogs, Ms McCoy said it didn’t put a dampener on the weekend.

“The Old Boys still had a great time and we had a huge crowd – one of the best we’ve ever had for Sunday footy,” she said.

The Bulldogs head to Scully Park this weekend to take on West Tamworth Lions.