Northern Suburbs made Tenambit Morpeth pay for a dismal afternoon in the field collecting first innings points and establishing a 43-run lead with six wickets in hand going into day two next week.
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The young Bulls dropped several chances including three sitters until Syd Searle finally held a skied shot by Lincoln Mills, but the damage had been done at Morpeth Oval.
Mills was out for 44 in the 10th over and along with opening partner Mike Wilson (22) had got Norths off to a flier with the first wicket falling on 77 in the 10th over.
By stumps Norths were 4-177 in response to the Bulls 134.
In a nutshell, Norths took their catches and the Bulls didn't.
"It really showed how important it was to take catches," Mills said.
"We took the ones that come to us today. Ben Sugdgen took two one-handed catches fully outstretched in gully.
"They were less than half-chances and to take them is a big plus, it gets the team up
"If they take myself and Mike Wilson early and we're 2-20 instead of 0-70-plus and it could have been a completely different game.
"We gave them plenty of chances."
Mills said he and Wilson had deliberately pressed their luck to keep the pressure on the Bulls bowlers and fielders.
"The best time to bat was probably when the ball was new as the ball got softer and older it just got that bit slower off the wicket," Mills said
"You could see that with players being through their shots skying balls with the ball just holding up"
Mills led the way the ball with 4-21 and Brad Jenkinson continued his fine start with Norths taking 3-41 to go with his 43 not out with the bat.
"Brad Jenkinson's bowling today was again phenomenal. He has been such a great pick up for us. He plays with real aggression."
Mills said he had been impressed with how the young Bulls bowlers had responded to the setbacks of so many dropped catches.
"They are a young team and they will take a lot out of it hopefully. Hopefully not next week," Mills said.
"They've got a good young team. If they can hold on to Alex Lidbury, Syd Searle and Ryan Wind and build and develop them they are going to be strong for a number of years."
In other games Kurri Weston collected first innings points posting 6/118 after dismissing Thornton for 117.
Johno Gabriel top scored for Thornton with 57 and Nick Bourke added a valuable 21 at No.10 after the Thunder were 9/88.
Nick Neild took 5-26 and skipper Steve Abel (2-17) and Jack Sylvester (2-36) both picked up two wickets.
Ben Herring made a dominant 65 at almost a run-a-ball as the Warriors reached 6/118 at stumps.
