The victory against the fourth-placed Platypi is a big boost for the Bulldogs, who sat in sixth in the Central West Rugby Union competition heading into the game.

It also reverses the result from the last time the teams met earlier in the season.

It was win number six at home for the Bulldogs from seven matches this season.

Bulldogs co-coach Shane Cantrill said the match played out in a more open fashion than expected, but said his side produced some good football.

“We knew their strengths would be their pick and drives. They’re really hungry on the ball. With the guys that we had out there today they were really committed and it was a really good team effort,” he said.

“I thought we controlled our defence really well, which was great. Those things are real positives ... They scored two tries from pick and drives from our mistakes, but apart from that we played the majority of that first half with a controlled ball. It was a bit disappointing not to have more points on the board at half-time, but it was still a good effort.”

Cantrill praised some of his less experienced players.

“Timmy Collins, apart from a couple of little mistakes, played really well at the back coming in from second grade, which is good. Peter Fitz[simmons], coming up as well, was really good. Sean Fogarty in the front row I thought was outstanding.”

Forbes were stranded near their own try line eight minutes in and, when they produced a lineout that wasn’t thrown straight, it gave the Bulldogs a perfect opportunity to strike.

They seized the chance several minutes later when Peter Fitzsimmons went over on the left wing.

Alex Weal couldn’t make the conversion, but the Bulldogs were gifted a penalty five minutes later and the centre didn’t make the same mistake, pushing the score out to 8-0.

Forbes made a break down their left side in one of their better scoring opportunities of the half, but spilled the ball just 10m shy of the home side’s try line.

Another lost lineout for Forbes in their own half gave the Bulldogs an opportunity, but they were penalised just metres short for not releasing the ball.

The Platypi got the margin back to three when Jarod Hall scored a try after the half-time siren.

It was the Bulldogs who got the early momentum in the second half. After just two minutes, winger Collins was on the end of a string of passes out to the right that caught Forbes overlapped, allowing him to run in for an easy try to make it 13-5.

Dylan Sinclair broke out of a tackle close to the Forbes try line, his offload travelling through a set of hands before finding Fitzsimmons out towards the left sideline for his second try. Another penalty goal for Weal got the score out to 21-5.

Forbes gave themselves a sniff of a fight-back with a Kyle Sharpe five-pointer seven minutes out from full-time, earned off the back of a lengthy stint of possession.

The match dragged on for over 10 minutes after the clock hit the 80-minute mark as the Bulldogs searched for a bonus point try, but to no avail.

BATHURST BULLDOGS 21 (Peter Fitzsimmons 2, Tim Collins tries; Alex Weal 2 penalties) defeated FORBES PLATYPI 10 (Jarod Hall, Kyle Sharpe tries)