A WEIGHT was lifted off the shoulders of the Bathurst Bulldogs with their first win of the season last round of the Central West Rugby Union competition and tomorrow they will hope to build the momentum.
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Tomorrow’s match against the Mudgee Wombats at Ashwood Park will undoubtedly prove a tougher encounter than the one against the Narromine Gorillas last week, where the Bulldogs won 61-7, but the hosts will be confident they can make it two straight wins.
Unlike the Gorillas, who have been struggling for numbers, the Wombats have already shown they could be finals contenders with two wins from their first four games.
Last week they caused a boilover when they knocked over the Dubbo Kangaroos – who have got the better of the Bulldogs this season.
Bulldogs co-coach Brian Roberson believes if there’s any trait that defines the Wombats, it’s their ability to always commit until the final whistle.
“I’m expecting Mudgee to play out the full 80 minutes and really try to dominate us. You know it will be tough with players like Rupert Sheridan and Dave Jessiman. Those two players alone are capable of carrying that Mudgee pack. They’re a team with lots of enthusiasm across the park,” he said.
Bulldogs notched up 40 points in the opening half of last week’s game, a half filled with positive play that Roberson wants replicated against the Wombats.
“I’d like for us to build upon that first half from last week. The structure we played was very good and our set pieces were also a major improvement. We’ll keep working to improve that structure week by week. We have a long way to go yet.”
The match will end a lengthy wait of four weeks since the Bulldogs have enjoyed a home match, the only other being round one against Orange Emus.
A return to Ashwood Park will be appreciated not just for the home ground advantage.
“It will be great to be back at the kennel and it will also be good because Mudgee are bringing across a number of junior teams to play as well,” Roberson said.
“It’s going to be a great promotion for rugby with junior games scheduled alongside our colts, seconds and thirds matches.”
BATHURST BULLDOGS: 1 Chris Plunkett, 2 Mark Donnelly, 3 Sean Fogarty, 4 Izaak Breen, 5 Ollie Barclay, 6 Adam Dwyer, 7 Brendan Nelson, 8 Peter Fitzsimmons, 9 Adam Miles, 10 Sam Roberson, 11 Tyler Cook, 12 Josh Lees, 13 Bart Bogart, 14 Kurt Weekes, 15 Jack Roberson
