Bathurst Bulldogs’ coach Michael Lund has appealed to Central West to lift the profile of its Colts competition after his side and arch rivals CSU turned on a fine exhibition of rugby in the grand final played out at Narromine’s Cale Oval on Saturday.
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The Bulldogs won the spoils 15-8 but Lund said under-19s rugby was the winner at the end of the day.
“We won the premiership but this game was a great advertisement for the game at this level,” he said.
“There are some really high quality players in the under-19s and that showed out in these two sides here today.”
And Lund got an almost instant response from Central West when John Hamilton was introduced to the players as the new coach of the Blue Bulls in 2012 and he in turn invited any players interested in playing rep football to get in touch with him.
“I know most of the students will be away at different times between now and next season, but I’d really like to hear from you,” he said.
While many thought the Dubbo Kangaroos were unlucky not to make the grand final after being minor premiers, there was no doubting that the Bulldogs and the students would provide patrons with an absorbing grand final.
CSU led 5-3 at half-time after a 27th minute try to winger Dan Ross-Hopkins who took advantage of a chip kick in goal; and a little later Bulldogs got on the board with a penalty goal to Jack Roberson.
The Bulldogs’ forward had a lot going for them in the early stages with No.8 Peter Fitzsimmons leading the way with a try to give them the lead for the first time.
But five minutes later they were back on even terms when Jack Coote kicked a penalty goal for CSU.
Unfortunately for CSU that was the end of the section for them when the Bulldogs’ forwards laid the footprint for another try, this time a push over effort from Liam Berry. Roberson converted to complete the scoring.
Coach Michael Lund nominated prop Liam Berry as one of his best in the forwards; while the defence of winger Tom Noguiera was impressive.
“I thought we managed the breeze well today and to hold them out in the first half was to our credit,” he said.
“Everyone got stuck in and we converted our advantages in the second half.”
Lund added that he would be happy to come to Narromine’s Cale Oval every year for grand finals.
“That’s now two from two for me as the coach here at Narromine,” he said.
While CSU coach Luke Costello was having nothing to say after the game, captain Sam Ryan was happy to oblige.
“It was a disappointing result, for sure,” he said.
“We had a lot of ball but didn’t capitalise or execute the way we would have, or like to have done.”
The Bulldogs’ effort was even more meritorious as they played with 14 men after prop Aaron Booby was given a yellow card after referee Paul Hennock lost patience for giving away a string of what appeared to be deliberate penalties.
It was in that same period towards the end of the game, that CSU had a mountain of ball and field position (and at least seven penalties in a row), but like their captain said, they couldn’t capitalise.
Bathurst Bulldogs 15 (Peter Fitzsimmons, Liam Berry tries; Jack Roberson 1 pen goal; 1 conv) def CSU Bathurst 8 (Dan Ross-Hopkins try; Jack Coote 1 pen goal).