BATHURST Bulldogs kept the pressure on for a spot in this year’s Blowes Clothing Cup finals with a convincing 84-19 win over Parkes at Ashwood Park on Saturday.
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Bulldogs and Cowra are locked in a battle for fifth place on the ladder and with Saturday marking the third-last round before finals, the Bathurst outfit was chasing a bonus-point win.
It had the bonus point after 10 minutes and 70 minutes later had the win as well thanks to a 12-try performance and a brilliant day with the boot from winger Kurt Weekes.
It was not all perfect from Bulldogs – twice players knocked on with an open line and there was a period when they switched off and allowed Parkes to score 19 unanswered points.
But in the main Bathurst co-coach Brian Roberson liked what he saw.
“The 10 minutes before half-time they did go to sleep, so I was glad that half-time came so we could regroup and reset,” he said.
“When you get to that big a lead in such a short time frame, it gets hard to maintain that intensity and momentum. I give them credit because in the second half they did come back, stuck to their guns and played pretty good, structured rugby against a pretty gallant Parkes.
“The set piece was good, the loose running, the strong running from a few of the guys was fantastic.
“The scrum was good too, it has been pretty rock solid the last couple of weeks and we are looking to build on that and our set pieces going into the semis.”
Bulldogs showed their intent from the opening whistle, scoring four tries in the first 10 minutes.
Not only were they strong through the middle – number 8 Peter Fitzsimmons and lock Izaak Breen breaking tackles – but Bulldogs were dangerous out wide as well.
The hosts pushed out to a 49-0 lead as they scored at more than a point a minute, Weekes converting many of those seven tries from near the sideline.
Parkes finally got on the board nine out from the break via James Dean after being piggybacked down field with four penalties.
The Boars had a second try when Riley Byrne ran almost the length of the field following a Bulldogs knock-on 11 seconds out from the break.
Dean added the extras to make it 49-12, and the comeback continued when Matt Hunter crossed early in the second half.
However, after that it was all Bulldogs.
Winger Bart Bogart finished with five tries and Fitzsimmons a brace while Breen, Adam Dwyer, Jack Roberson, Alex Weal and Adam Miles all crossed as well.
Weekes ended up with a personal tally of 24 points from 12 conversions and he played a hand in setting up Roberson’s try.
Given it was only Bulldogs’ second game in five weeks added more merit to the performance.
“I am pretty impressed actually, they are building quite well towards the semis and I think we would have liked a little bit of a closer game so we could really go into the semis after some harder games,” Roberson said.
“But having said that, the fitness is there, the structure is there, so overall I am pretty happy.”
Bulldogs are hot favourites to beat Rhinos next Saturday, while Cowra has the bye and will not earn any points.