The Forbes Platypi brought Bathurst Bulldogs’ magical Blowes Clothing Cup post-season run to an end in Saturday’s preliminary final at Spooner Oval, setting up a mouth-watering grand final match-up with Orange Emus in the process.
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The game was moved from Forbes’ Grinsted Oval to Spooner because of floodwaters inundating the former venue, but the switch did little to negate the Platypi’s home ground advantage.
The Forbes faithful were parochial as their side held the gallant Bulldogs to nine points – all Kurt Weekes penalty goals – in a gutsy defensive effort and scoring 18 of their own, to secure a nine-point win.
The telling period was undoubtedly after Forbes flanker Adrian Cole was sin-binned for repeated infringement with the score at 8-6 in his side’s favour.
Despite being a man down and forced to defend for almost the entire 10 minutes, Forbes held on and didn’t concede a point.
Bulldogs skipper Sam Roberson saw yellow straight after Cole returned to the field, and Forbes did what Bathurst couldn’t in taking advantage of the extra man, swinging momentum and never giving it up.
“We knew they’d come harder at us during that period, particularly through their big pack,” Forbes skipper Jack Hammond said.
“But our defence is what’s got us to this point and we trusted it, we knew if we muscled up we’d get over the line.
“We’re stoked. I said after the (major semi-final loss to Emus) we’d be back at Endeavour Oval in two weeks and we will be. It’s huge for us, the club and the town.
“We were a bit down after that loss to Emus though and early on (against Bulldogs) it was like we’d forgotten how to play rugby. Once we found our feet in defence and started leading through that we started getting it right though.”
Barnstorming Forbes No.8 Matt Coles – who was superb in the win – found space early in the clash to open the scoring, barging his way over several defenders in a 40 metre movement.
Jeff Stewart’s conversion attempt missed, leaving the score at 5-0 and from there it became a war of attrition.
The two sides – in particular their respective forward packs – belted each other for 20 minutes in a bid to gain the upper hand, which neither unit really did.
They both had their chances during that period though but brutal defence, turnovers and penalties both ways kept either side from scoring. Weekes had an opportunity to get his side on the board in the 25th minute but his penalty attempt fell short.
The fierce battle resumed after that but Stewart made it a two-score game five out from half-time, kicking a penalty to extend the Platypi’s lead to 8-0.
Weekes found his rader on the half-time hooter, nailing a 40 metre penalty to get his side within a converted try at 8-3.
The Bathurst side was the better of the two in the opening exchanges of the second period, at one stage they strung together 16 phases inside Forbes’ 22 but the Platypi’s defence held.
Bulldogs did win a penalty though, which Weekes nailed to make it 8-6 and after Cole was penalised and then sin-binned three minutes later he hit another, giving Bulldogs a one-point lead.
Forbes held through that 10-minute period and then when Roberson was binned, the hosts began to gain ascendancy.
They took an 11-9 lead when Adam Hall kicked a penalty in the 65th minute and then Hammond crossed 10 out from full-time. Hall’s sideline conversion made it 18-9 – again, a two-score game.
Bulldogs had a number of chances in the final 10 minutes, as did Forbes, but neither side could add to their tally.
“It’s unfortunate the fairytale came to an end,” Bulldogs coach Brian Roberson said.
“The six-day turnaround from last week’s (minor semi-final) win combined with those two tough wins in the elimination games took it’s toll I think.
“Our motto was always to stay in the contest and the boys did that, but credit to Forbes. They shot up hard in defence and shut us down out wide. They were very good at the breakdown and that was telling.”
The Platypi will travel to Orange’s Endeavour Oval this coming weekend to take on the minor premiership-winning Emus in a blockbuster grand final fixture.
“We’re really looking forward to getting another crack at Emus. I think it’ll be another epic show over at Endeavour, we can’t wait,” Hammond said.
FORBES PLATYPI 18 (Matt Coles, Jack Hammond tries; Adam Hall conversion, penalty goal; Jeff Stewart penalty goal) def BATHURST BULLDOGS 9 (Kurt Weekes 3 penalty goals)
Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
