After starting the Blowes Clothing Cup with a seven-game winning streak, Bathurst Bulldogs’ undefeated run came to an end at home on Saturday.
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Forbes Platypi managed a tough 10-point win at Ashwood Park against the Bulldogs, coming from behind at half-time.
Bulldogs led 17-9 at half-time, before two second-half tries from Forbes saw the visitors claim at 27-17 win.
Bulldogs co-coach Nathan Pearce said losing does not sit well with him.
“It was a hard game. It was a game we needed to have,” he said.
“We’ve certainly have seen what we need to work on. It’s probably a good cause to action for the boys, in terms of a couple of things we’ve been getting away with.
“It’s going to make things difficult against [Orange] Emus.
“There’s a few things we need to work on but it’s not throw the baby out with the bath water. It’s a contest and we didn’t do the smart stuff today.”
Henry Willis opened the scoring for Forbes in the first-half, slotting home a penalty to give the visitors an early 3-0 lead.
It was a hard game. It was a game we needed to have
- Bathurst Bulldogs co-coach Nathan Pearce
Minutes later, Willis landed another penalty and Forbes were up 6-0.
Brad Glasson nailed a penalty for Bulldogs, before Adam Geal broke through the right-hand side of Forbes’ defence and came around and scored under the posts.
The conversion was successful and Bathurst led 10-6.
Another Willis penalty was cancelled out by a Scott Johnston try. Once again, Bulldogs scored through Forbes’ right-hand side.
The second half started with not too much fanfare and Forbes slowly grinded out the play and scored through Jarrod Hall.
Yet again, Willis was the culprit scoring a penalty 15 minutes from time to edge the visitors ahead 19-17.
After being denied two try-scoring opportunities, Nedd Brockmann scored in the corner to give Forbes a 24-17 lead.
Willis was unsuccessful with the boot but Forbes’ Cameron Bennett scored a late drop goal.
While Bulldogs were defensible sound in the first-half, they dropped off in the second-half, opening up to pressure.
Pearce said there is plenty to work on in the coming fortnight, especially on the breakdown and forcing pressure on the set piece.
“We turned away a lot of ball at the breakdown. Making sure that support arrived at the breakdown at the same time as the breakdown starts,” he said.
“The ball carriers are just getting away from the support players. That’s certainty one part of it.
“Our line-out was a bit ineffective today, both defending and attacking.
“We’ve been able to get some pressure on the defensive line-out, but today weren’t. There line-out was top shelf.
“Our scrum was good. I think we need to start using it more as a weapon.
“We’ll get another really good gauge on where we’re at against Emus. Hopefully we can give them something to think about too.”
All Blowes Clothing Cup teams will enjoy a week-off due to a general bye for the long weekend.
Bathurst Bulldogs will host ladder leaders Orange Emus at Ashwood Park on June 17.
FORBES PLATYPI 27 (Jarrod Hall, Nedd Brockmann tries; Henry Willis conversion, 4 penalties, Cameron Bennett drop goal) defeated BATHURST BULLDOGS 17 (Adam Geal, Scott Johnston tries, Brad Glasson 2 conversions, penalty)
