BATHURST Bulldogs’ second grade men are starting what’s expected to be the most closely contested Central West Rugby Union finals series when they play Forbes Platypi this Saturday.
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Little has separated the Bulldogs and Platypi this season and when they meet in Forbes for the qualifying final you’d be struggling to pick who goes into the match as favourite.
While a consistently strong Bulldogs team make the trip to Forbes as the higher ranked side from the regular season they’ve yet to beat the Platypi in 2017.
Forbes made a late surge to take down the Bulldogs 24-18 in the opening round of matches.
Just a fortnight ago the clubs played out an entertaining 29-all draw at Forbes.
Those two results make for a mouth watering battle this Saturday.
Bulldogs player-coach Justin Mobbs hopes the Bathurst men can make the necessary fixes to get that elusive win over the Platypi.
“This should be a good test. The loss in the first round was probably one that got away from us. In the second half we let them back into the game,” he said.
“The draw was only two weeks ago. In that game we let them get away from us but we were able to fight back.
“I think they’re a really strong team across the forwards and have a big pack. We have a tendency to switch off for periods of time against them.”
Bulldogs finished the season in second spot thanks to their 14 wins from 18 matches.
Bulldogs haven’t entered the finals with an ideal run of results but Mobbs said his side will be fired up for the qualifying final.
“Our last two weeks we’ve had the draw and a loss. That loss to Emus was another game that got away from us at full-time,” he said.
“I can say we’ll be ready for this one though and the boys will hit their straps for Saturday.”
Bulldogs have managed to stay clear of injury troubles through most of the season.
Cam Sinclair dislocated his shoulder in the opening match of the season, and unfortunately for the Bulldogs half he repeated that injury coming into the finals.
Hayden Christie-Johnson and Mobbs will line up at 9 and 10 respectively.
The major blow for the Bulldogs this year was Sinclair’s brother, Dylan, who broke his leg midway through the season.
In his absence the team have managed to still pile on the points – 866 of them in fact – to easily be the leading offensive side in the competition.
The most impressive statistic for the second grade Bulldogs men is that their red hot offence has managed to claim a bonus point in every game this year.
Bulldogs and Platypi will kick-off from Saturday 1.30pm at Grinstead Park.
