In blustery, rainy conditions at Ashwood Park, the Bulldogs were able to absorb the pressure the talented Redbacks forward pack applied.

After hitting the lead in the 22^nd minute, Bulldogs went on with the job to book a date in the grand final alongside CSU.

“We’re in it for the win and a shout out to all the girls in the team today, they all did really well. We used everyone and we needed everyone to get the job done,” Bulldogs skipper Mandy Scott said.

“Wyalong are always quick over the ball and they’re hard, so we’ve got to fight to get every inch, every ball, everything.”

In the opening exchanges of the contest the Redbacks showed exactly why they claimed this year's minor premiership.

It took just two minutes for them to get on the board, the forwards driving hard up the middle before the ball was spread wide to Bec Ball on the left wing.

She beat Bulldogs’ cover defence and sprinted away to score.

With number 8 Sharna Stevens making good ground with every carry – her strong fend a feature – and scrumhalf Rhylee Lemon working hard at the breakdown, the Redbacks looked imposing.

However, the Bulldogs muscled up when they had to.

Their online defence stopped a strong charge from Krystal Fyfe from a penalty tap to keep it at 5-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Three minutes into the second quarter Bulldogs were back on level terms. A big drive from Marita Shoulders behind Kate Gullifer carried the ball within reach of the line before Mel Waterford – returning from a broken hand – forced her way over in the left corner.

That effort saw things locked up at 5-all at half-time, but when play resumed Bulldogs wasted little time in turning up the pressure.

Scott drifted wide when returning the kick-off to make good ground before Sharna Aisake drew a penalty on the back of a strong charge.

Scott took a quick tap and dived over under the sticks with Gullifer adding the extras to make it 12-5.

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Though Bulldogs now had the lead, Scott knew it was by no means game over.

“Wyalong come back hard all the time, they never give up, so no, the lead was not okay, it was not big enough for my liking,” she said.

As Scott had feared, the Redbacks did respond.

Brodie Ford broke the line and charged up field and while cut down in a brilliant covering tackle by Tidarat ‘Nuk’ Nongku, it gave Redbacks good field position.

Shortly after Lemon forced her way over to make it 12-10.

But 10 seconds out from three-quarter-time, Bulldogs came up with a play which would seal their spot in the grand final.

From an attacking scrum the ball was spread left to Claudia McLaren, whose speed and strength saw her break the Redbacks defence.

Gullifer defied the wind to send the conversion over to make it 19-10 with 10 minutes left.

Both sides had chances in the final quarter, but no further points were scored to see Bulldogs come away with a nine-point win.

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