BATHURST Bulldogs are in search of their holy grail and they might just find it at Ashwood Park this Saturday.
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Since moving their home base from Walmer Park - a venue where Bulldogs won eight first grade premierships - to Ashwood Park in 2008, the Bathurst club has not hosted a Central West Rugby Union grand final.
Naturally it is something which Bulldogs president Greg Reid wants to see change.
"I call it the endless pursuit of Bulldogs' holy grail, it's to have a home grand final here, we've never got to experience one yet," he said.
"It was 2002 when we last played a home grand final and that was at Walmer."
The bid to secure hosting rights for the grand finals hinges on the performance of the Bulldogs' first grade team, an outfit which currently tops the Blowes Clothing Cup ladder.
This Saturday the Bulldogs can lock in the minor premiership - something which would greatly assist their bid to clinch that home decider given their imposing record at Ashwood Park.
But to do that means beating the currently second placed team, fierce rivals Orange Emus.
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And the men in green know a thing or two about spoiling Bulldogs' plans. They are the team who downed the Bathurst side in last year's first grade decider at Endeavour Oval, while Reid also recalls the sting of being denied by the Emus.
"Emus are the benchmark and we really take a lot of pride in playing against them," Reid said.
"We share a really good camaraderie off the field, but are ferocious rivals on it.
"They always seem to get us too, so we'd love this to be the year that we create good memories. I think 2019 is the year of the dog, but I know they've got other plans.
"I did lose two grand finals in a row to Emus, I actually lost three in a row at one stage, but only two of those were against Emus. Going to Endeavour just sends shivers down my spine."
One factor that Reid hopes gives Bulldogs the edge over Emus this Saturday - in not just first grade, but seconds and thirds as well - is that it marks one of the club's biggest days of the year.
It's Memorial Day.
"Memorial Day started in 2001 after we lost Peter Richardson, he was a young bloke playing first grade for us at the time and he died in his sleep," Reid explained.
"We had Memorial Day three years after that, then it got turned into recognising all the people who had been part of the club who had passed away, remembering them in a really positive light.
"We're all super motivated, it's the highlight of the year for us. To play in a first grade jumper in the memorial day strip.
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"We want all the grades to win obviously, as president I am proud of all the grades, but first grade are the ones who can get us that home grand final."
As well as aiming to see Emus leave Ashwood Park winless across the grades, Bulldogs will be looking to raise finds to help Carenne School and Glenray. Since the first Memorial Day the Bathurst club has raised over $150,000.
The special Memorial Day jumpers first grade will wear - ones donated by Bulldogs' stalwart Shane Cantrill - will be auctioned later in the evening. The day also includes the Ode To The Fallen and red faces acts.