Bulldogs Assistant Coach Jamin Hall, Bulldogs President Stephen Howse and Bulldogs Coach David Buttriss celebrating the sides win, not only of the match but of the Challenge Cup, securing the Club $1000 which will undoubtedly make for a great Mad Monday.
A wave of nostalgia, community spirit, and pure, unadulterated passion for the game washed over Les Boyd Oval as the Cootamundra Bulldogs took to the field. It was Old Boys Day, and the stands were packed with a sea of faces, both new and old, all there to cheer on their beloved team.
The Bulldogs didn’t disappoint, delivering a performance that was nothing short of a masterclass. They not only defeated the Wagga Brothers, but they dominated them, securing a resounding 44-4 victory that reverberated through the town and beyond. The air was electric, charged with the energy of a community united by a shared love for their team.
Former players, some of whom hadn’t been back in years, swapped stories and shared memories, their laughter echoing across the field. They watched with pride as the current Bulldogs, fuelled by the energy of the crowd, played with a palpable intensity.
The Bulldogs’ attack was relentless, a force of nature that the Wagga Brothers simply couldn’t contain. Seven different players crossed the try line, a testament to the team’s depth and attacking prowess. It was a symphony of perfectly executed plays, with each player playing their part to perfection.
At the heart of this attacking onslaught was Sam Gash. He was a standout, a true game-changer who seemed to be everywhere at once. Not only did he score two tries, but he also proved his accuracy with the boot, converting six of the team’s eight tries. His performance was a clinic in both offence and special teams, and his coach, David Buttriss, couldn’t help but sing his praises.
“He was awesome on the weekend,” Buttriss said. “Every time he got the ball, he was sort of chucking something on. I think he found his place at the back for the rest of the year.”
It was a bold statement, but after a performance like that, no one could argue. The rest of the team was just as impressive. Jack Caldwell, Corey Gale, James Patterson, Cooper Emonson, Jacob Maher, and Nikola Sovatabua all added their names to the scoresheet, each try a nail in the coffin for the Wagga Brothers. It was a complete team effort, with every player contributing to the dominant victory. Even in the face of adversity, the Bulldogs didn’t falter. Hooker James Patterson was a prime example. Despite his smaller stature, he played with the heart of a giant, repeatedly stopping the “big boys” of the Wagga Brothers in their tracks.
“He’s only a small body in the middle,” Buttriss noted, “and the big boys kept targeting him, but he just kept stopping them and working hard.”
The Wagga Brothers, on the other hand, struggled to find their footing. Their only points came from a lone try by Dom Schiro-Cook, a small consolation in a game that was, by all accounts, a one-sided affair. It was a tough pill to swallow for the visiting team, but a testament to the Bulldogs’ defensive grit and relentless pressure. The victory, as sweet as it was, was tempered by a serious injury to player Joe Ward.
The Bulldogs were nearly at full strength, but Ward’s hamstring injury in the first 20 minutes of the game meant he would be out for the rest of the year. It was a devastating blow, both for Ward and the team, but as Buttriss explained, the Bulldogs’ depth proved to be their saving grace.
“We were quite lucky that we had Ollie Hall on the bench for the weekend,” he said. Hall, a young player who had already played a full game for his age, stepped up to fill the void, demonstrating the kind of resilience and selflessness that defined the team.
“He’s played a lot of half back growing up through the juniors, so he went on and played a role for us there and done a really good job,” Buttriss added.
This kind of depth and resilience is what separates a good team from a great one, and the Bulldogs proved they were in the latter category. They didn’t just win; they overcame adversity, adapted to a difficult situation, and came out on top. It was a victory that was about more than just points on a scoreboard; it was about the heart, spirit, and character of a team that refused to be defeated.
With the dust settled on their Old Boys Day triumph, the Bulldogs’ focus quickly shifted to their next challenge: a highly anticipated clash against Gundagai. The last time these two teams met, the Tigers edged out a controversial 20-12 victory, a game that left a bitter taste in the Bulldogs’ mouths.
With a spot in the finals on the line, the Bulldogs are eager to settle the score and prove a point. “You never know, footy is a funny one,” Buttriss said. “Whoever turns up on the day and wants it the most will come away with that result.” But this game is about more than just a spot in the finals; it’s about community pride, a friendly rivalry that runs deep.
Bulldogs’ President Stephen Howse came up with a unique plan, one that tied into a recent political decision that had been widely supported by both communities: the demerger of the Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council. “We’re going to play Gundagai next week,” Howse said. “We’re calling it the Demerger Cup.”
during the game. Club President Stephen Howse came up with the
idea of the Cup which pays homage to local politics.
This brilliant idea added a new layer of excitement to the upcoming match, transforming it from a simple game of footy into a symbol of community pride and friendly rivalry. The Bulldogs’ victory on Old Boys Day included winning the Challenge Cup and its prize money, and Howse had a playful plan for that, too. “We intend to hang on to it,” he quipped, a sly smile on his face. Howse is expecting a huge crowd for the matchup, predicting it will be their “biggest crowd of the year.” He knows the importance of this game, not just for the team, but for the entire town. It’s a chance to come together, to cheer on their boys, and to show the world the indomitable spirit of Cootamundra.
Even as the season winds down, the Bulldogs are already planning for the future. The club has been proactive in securing its talent, ensuring that the team’s success is not just a fleeting moment but a sustainable reality. “It’s very important for Luke as the new coach for next year to have two big boys, and Jared Elphick, and all our locals have pretty much all agreed to terms as far as I know,” Howse said. “We’ve been pretty active to tie up everyone before the season is over, so we now look forward to next year.”
This foresight and dedication to the future show that the Bulldogs are more than just a football club; they’re a cornerstone of the community. They are a source of pride, a symbol of resilience, and a testament to the power of teamwork. The dominant win against the Wagga Brothers was more than just a victory; it was a statement. It was a declaration that the Cootamundra Bulldogs are a force to be reckoned with, and that their story is far from over.
With the De-merger Cup on the horizon and a bright future ahead, the Bulldogs are proving that they’re not all bark, they’re all bite.
– Tully Potts
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