The Cootamundra Bulldogs have gone down by 36 points to 22 to the Junee Diesels in Round 11 of the Group 9 First Grade Premiership.
A huge crowd was on hand, thanks in part to the Bulldogs hosting their annual Old Boys Day, to witness the clash of the local rivals, both of whom were fighting for a spot in the Top 5 on the competition table.
With many past players returning to Les Boyd Oval for the day, the youthful Bulldogs were expected to begin the match with a huge amount of passion albeit taking to the field without their inspirational leader in Captain-Coach Luke Berkrey, but it was the Diesels who started the game full of energy.
Junee created numerous chances early on without being able to convert the pressure into points, with a resilient Bulldogs side turning the visitors away time and time again. After withstanding the early onslaught from the Diesels throughout the first 15 minutes, the home side was first to strike, with fullback Sam Bragg showing some individual brilliance to race 30 metres and score off a Bulldogs shift.
Four straight sets for Cootamundra following the kick off, through a result of forced repeat sets and penalties, meant the tonne of possession took it’s toll and Brendan Kelleher was the beneficiary of some quality lead up work by the Bulldogs attack to extend their lead to 10 nil.
Junee eventually found their way across the tryline with only 15 minutes to play in the half through Stu Dunbar, before adding another two tries prior to the break to Daniel Foley and Chase Bernard to leave the Bulldogs trailing 16-10 after the first 40 minutes.
An early try to the Diesels not long after the second half had commenced had the hosts behind 20 points to 10, but that lead was cut to 20-16 soon after as Bulldogs halfback Joe Ward created space for himself to split the Junee defence only to be brought down just short of the tryline. From the ensuing play the ball, Tai Vaavale made amends for an earlier sin-binning by barging his way over from close range.
The four-point ball game would be as close as the Bulldogs would get for the remainder of the match, with Bernard setting up a try that was finished in the corner by winger Cooper Wright coupled with a well earnt try to centre Tevita Toloi from a kick. Second rower Damel Diakhate then scored to finish off a line break Jordan Walker to push the Diesels to an unassailable 36-16 lead, with only a late consolation try to Coota’s Ned Murray changing that scoreline to a final result of Junee defeating the Bulldogs by 36 points to 22.
Cootamundra coach Berkrey was disappointed his side failed to build pressure as they hoped. “It felt like we struggled to build any momentum for long enough periods of the game and probably didn’t give ourselves the best chance.”
“We spoke at half time about completing high and creating fatigue, as we thought that was our best chance but we just didn’t sustain the pressure for long enough” the injured star added.
Cootamundra’s attention will now turn to this coming weekends away match at Twickenham against a muchly improved Tumut Blues, who pushed reigning Premiers and ladder leaders Gundagai Tigers all the way during last Saturdays fixture.
“This weekends game now becomes a must win for our season to remain alive and I have every confidence we can get back to playing our brand of footy for longer and back our fitness to get ourselves back to winning ways.”
Aaron Byrne
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