Bulldogs set up big clash

BATHURST Bulldogs have set up a mouth-watering clash against Narromine for the right to host the Blowes Menswear Cup grand final after an emphatic 33-8 victory over Dubbo Kangaroos on Saturday.

Any notion that the Bulldogs have a problem with the all-conquering defending premiers was smashed to pieces in a dominant display in Bathurst that shows they have what it takes to go all the way in 2009.

Winger Bart Bogart scored two sizzling tries from sheer speed, while his team mates were able to find three more to seal the win.

Hooker Alex Weal, breakaway Jono Cody and half Mitch Ridgeway were all pivotal for the Bathurst victory.

Dubbo were never realistically in the game from the moment Paul Miller scored in the 22nd minute, having earlier given up the advantage through a Tim Berry penalty goal for ‘Roos.

Miller plucked a Scott Johnston pass that looked headed for wider runners Luke James or Bogart, and brushed three defenders to score before adding the extras.

Soon after, Johnston was again involved as Jono Cody broke the line on the left edge to send Bogart on a sideline run to the in-goal to make it 12-3 before Miller slotted the conversion.

Before Dubbo had time to catch their breath, winger Tim Kaufusi made it three tries in 10 minutes after pouncing on a Dubbo mistake, and Bathurst had stolen all the running and looked a team on a mission.

‘Roos regained some composure and kept the pressure on thanks to a try to five-eighth Damian Tegart, a brilliant pick-up from a Cameron Lawrence pass allowing him to score in the corner.

Berry - Dubbo’s best player most of the day - missed the conversion as well as a long-range penalty on the stroke of half-time to leave the score at 19-8.

Miller added a penalty soon after the break, and his team began to close the game down with some bruising defence.

Any doubt about the result was put to rest by Bogart with 20 minutes to play, picking up yet another loose Dubbo pass and running 80 metres to score.

Fullback Phil Tonkin added another late in the match to take the score out further.

n BATHURST BULLDOGS 33 (Bart Bogart 2, Paul Miller, Phil Tonkin, Tim Kaufusi tries, Miller penalty, 4 conversions) def DUBBO KANGAROOS 8 (Damian Tegart try, Tim Berry penalty).