The Dubbo Kangaroos had every reason to celebrate their third successive Central West Rugby Union grand final victory on Saturday after crushing Bathurst Bulldogs 32-12 in the grand final.
After a masterful pre-game plan was devised by Dubbo coaches Wayne Stewart, Tony Dixon and Geoff Koerstz, the ’Roos arrived full of running and in reality smashed their opponents into submission.
They answered all the questions and Will Martel and Lee Toohey were again at their best despite injury concerns. No worries, the job was done.
From the first of Paul Elliott’s two tries with game just 12 minutes old till the end, the ’Roos were on top and never really threatened.
Elliott scored again mid-term and it was the vision of the winger that kept the Bulldogs guessing.
The lead-up work to this try was brilliant. Right side winger Robbie Cleaver had been sent down the sideline but Ray Lange recovered the situation for the Bulldogs.
However, pressure on the clearing kick again made things difficult for the visitors.
The ’Roos forwards worked the ball to the middle of the field and Elliott was on the spot for the try near the posts.
Tim Berry's conversion made it 12-0 and Adam Dwyer and his Bulldogs were under extreme pressure to recover.
The situation could have been worse a short time later when Elliott proved hard to pull down again, but the pass to Mal Donald was ruled forward just metres from the try line.
To their credit the Bulldogs hit back, as was expected, and it was creative fullback Scott Johnston who ripped through a huge hole in the ’Roos’ defence and put down the ball without a touch being laid on him.
That try would have lifted Dwyer and his players, but heartbreak was to follow.
Just when the Bulldogs were mounting a raid, a loose pass out in the backs was swooped on by centre Ben Kidd, who raced 70 metres to score under the posts.
With Berry’s conversion the ’Roos were in control again, leading 19-7.
Another penalty through frustration came soon after and this time Will Leader added another three points for a 22-7 half-time lead.
The Bulldogs needed to score first after oranges to have any chance of righting the ship and it was Jono Cody who forced his way over under an avalanche of ’Roos defenders. Lange’s kick from the sideline was short and it was 22-7.
A minute later Johnston was replaced through injury and maybe that was the end of it for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs tried to give the ball more air in the second half but time and time again they were forced into errors and were unable to exert any pressure.
Down the other end Elliott was tackled just short of the line but in the next phase Dean Matthews sighted an opening on the blind side and it was try time again.
Berry kicked the conversion for 32-12 and the drinks were prepared for the post-match celebrations.
This was a great victory for the Dubbo ’Roos who had only been beaten once all season and finished the year on a high.
DUBBO KANGAROOS 32 (Paul Elliott2, Dean Matthews, Ben Kidd tries; Tim Berry 3 conversions; Tim Berry 2 penalties) defeated Bathurst BULLDOGS 12 (Jono Cody, Scott Johnston tries; Ray Lange conversion)
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