BATHURST Bulldogs will aim to end a six-year home drought against Orange City when the clubs meet at Ashwood Park for Sunday’s Blowes Clothing Cup elimination final.
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Not since the 2010 major semi-final final have the Bulldogs taken down the Lions on their home turf.
However, Bulldogs know they’ve got what it takes to get the better of City having done so at Orange this season with a 18-7 victory in atrocious conditions at Pride Park.
Now it’s all about replicating that performance at home when it’s needed most.
“I’m confident we can have a good showing against Orange City. It’s really the first of our grand finals,” Bulldogs co-coach Brian Roberson said.
“We’re not underestimating this game. It’s obviously going to be very difficult. We’re hungry, they're hungry and in semi-finals it’s a whole new game.
“They haven’t lost in Bathurst since 2010 so they’ve got that extra bit of confidence coming over here."
In 2010 Bulldogs scored back-to-back wins against the Lions, beating them in both the qualifying and preliminary finals, before going on to take out the title.
This time around the Bulldogs get no second chances like they did on that occasion, falling short of the top three spot required for guaranteed two weeks of finals football.
Bulldogs come into the finals with wins over Dubbo Rhinos (64-5) and CSU (42-17) but although the margins would suggest a dominant Bathurst performance there were still some blemishes.
Those will need to be removed against a team who came very close to toppling their cross-city rivals and minor premiers Orange Emus last round.
Roberson said while a strong start is always important, it becomes even more crucial when taking on the Lions.
“There’s a healthy rivalry there between two competitive teams. There’s a lot of good players in City, a lot of good players in Bulldogs and the rugby will be all the better for it,” he said.
“We’ve definitely got to improve on those performances against Rhinos and CSU.
“That win we had against Orange City in atrocious conditions will be a big confidence boost for us. We came out on top because we were more enthusiastic. We need to start well and keep it up because if we don’t then City will roll us.
“City are strong across the paddock. They play an uptempo game, have a great lineout and are strong across the backs but we’ve got the men to contain that.”
Bulldogs have suffered a big setback for their finals campaign as captain Adam Dwyer suffered a fractured cheekbone in the CSU clash.
The injury is likely to bring an end to the lock forward’s career.
“Adam has been a stalwart for this club,” Roberson said.
“Adam’s been an inspiration to the Bulldogs for years. His physicality at the breakdown has been very valuable. That leadership he’s shown has not only come by word but by example as well.
“He will be sorely missed.”
Oliver Barclay will come into the starting team for the injured captain.
Adam Plummer will come in for the absent Bart Bogart.
Bulldogs aim to keep their season alive from 3.15pm on Sunday.
