BATHURST Bulldogs’ hopes of a Blowes Clothing Cup minor premiership were dashed and the Forbes Platypi chances of a top four finish hang in the balance after a 24-all draw between the two sides on Saturday.
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The draw leaves the Forbes Platypi just one point clear of fifth placed Cowra Eagles with the end of the regular season fast approaching.
Both clubs had their chances to snatch a win at Ashwood Park – Bulldogs through a try and Platypi through a penalty – but when those attempts came up short the teams had to share the points.
The Platypi take on Orange Emus this weekend before a clash with the Cowra Eagles which could decide the make up of the final four.
Harry Webber continued his recent run of stellar performances with a hat-trick for the Bulldogs.
Bulldogs coach Dean Oxley praised the Platypi’s strategy.
“We just couldn’t sustain any pressure. Forbes went forward and played the edges effectively and caught us short out there to be honest,” he said.
“It was probably our worst display for the season, in regards to using the structures that have given us the results that we’ve enjoyed.
“I’m happy to have a draw and maintain that second place and it’s now about restructuring and getting ourselves ready for the semi-finals.”
Despite losing their structure at times through the opening term Bulldogs still went into the break up 12-7.
The second half belonged to the Platypi who rallied on the back of a fantastic Mahe Fangupo performance.
Bulldogs missed their chance to take the game in the closing minutes when they brought the ball from one end of the field to the other but failed to find a try.
In other matches thanks to their hard-fought, scrappy, bonus-point win over Cowra and Bathurst Bulldogs’ surprising draw with Forbes, Orange Emus all but locked up the Blowes Clothing Cup minor premiership and hosting rights for the major semi-final on Saturday afternoon.
The greens prevailed 29-19 over the fighting Eagles to push nine points clear of the second-placed Bulldogs with two rounds to go in the regular season and now only a complete disaster in the next fortnight will stop the Orange outfit sealing a third straight minor title.
The Dubbo Kangaroos took a big step toward claiming a Blowes Clothing Cup finals berth on Saturday afternoon at Pride Park, handing the Orange City Lions a devastating defeat to jump back up to third.
The 72-5 win combined with Cowra’s loss and Forbes’ draw was enough to push the Roos back into contention for a home semi-final, and it was the Lions’ third 50-plus-point defeat in the last month, all three coming at Pride Park too.