Perfect conditions prevailed at the HCC where the sun was shining, breeze was slight if at all and two teams were pumped up early to finish their season next week in the Grand Final.
Minor Premiers Uni Cougars showed up early for a training session just to put the wind up the semi-finalists to watch out for who they've got to beat next week.
It was obvious from the start that these two proud clubs were going to throw everything at it as there is no love lost between these two. The tackles were bruising and the contest around the ball was intense as each team tried to get some clear oxygen with the ball. But each player showed a new Semi- final intensity to claim the ball and his opponent was met with the same so the ball was moved around the square like honey bees around the pot. Frequent ball ups and wrestling for the ball. The Blues were without their rookie ruck man Daniel Crotty who did his shoulder last week so Buzz or Jay were kind of taking the taps but mostly waiting to see what Reno was going to do with the ball. This became effective as both Jay and Dev reading the ball well from the Bulldogs hand was able to get a fast boot to ball. Or quick hands to Kenta who carved up the middle with his jerking running pattern that confused the heck out of everyone. The Blues had successfully defended another shot at goal and Courty had played on and run half way up the paddock to kick the ball long to the middle, meanwhile down back a Blues defender decided Bulldog Toby needed to smell his five knuckle sandwich whilst on the ground and Boundary rider Terry had to enter the fray to break it up.
Stoat was limping around in the forward line like half the player he normally is with Dozer doing the running for 2 men. Kearnsey was lathered up with the SPF -and should have been too slippery to hang onto but got caught a few times within scoring range when he was going backwards rather than forwards and his disposal wasn’t quick enough. For the Blues Riley English was an extremely useful linking player with lots of hard ball gets, good tackling and accurate disposals and Will Evans stopped many Bulldogs attack with his menacing presence.
At half time the score read Bulldogs 4 6 30 to Blues 4 4 28 and everyone headed for the shade to get a reprieve from the 23 degree scorching sunny day.
Third quarter the pressure around the ball eased and the scoreboard operator was busier than a one arm plasterer in Baghdad. Both teams getting good use of the ball and using the boundary to good effect. Bulldogs adding 2 goals 4 and the Blues adding 3 goals 4 to their tallies.
With a slight 2 point breeze picking up three quarter time saw Bulldogs 6 10 46 to Blues 7 8 50.
The Bulldogs starting getting there Mojo and using the tried and true method of keepings off -kick-mark-kick mark around the ground frustrating the Blues with lack of possession. The Blues were still in the hunt till the end but 2 big marks sealed there fate. One challenging mark from the hobbling Stoat with good clean delivery from Jakey. 50 metres out on a slight angle breeze in his face, longish run up- would his legs have the strength?? Stoat kicks through the ball with text book style and it never looked like missing so he was giving it - before it sailed over the goal umpires head. The Dogs were up by 3 for the first time in a while. More scoring ensued up and back but then it was Dozer’s turn to stand out and in pretty much the same area got onto a floater from Wazza at half back and used his sturdy frame in the air to keep the ever dangerous Courty from spoiling his moment. This time the kick dipped and wobbled but the big Bulldog Greg?? Using his ample frame was able to shepherd the ball through and put the Dogs clear of a straight kick.
When the siren went a few minutes later there was a lot of relief from the Bulldogs to scrape by and as coach Zak Williams said post match- “we scraped by like a three legged dog who should have been taken up to the top paddock and put out of it’s misery”. Meanwhile the Blues can be very proud of their season – with some great talent coming through, fielding a regular bench most weeks and building an off-field vibe that is so important for club culture.
Well done to both teams for a thrilling Semi Final. Certainly one to remember.
by Steve Langridge
Last Modified on 08/12/2020 20:16