THEY have one of the greatest rivalries in the Group Nine competition and the next chapter of the book will be written this weekend.
The Cootamundra Bulldogs travel to Nixon Park on Sunday to take on the Temora Dragons in a clash that is sure to spark plenty of interest.
Over the years the two teams have been involved in some classic battles, with the Bulldogs denying the Dragons a grand final berth as they marched towards their memorable premiership in 2005.
There’s little love lost between the two, but also a sense of mutual admiration as the two clubs have similar backgrounds and ideals.
Any such niceties will be thrown out the window this weekend as the Bulldogs
continue to walk the semi final tightrope.
Of the three teams still locked in a battle for the vital sixth position it is the Bulldogs, on paper at least, that have the easiest task.
Southcity, currently in sixth but who fell 12-4 against Temora last week, face the tough prospect of travelling to Greenfield Park to tackle Lavington, while Gundagai, who are one behind Southcity on 15 points and one ahead of the eighth-placed Bulldogs, are at home to Tumut in the one game of the year spectators from both clubs mark on the calendar the moment the draw is released.
As was the case last week, if Southcity and Gundagai lose and the Bulldogs win it will be Coota that sneaks into the six with one round remaining.
That itself should be motivation enough for the Bulldogs, but if not they only have to look at the opposite end of the equation.
If they were to fail against the Dragons and Young somehow managed to upset
ladder leaders Kangaroos, the Bulldogs would slip to an inglorious 10th on the
ladder.
That could ultimately mean Coota could finish the season second last and put
simply the players, coaching staff and
supporters deserve better than that given the club’s brave decision to go with an almost entirely local content this year.
It’s amazing to think that the manner in which the Bulldogs’ season is judged could hang on 80 minutes of football this
weekend.
Both teams were subject to heavy
conditions last week and just how much that has taken out of the two remains to be seen.
The big men had to battle hard to gain ground and could still be feeling the pinch in their legs, hardly an ideal situation ahead of another clash that could be restricted to tough slog through the centre.
The Bulldogs have named an unchanged line up, however coach Les Boyd could continue his recent trend of rotating his
forwards on the fresh reserves bench.
Having met once this year, with the Bulldogs recording a 22-14 win, that,
coupled with the fact the Bulldogs have far more to play for, will see them enter the match as favourites.
High on the priority list will be limiting the impact of Dragons’ English connection in prop Mark Applegarth and fullback Greg Eden who were outstanding in Temora’s grinding win last week.
With Temora having been forced to
withdraw their reserve grade team and the Bulldogs not fielding an under 16s side this year, just three games will be played on Sunday, with Coota supporters asked to take note of the times.
The under 18s kick start the day at 11.40am followed by the leaguetag at12.50pm and the main fixture at 1.35pm.
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