Going back to basics to fix fundamental errors has paid off for the Bulldogs as they turned their recent form around against Albury. They secured the win 30-24.
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“It was very pleasing coming off the last month, we came off a bye and had two losses,” captain-coach Glen Buttriss said.
“We knew the things we needed to fix were pretty simple and we got back to basics on the weekend.”
Knowing it was a long-trip to Albury, Buttriss said some of the players headed down on Saturday night to spread out the travelling so they could give it their all on Greenfield Park
The Bulldogs got off to a good start as Jeremy Wood scored in the fifth minute. Albury responded and built a 12-6 lead.
A pass by Buttriss to Jordyn Ballard helped him over the line and cut the Thunder’s lead to just two points at half time.
Tries to Chris Maher, Jason Cronin and Matt Forsyth in the second half helped solidify the Bulldogs’ lead.
At the 69th minute Albury crossed the line to get them back into the game.
Paddy Cameron scored for the Bulldogs, taking their haul to 30 points, nine minutes later a try by the Thunder closed the gap to just six points. But the Bulldogs didn’t let up.
“Every game this season, they’ve (Albury) have been in it,” Buttriss said.
“They’ve been in the contest right down to the 80th minute. It’s very pleasing to beat Albury in Albury.”
Buttriss said it wasn’t just the players in their starting line-up who helped deliver the win, but the players who started from the bench.
“The boys who came off the bench on the weekend gave it a lot of energy,” he said. “The bench was the difference on the weekend.”
Making an impact were Paddy Cameron, Luke Levett, Robert Tulenew and Haydn Cowled.
Buttriss said they made the difference when arrived on the field at the back end of the first half and through most of the second.
“Hopefully they can take a lot of confidence from that performance and build on it,” he said.
It wasn’t only the fresh legs which helped the Bulldogs secure a win.
“Our defence on the weekend was good and we stuck to our processes in attack,” Buttriss said.
“We cut fundamental errors by half, which means we had a lot more energy at the back end of the game,” he said.
Buttriss said by reducing those errors, which had cost them dearly against Tumut and Gundagai, it gave them the best opportunity to win.
“We need to keep it consistent now,” he said.
As well as players starting from the bench, Buttriss said Maher and Ballard had played well.
Declan Rurenga
Declan Rurenga was the editor of Griffith's Area News and Leeton's Irrigator until September 2023. Before landing at the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, he reported news in Junee, Wagga Wagga, Orange and Cootamundra.
Declan Rurenga was the editor of Griffith's Area News and Leeton's Irrigator until September 2023. Before landing at the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, he reported news in Junee, Wagga Wagga, Orange and Cootamundra.
