RAIN, a bye and an opponent forfeiting.
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Those are three different reasons Bathurst Bulldogs have been unable to take to the field in the Blowes Clothing Cup this month, meaning the club is eager for action in Saturday’s fixture away to the Mudgee Wombats.
The last time Bulldogs took to the field was back on July 2 against Orange Emus.
However, Bulldogs co-coach Brian Roberson said his team have managed to still keep their fitness up thanks to an uninterrupted training program.
“It’s not an ideal lead up to what we consider to be one of the crunch games at this end of the season against Mudgee. It is what it is though,” he said.
“We’ve still had fully opposed trial runs over the last couple of weeks. So while we’ve had no competition games we’ve still had a lot of rugby.”
Bulldogs just snuck home against a spirited Wombats outfit back in May at Ashwood Park in a 23-19 result.
Roberson believes his side can learn a lot about what not to do from that previous encounter.
“They played a spoiling game then we lowered ourselves to the manner the match was being played. That let Mudgee back into the game. That’s all water under the bridge now,” he said.
“We’ve done a lot of work on getting control back into the game and have done lots of work also on the breakdown.”
Bulldogs will welcome back Phil Tonkin to the first grade side this week where he will play at scrum-half alongside Scott Johnston.
Tonkin has only taken to the field once this season when he lined up for second grade against Emus.
“He’s been training extremely well and has looked really good. He’s a classy player,” Roberson said.
Bulldogs have done some shuffling in their backs to accomodate for the return of both Jack and Sam Roberson.
Bart Bogart and Kurt Weekes will line up on the wing with Sam and Jack Roberson playing at inside and outside centre respectively.