There's no hiding the fact that it's been a tough year for the Division Two team this year, coming into last Saturday's match still seeking it's first win of the season. Just two seasons after making the grand final, the team has been hit hard by retirements and some instability in the higher grades. Last Saturday was the best chance the team had for victory this season coming up against the Sydney Hills Eagles, who had only posted one win for the season themselves.
With a golden chance to get on the board in 2014 the dogs took up the challenge to the Eagles in the early running, with both teams trading goals during the first quarter and ruckman turned centre half forward Hamish McLean showing that he could be a handful taking some strong marks and kicking a neat goal. UNSW-ES took the most slender of margins into quarter time leading 3.2 20 – 3.1 19.
The game was a real tussle with neither side able to break free, and once again both teams went goal for goal in the second quarter, the dogs leading 5.5 35 – 5.3 33 lead to the main break, with McLean 3 goals to his name, already equalling his career best haul. Michael Drummond's dominant performance in the ruck was crucial in allowing the dogs to keep McLean up forward.
The second half was much of the same with neither side able to truly their assert their dominance over the other, maybe the dogs the slightly better team through the third term but wayward kicking saw the Eagles able to take a 47-45 lead into the final break.
Both teams were desperate to for the four points and it could be seen in the attack on the footy and the man in the final term. With the game on the line it was an excellent individual effort from Sam McCormick across the half forward line to win the ball in a one on one contest and kick a goal from 40 metres out to give the Bulldogs an 6-point lead with only six minutes to go.
In a crazy final few minutes the dogs had a shot on goal that appeared to be marked on the line but was later discovered to be ruled a behind. The Eagles went forward and took a mark in the forward line with just 20 seconds on the clock. With everyone believing a goal would draw the game, the Eagles player put it wide. As it turned out even with a goal the Bulldogs would have won the game.
Irrespective of the chaotic finish, the end was result was the Div Two boys had finally scored a victory in 2014 and the relief on the dogs could be seen on the boys faces. The final score read 8.13 (61) to 8.7 (55). Outside of grand final victories, “We do like to be beside the seaside” was sung with more gusto then you would have ever heard - Club stalwart Mitchell Brown is expected to recover this weekend from a strained throat.
On the day captain Andy Barclay was brilliant winning plenty of hard ball in the midfield whilst McLean was the difference between the two teams finishing with five goals. Next week Div Two will face another team battling for wins this season in cross town rivals UTS Bats.
Last Modified on 26/06/2014 22:11