Central Trinity Bulldogs forced ladder leaders Manunda Hawks to endure their second scare in as many weeks on Saturday. This time they survived, but they had to withstand a kick after the siren from what could have been an unlikely Bulldogs hero to do so.
After last week’s capitulation when going down to Cairns Saints, the Hawks were again under the pump in the second half from a gallant Bulldogs outfit. But unlike last weekend, the Hawks clung on, taking the points and moving one step closer to the minor premiership but not before Bulldogs backman Bayden Smith snuck forward to earn a kick after the final siren.
In the breeze, the attempt came up short, with the Hawks snaring the points after pegging back a 26-point half-time deficit to earn a six-point win. Hawks coach Paul Griffiths said after two below-par performances, it was time to re-evaluate the ladder leaders in a number of areas.
“We were a victim of the way we played again,” he said. “We put ourselves in a position like that – don’t get me wrong it was good to come back and get the win, but we’ve got to address a few issues. We’ve got to go back to the game plan that made us so successful at the start of the season.”
Griffiths pointed to a growing injury toll, which was inflated by the loss of Dean Matejcek who dislocated his shoulder in a bruising clash late in the game.
“There are a lot of injuries at the wrong time of the season but we’ve got to overcome that,” he said.
Griffiths said youngster Nathan Wiess was a standout at full-back nullifying Bulldogs spearhead Phillip Dudley. It was a different story for Phillip’s brother Dean, who showed his class in the midfield in his first game for the Bulldogs. Bulldogs coach Tyson Lane outlined the many positives.
“The boys were shattered, but it just makes them hungrier knowing they can take it to the best sides in the competition,” he said.
Courtesy of The Cairns Post.
Last Modified on 08/08/2011 11:57