Stalwart Matt Forsyth pictured some years ago wearing the blue and white. Source Facebook.
The Cootamundra Bulldogs recorded their second win in three weeks on Sunday afternoon with a 24-4 victory over the South City Bulls.
The Bulldogs started the game just as coach David Buttriss would’ve dreamt, with Corey Gale scoring not too long after the opening whistle had blown.
That same edge for the Bulldogs doubled their lead; this time through inside centre Sam Gash who continued his fine Group 9 campaign with a 4 pointer.
Cootamundra went down the opposite side for their next, with winger Jack Caldwell grabbing his first of two tries down the wing. Five-eight Jacob Maher scored the other Bulldogs try to help post a solid lead. Spoiling the Cootamundra whitewash was South City prop Tim Hurst who crashed over late. Despite the late dampener a pulsating Fisher Park could only stand and applaud the home side in what was their first win in Cootamundra since their return.
Buttriss thought his side was fantastic.
“The boys worked hard, resulting in a reward for the effort they’ve been putting in. We’ve been building and building
“South City have always had the wood over us, they’re a quality side, so to get one over them meant a lot to the boys.
The side welcomed the return of stalwart Matt Forsyth who played his 200th senior game, with it coinciding in a match for this beloved Bulldogs.
Forsyth was playing First Grade when some of the current Bulldogs were at Preschool.
Matt Forsyth with Man of the Match Jacob Maher.
“Matty came down when we were scrambling for numbers, he filled that left centre roll. If Matt doesn’t come down and do a job for us, we would’ve been in a world of trouble.
“He hasn’t played since 2019 when he captained and coached. His leadership qualities with our young playing group were enormous, the defensive shift he put in can’t be overstated either.
“I can feel the team growing, we’ve been working our socks off at training which I have to give a lot of credit to my assistant coach Jamin Hall for, he’s got them going great guns.
Jacob Maher was brilliant, Jordy Ballard went down about 20 minutes into the game and he stepped up as the only true half and played the style of footy he loves off the cuff. Josh Kostrubic normally a left centre, came back from his hamstring injury and was terrific as a stand-in half.
Another important inclusion was Jai Willoughby who made his first-grade debut playing 45 minutes. Grandson of Australian great Les Boyd, Willoughby has been playing great in the 18s.
Debutant Jai Willoughby with his family, including grandfather, legendary rugby league icon Les Boyd.
“He’s been playing great in the 18s and deserved his chance and I thought, took it with both hands, especially after playing a full game in 18s.
“We made a point of entering the bye on a high note.
“We have a great playing group, we’ve only had one really bad performance this year against Albury, but we bounced back greatly. We needed that embarrassing performance to build off interestingly.
The Bulldogs will come back from the King’s Birthday bye with an away game against the Junee Diesels at Laurie Daley Oval.
Junee will be rocking in what could very well be the return of coach Chase Bernard and the Junee Diesel debut for Ben Shea, son of the late John Shea, who was one of the best NSW Country Rugby League players of the 70s and 80s.
Buttriss said, “It’s just our luck that we run into them as they bring in two stars and that level of leadership on top of an already great playing group. We won’t discredit ourselves though, we’re playing with great confidence and will be doing our best to get the win.”
Tully Potts SWST Sports Editor.
