BARRABA Bulldogs are languishing equal last or sixth, whichever way you want to look at it, on the Group 4 Second Division ladder.
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They have just one win to their credit from four games so far and are coming off a 48-6 hiding at home from Kootingal into a a big match against the resurgent Boggabri Kangaroos at Jubilee Oval, Boggabri on Saturday.
The Kangaroos are coming off a 46-20 win over Bendemeer at Bendemeer Oval on Sunday that propelled them into equal third with reigning premiers Dungowan Cowboys.
With the likes of Heath McIlveen and Robert Jones returning to the Kangaroos, it makes their premiership charge a promising one.
Barraba were heading the opposite direction at home last Saturday although club secretary Jacob Hawley said the Bulldogs had some excuses.
“We have a few young kids just starting and a few of the older players aren’t as fit as they could be,” Hawley said.
“Kooty only ran away with it in the final 15 minutes.”
Youngsters such as Dylan McArdle and Daniel York graced the Bulldog side.
“They are a couple of 17-year-old kids,” Hawley said.
Dylan would be lucky to be 40kg and came off the bench.
“Dan played on the wing.
“They both went real well.”
Ben Robinson is another talented Bulldog youngster and he received Barraba’s players’ player award after an energetic effort in the centres.
For Kootingal it was a third win to go with their first-round forfeit from Boggabri.
They sit on top of the ladder with unbeaten Werris Creek and play the Magpies at Kootingal Oval in a top of the table clash this Saturday.
Hooker Daniel Sullivan was at his organising best around the rucks for Kooty on Sunday and also scored two tries.
He also earned the three points in the best and fairest while lock Josh Crittenden also polled a point.
Werris Creek made hard work of their 32-24 win over Quirindi Grasshoppers last Sunday.
They dropped an enormous amount of ball and invited the Grasshoppers back into the game late.
Centre Kaidyn Saunders was outstanding, crossing for three tries in another strong performance.
The Magpies beat Dungowan two games back but got lucky with a flow of penalties that night.
They have to clean up their error rate or the Roosters will make them pay given their many scoring weapons.
Andrew Moodie, Jordan Sharpe, Jeremy York, Amos Ioasa, halfback Benny Williams and winger Jacob Simpson, who scored two of the nine Rooster tries at Barraba, are all part of coach Nathan Hamlin’s flotilla of tryscoring stars.
In other games, Dungowan return to the Dungowan Recreation Ground for a run of four home games starting with Uralla, Manilla return to Manilla Showground to tackle Bendemeer after copping a 74-14 pasting from Uralla at Woodville Oval, Uralla last Sunday and Walcha Kangaroos go searching for a second win of the season against the Grasshoppers at Quirindi Sportsground.
