DOGGED determination has kept Gunnedah’s Group 4 premiership dream on track after the Bulldogs were let off the leash in the second half at Narrabri on Sunday for a 36-22 minor semi-final victory.
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The Bulldogs’ key men stood up to lead the second-half charge, none more so than captain-coach Trent Hilton.
Hilton was a jack of all trades in the win and a force with and without the ball.
Making plenty of metres from big runs down the middle is the skipper’s bread and butter, although Hilton often slotted into a first receiver role, or even further out and, at one stage, put up a towering bomb.
In the second half, another role reversal saw Hilton take on the line before producing a magic ball to put five-eighth Shannon Swan through a gap for points.
“We have a simple game plan but part of our structure is that anyone can go to first receiver,” Hilton said.
“It keeps the defence guessing and gives us extra options.”
Fullback Aaron Donnelly also saw a lot of ball at first receiver, while halves Swan and DJ Smith were both stand-outs as well.
The skipper thought the first half was a reflection of a tough season plagued by injury, before the Bulldogs turned it around to play the type of football they have wanted to all season.
“We dropped a bit of ball and had a bit of fatigue set in before the break,” Hilton said.
“We knew if we got to our kick every set we would eventually run Narrabri down.”
They did just that.
A try before halftime to Aaron Donnelly brought the score back to 10-8, before Hilton took the lead with a big charge over the line to open the second half and when the skipper leads, the Bulldogs fall in line.
The visitors ran away with the match after gaining the ascendancy in the middle and Hilton believes that is the key to knocking off the Tamworth sides, Wests and Norths, who will do battle in the major semi-final this Sunday.
“The Bears and Lions base their whole game and season on going forward in the middle,” Hilton said.
“We were getting some good shape with our forwards today and, once we do that, we know we definitely have the best backline in the competition to take care of the points.
“We just need to stay close enough to put the pressure on.”
This Sunday, North Tamworth will field a side in all four major semi-finals after taking out the club championship for the second year.
Reserve grade will meet Wee Waa, the juniors will play Gunnedah and the ladies will play the Diggers starting at 10am at Scully Park.
