Three teams can still technically win the First Division. But in making a ninth straight grand final with a 40-4 defeat of Gunnedah at Jack Woolaston Oval on Sunday, the Bears effectively executed the Bulldogs’ premiership aspirations, even though the Dogs remain in the hunt.
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The Bears recorded their fourth win over Gunnedah in as many matches this season, and did so after absorbing the Bulldogs’ best shots in a highly physical first half and then pounded them after the break.
The reigning three-time premiers’ psychological advantage over Gunnedah now seems insurmountable.
Narrabri, who beat Collegian 76-0 in the minor semi-final on Saturday, have beaten Norths twice this season, including the most recent clash. They appear to be the only team capable of ending the Bears’ dominance.
The Bulldogs play Narrabri in the preliminary final at Gunnedah this Sunday.
Gunnedah’s record over the Blues this season is flattering, including a last-start 32-30 win in the final round, and Norths would be hoping it remains that way.
Bears halfback Kieran Fisher has been part of the side’s three straight titles. But before that he was part of three consecutive grand final losses to the Lions.
The defeats were part of a series of five consecutive grand final losses to the Lions. In large part, it is the memory of those bleak days that fuel the Bears’ hunger for premierships.
“I’ve been around long enough. I know what it’s like losing grand finals,” Fisher said.
“It’s not a good feeling. So that always motivates you to do your best.”
“We’re confident but we’re not going to go in there [the grand final] cocky,” he added.
Against Gunnedah, Norths led 10-4 at half-time, and there was no indication of what was to come.
The opening 40 minutes included a typically brilliant individual play from Bulldogs No.1 Dylan Lake, in which he split the Bears’ defence at about the halfway mark and chipped, regathered and scored.
Norths first-half tries were scored by 18-year-prop Alec Cocking, whose bulldozing effort close to the tryline has become a signature play of the rookie, and winger Dan Boland.
The Bulldogs would have went into half-time feeling pretty content, given that Norths blew them off Bear Park in the first half when they clashed at the start of August.
But when experienced second-rower James Cooper scored a soft try early in the second half, it was the start of a capitulation that left first-year Bulldogs coach Sean Hayne screaming at his players to show character.
Hayne said: “We let them run with the ball too much, dropped off tackles … We just didn’t compete in the second half anywhere near good enough.”
North Tamworth 40 (J Cooper 2, A Cocking, D Boland, S Blanch, S Wadwell, B Brewer-Charles tries; J McManus 6 goals) d Gunnedah 4 (D Lake try)
