The Merimbula-Pambula Bulldogs will be up for a gruelling test when they meet Bombala under lights on Saturday.
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Played at the Bombala Showground, the Blue Heelers are already establishing a reputation at home, which will add another interesting facet to Saturday’s clash.
The Bulldogs went down to Bega by just two points in a last-ditch penalty kick on goal, while in round two Bombala turned away the Bega team soundly with a 28-24 win on their home turf.
However, the Bulldogs will go into the clash confident on the back of a monstrous win over Batemans Bay where the Merimbula-Pambula side thrashed their opponents 72=6.
The Bulldogs will be buoyed by the addition of prop Grant Moon to the Monaro under 23s representative side, but Bombala will boast their own inclusion through Luke Ingram.
The Bulldogs pack a similar build to the Bega roster, making up for a lack of size in speed, agility and clever plays.
But the team is more than capable of making big metres down the middle with Daniel Cronk leading the charge and the explosive hooker Jarrod Cole always a risk of a short side burst.
Not to mention Moon, who lures in defenders like no other forward in the competition.
For Bombala a lot of control will come out of captain-coach Joe Bobbin and he will be a player the Bulldogs will aim to keep under wraps.
In earlier grades the Bulldogs are coming in to the contest on the back of a clean sweep against Batemans Bay.
The league-tag Hot Doggies are two from two with a good margin over the Bay in round two.
The Hot Doggies capped wins against the Bega Chicks 20-10 and then a 46-4 stonking over the Bay Tigeresses.
Despite Bega putting forward some new faces, a spokeswoman for the Bulldogs said it was the first time the club had downed the Chicks in league-tag’s history.
The reserve grade Bull Ants were kept quiet by the Roosters in the season opener, but they bounced back with a decisive victory over the Bay, picking up a 30-10 scoreline.
The club’s under 18s are also showing some impressive figures, but will have a bye in round three with Bombala not entering an 18s team.
The under 18s scored an emphatic 40-12 win over Bega before backing up against the Tigers with a 44-8 result.
The hosts will need to pull something special out of the bag to quieten the Bulldogs, who appear to be running rampant early in the season.
League-tag opens proceedings at the Bombala Showground at 3.30pm.