Bulldogs top dog against Blue Heelers

The Bulldogs were in excellent form to knock over the Heelers on their home soil in icy conditions on Saturday. 

It didn’t all go the Bulldogs way as the Hot Doggies league-tag team went down to the High Heelers 22-0. 

Pambula-Merimbula were the stronger attacking side from the outset with some good hit ups through the middle providing room to move for the outside backs. 

Daniel Cronk was in his regular fine form, securing a pair of tries on the day for the Bulldogs. 

Meanwhile, Bailey Royle was bursting out of his skin on the attack, scoring a 70-metre solo effort off a great intercept. By the break the Blue Heelers were well behind, trailing 16-6.

Newcomer to the Pambula-Merimbula line-up, Phil Johnson made his presence felt with some hard running in the front row, while Tom Taylor had some lightning bursts through the middle for good metres.

The Heelers were able to regain a chance in the second half with some solid play on the fringes, but it was never quite enough to reel the Bulldogs back in. 

Grant Moon and Mitch James wrapped up the scoring for the Bulldogs with a try each to keep Bombala out of contention as time whittled away to lock in the 32-20 scoreline. 

The Hot Doggies were unable to overcome the High Heelers roster in the earlier league-tag contest.

Captain Lauren Kidd said the High Heelers are a competition front-runner so was pleased with the effort.

“We played one of the best games we've had in both attack and defence, to hold the high healers to 22 points shows how our defensive game really stepped up a notch and we we're moving up off the line,” Kidd said. 

Kidd said there was a mounting injury toll for the side, but it still pulled together well for the match. 

“Indi hawthorn played well in attack, as well as Abbi Scott keeping up the talk on the field and moving the left side off the line in defence,” she said. “Amy Hodgson and Sarah Myers are both settling well for their first year of seniors footy.”