Rugby League –
The Budgewoi Bulldogs are Newcastle Rugby League’s 2020’s C Grade Premiers following an undefeated season.
Running out as favourites for their grand final clash against the Hamilton Ducks, the Bulldogs pulled off a sensational 22-12 victory in miserable conditions, with strong winds and heavy rain setting the stage for a wet climax to the season.
Starting off strong, the Bulldogs went into halftime with a commanding 16-4 lead before mother nature helped the Ducks close the points gap.
With the wind favouring no one and an abundance of dropped balls eating away at the clock, play had well and truly stagnated before Bulldogs’ speedster, Jay Jones, cemented his side’s maiden premiership with the play of the game, weaving through the Ducks’ defensive line and running 80 metres to score with two and half minutes left on the clock.
Other standouts for the Bulldogs included, Ratu Meli, who was awarded Player of the Match for topping the tackle count, and, James Welden, who was unstoppable in the second half and the competition’s overall highest point scorer.
Having placed sixth in their inaugural tilt at the competition in 2019, Bulldogs’ Seniors’ President, Richard Tangie, said he couldn’t be prouder of how far the Dogs have come since COVID-19 first cast its shadow over the season.
“When the pandemic hit, it was a really uncertain time for us.
“Our players were dropping off and we didn’t know if there’d even be a comp this year, so to end it as Premiers is just amazing.”
Tangie contributes the success to two things, player passion and Coedi Towney.
“We appointed Coedi as Player/Coach when the season was reconvened, and the turnaround was almost instant.
“He is a very well respected figure in the local rugby league community, and had players coming from all over the Coast to play for the Bulldogs.
“They were from all different walks of life but are a great bunch of blokes and really came together as mates to pull this off.”
Reinvented and reinvigorated, Tangie said the Bulldogs would ride this high into the New Year, with plans to run out in a new grade and with an expanded roster next season.
“All current players have indicated that they’ll be returning next season and we’ve already started signing new players, so we are really well placed to start next year off strong.
“After the end of year break we’ll be looking to assess what we’ve got in terms of breaking into the B Grade before we submit teams, but as it stands, it’s looking like we’ll have two teams in next year, which is really exciting,” Tangie said.
Having only gotten involved in the Newcastle competition after being told they’d need to affiliate if they wished to join the Central Coast competiton, it’s a rags to riches story that everyone at the Bulldogs Seniors should be proud of, and one that Tangie hopes will help inspire a new generation of Budgewoi Juniors.
“I’ve been involved with the Bulldogs for the past 12 years and the whole reason we created the Seniors was to give the Juniors somewhere to play once they aged out.
“Having to join another club to play seniors’ footy saw our junior numbers gradually decline over the years, but in the past two seasons we’ve seen them increase, so I’m hoping we’re on the right track.
“First and foremost, we are a community club always.”
Dilon Luke