The Tuggeranong Bushrangers have overcome a 14-nil half-time deficit to defeat the Goulburn Bulldogs 30-20, inching ever so closely to the top four after eight weeks.
With both the Tuggeranong Bushrangers and Goulburn Bulldogs sitting one win outside of the top four, Saturday’s highly anticipated showdown was heightened by the Bushrangers old boy’s day.
It didn’t take long for the Bushrangers to find themselves on the front foot, after an unforced error in the play the ball handed them possession well within Goulburn’s territory.
While unable to convert their early possession into points, the Bushrangers ensured that the Bulldogs did not find easy passage out of their own end, continuously aiming up in defence.
There was no need to be on the field to understand the feeling between both teams, as big shots being exchanged from both sides’ forwards pack could be felt from the stands.
Having endured all the traffic early in the contest, the Bulldogs finally earnt an attacking opportunity after forcing a Tuggeranong error through their efforts in defence.
Filipo Sefulu made no mistake finding the line for the opening points of the afternoon, charging his way through Tuggeranong’s goal line defences, helping the Bulldogs to an early 4-0 lead.
Despite momentum being right on their side, the Bulldogs failed to build upon their early lead, turning possession over a handful of times while attacking Tuggeranong’s line.
Ensuring a similar fate was avoided, hooker Mason Kearney took matters into his own hands, darting from the base of the ruck to extend the Bulldogs lead to 10-0 with 12 minutes to play in the first half.
The Bushrangers became their own worst enemy as the first half continued to wind down, inviting the Bulldogs onto their line following yet another error.
Angus Marshall made Tuggeranong pay, with a barnstorming run proving too much for the Bushies defences, picking up his first try of the 2026 season and strengthening the Bulldog’s lead to 14-0 heading into the sheds.
Needing to be first on the board to start the second forty, halfback Trae Bennetto rose to the occasion, slicing his way through the Bulldogs defences, before a slick showing of footwork put him under the posts.
Given an inch, the Bushies took a mile, scoring their second try of the afternoon shortly after through Josh Eppelstun, shrinking the gap to just two points after a successful conversion.
Needing anything to arrest the Bushrangers momentum, the Bulldogs missed a golden opportunity to strike back, after Filipo Sefulu was unable to pick up a loose ball close to the line.
Tuggeranong’s change of fortune continued, as Wez Alexander-McCarthy took matters into his own hands on fifth tackle, beating one defender after another for the Bushies first lead of the afternoon.
Finally finding themselves in Tuggeranong territory, Tomasi Bikaca made sure the Bushrangers lead was short-lived, storming over the line for Goulburn’s first points of the half.
Breaking from the base of the ruck in his 100th game, Liam Oakley put Jireh Tiumalu back underneath, as the third lead change of the half left the score at 24-20 with just over 10 minutes remaining.
The hill and stands erupted as Jayden Pollard seemingly sealed the deal for the Bushrangers, before milestone man Liam Oakley extended the lead to 10 following a successful conversion.
The game was far from gone however, with Alexander-McCarthy sent from the field with just under three minutes remaining.
A one-man advantage wasn’t enough for the Bulldogs to overcome the deficit on the scoreboard, as the Tuggeranong Bushrangers earnt a 30-20 victory to separate themselves from the bottom of the ladder.
