Gunnedah Bulldogs’ 20-all draw in Group 4 Rugby League

Victory eluded the Gunnedah Bulldogs as two late tries to the Werris Creek Magpies salvaged a 20-all draw in last Friday night’s Group 4 rugby league clash at Scully Park.

The Bulldogs appeared certain to start their season with three consecutive victories when they led 20-10 with four minutes remaining in regulation time, but they were unable to finish the job.

Goal-kicking was also decisive as Werris Creek scored four tries to Gunnedah’s three, with the Magpies missing two of four conversion attempts.

Not even golden-point extra-time could produce a winner, as there was no change to the score in this 10-minute period.

Remarkably, four teams remained unbeaten as there were two drawn fixtures in round three of the Group 4 season, with Boggabri and North Tamworth finishing at 32-all in the final match of the round.

Had the Bulldogs not faltered in the final few minutes of regulation time, they would have become outright competition leaders.

Gunnedah winger Jared Heinrich scored the first try in the 15th minute, before a try to fullback Dylan Lake a few minutes later set up a 12-0 lead as Ezra Gibson landed his second conversion.

The pendulum quickly changed as Gunnedah had a player banished to the sin bin, and it proved costly as Werris Creek scored two tries while having a one-player advantage for 10 minutes.

A penalty goal to the Bulldogs on half-time made the score 14-10, before hooker Callum Hayne scored a converted try in the early stages of the second half.

More than 30 minutes passed without any change to the score, before an unconverted try to Magpies second-rower Riley Leonard narrowed to gap to six points.

The Bulldogs were unable to hang on as Werris Creek winger Isaah Millgate scored a last-minute try from a crossfield kick, with lock forward Braydon Allan landing the pressure conversion to ensure extra-time would occur.

Gunnedah coach Sean Hayne said poor options and handling mistakes were costly for his team throughout the game.

“We had more than enough opportunities to win the game,” he said.

“Basic errors let us down.”

Sean Hayne said the Bulldogs defended well for long periods of time but that this arose “because we let ourselves down” by repeatedly turning over possession.

“We continually invited them back into the game,” he said.

“We’ve only got ourselves to blame.”

Last Friday night’s contest was the first in NSWRL Regional Magic Round, which featured Group 4 and NSW Cup fixtures at Scully Park over three days.

This Saturday the Bulldogs head to Dungowan to contest the Cowboys, who remain without a win along with the Wee Waa Panthers.

Gunnedah’s lower grades will also contest Dungowan, after having byes last weekend.