Largely thanks to a three-try haul from blitzing winger Luke Rixon, the Merimbula-Pambula Rugby League Club claimed a rousing 31-12 win over the Cooma Stallions on the Cooma Showground Sunday. 

“There were a few stages in the first half had us thinking it was going to be the same result [as previous rounds],” coach Nathan Heffernan said. 

“But it was always going to happen, the boys put on a full 80-minute display and hopefully they can grow from this.”

He said Cooma is always a tough nut to crack, so getting the competition points over the Stallions on their home turf has given a big confidence boost to the squad that will enjoy a bye this round before facing the Bay Tigers. 

“Cooma are a big side and their best is the first 20 minutes, we knew we could put a couple of tries on the back end, we just had to be ‘thereabouts’ at the break,” Heffernan said. 

He gave the Stallions credit saying they matched for tackles well into the game, but the Bulldoogs capitalised in the last 20 minutes or so of play. 

“Luke Rixon is only in his third first grade game, honestly his power and speed in open space, he probably won us the game,” Heffernan said, praising his winger. 

“Then we’ve got Shep who is quick too doing his thing.”

Heffernan said the Bulldogs are not as big as Cooma, but make up for it in fitness and gritty determination, with Grant Moon and Ryan Becker holding down the front lines. 

Jarrod Cole out of hooker is another quiet achiever with good scoots from dummy half and a great defensive record. 

That’s before you add the play-making abilities of the Schafer boys Blake and Corey. 

Then there is the renewed energy with the return of Daniel Cronk – who scored a pair of tries in the second half.

“Cronky is one of the toughest guys I’ve met and he leads by example, the rest of the guys like that; It’s good to have him back and the energy he brings,” he said.

“We started slow, but we’re building again and hopefully momentum will be on our side to finish in good shape for a spot in the semis.”

The combined Eden-Mer-Pam league-tag outfit had also claimed the spoils earlier in a close clash 22-18 over the Fillies. 

However, the reserve grade Bulldogs didn’t get the result, falling to Cooma 36-16.

The Bulldogs will enjoy a bye round this weekend.