Bathurst Bulldogs have been crowned Blowes Cup rugby union first grade premiers after a clinical 50-22 grand final win against gallant hosts Orange Emus last Saturday, August 31.

Emus were first through to the grand final after a 7-0 major semi-final win against Bathurst at Bathurst, but points flowed a fortnight later at Orange’s Endeavour Oval.

Emus scored first through inside centre Harry Cummins, but from there Bulldogs got in front and never looked back, with three late second-half tries eliminating any chance of an Emus comeback.

After being kept scoreless in the opening week of the finals, Bathurst were able to score 54 points in the preliminary final win against Forbes and then racked up a half-century in the big one.

Emus scored four five-pointers with number eight Cory Hooper getting a double and fly-half Mitch Evers also crossing the goal line for a try as well as kicking one conversion.

It was a difficult grand final day for Emus, with all three sides in action losing at home.

In second grade, Bulldogs won a 31-29 thriller against Emus.

Both teams scored four tries with winger Harry O’Malley, flyhalf Dan Jackson, halfback Jamil Khalfan and number eight Harry Webster scoring five-pointers for Emus, with Jackson adding three conversions and a

penalty goal.

Dubbo’s third grade grand final win was more comprehensive, Kangaroos defeating Emus 35-10.

In the colts decider, Bathurst defeated Dubbo 50-12. The roles were reversed in a closer women’s Westfund Ferguson Cup grand final, Kangaroos beating Bulldogs 24-19.