Bulldogs are searching for a way around defending champions Cowra Eagles in this Saturday’s Central West Rugby Union grand final at Endeavour Oval.

Bathurst almost got the better of the Eagles when they were 5-0 up in the major semi-final, only to watch their lead slip across the second half to record a 10-5 loss.

Now they get one last chance to hit back against the defending champions.

“From the kick-off we’ve got to be smart. If not then they will beat us,” Bulldogs coach Tuma Aisake said.

“Cowra have got some very good wingers. It’s important for us to match them there. We need to get up on them. We can’t let them come to us.

“I’m not really sure what happened to us in that last game against Cowra, but I know things will be different this weekend.”

Bulldogs are aiming to bring in less of the football they produced in that second half against Cowra and more of the football they showed in the preliminary final against Mudgee Wombats.

Wombats were aiming to set up a repeat of last year’s women’s grand final but the Bathurst side had ambitions of their own, downing Mudgee 17-12.

Aisake said the Bulldogs women have been improving both in skill and number with every week that’s gone by.

“In the first game we played this year it was against Mudgee. We had eight or nine players and they had 10 players plus subs. We still managed to win that and I thought to myself that this could be a really good year,” he said.

“We never looked back from there. All the girls were saying how much they enjoyed it, and from there everyone just lifted. 

“Now we’re going into the final with around 18 girls.”

Bulldogs and Eagles get the day’s grand final action underway from 9.30am.