TIM Berry’s accurate goal-kicking earned the Dubbo Kangaroos a ticket to the Blowes Menswear Cup grand final after a nail-biting 23-21 victory over Bathurst Bulldogs at No.1 Oval in Dubbo on Saturday.

Both sides scored two tries and kicked three penalty goals, but Berry’s two from two conversions to Ray Lange’s one from two for the Bulldogs proved to be the difference.

The Roos led 7-0 early after a Geoff Koerstz try, 13-10 at half-time and 20-18 with 16 minutes left on the clock. The Bulldogs gave it their best shot and when Lange landed a penalty goal from halfway the visitors were in front 21-20 and their supporters held high hopes they would get the win and earn the right to host the grand final on September 6.

That didn’t happen and when the Bulldogs were penalised 15m out from their own line, Berry booted his third penalty goal with just two minutes left on the clock.

Roos coach Geoff Koerstz and his players were exhausted (and relieved) after the bell following their first game in two weeks after being minor premiers.

“I don’t think the week off did us any favours,” he told his players.

“We were just a bit off the pace.

“We’ve now got to work hard during the next two weeks and remind ourselves that we’ve got another crack at the grand final.

“Today we grinded it out and we should be taking the positives out of the game, not the negatives.”

Bulldogs coach Richard Smith has promised his side will do everything in its power to get another go at the Roos in the grand final.

“The unfortunate thing was that we gave them two fairly simple tries at the start of each half and we had to keep coming back,” Smith said.

“We did get our noses in front there for a short time and I thought we could get home, but it didn't turn out that way. Still, I'm really proud of the guys.

“As we expected it was a tough game and we just missed out, but not by much.”

As expected the major semi-final was an arm wrestle from the outset but it was to be the Roos who would put first points on the board with a Koerstz try.

Left winger Paul Elliott broke clear only to have his inside pass knocked down by the Bulldogs. The Dubbo hooker, however, was on to the ball like a flash for the try. Berry converted for 7-0.

Six minutes later the Bulldogs came up with a great pushover try by No.8 Michael Weekes after gaining good yards from excellent inside balls which had the Roos defence guessing. Lange kicked the conversion for 7-all.

DUBBO KANGAROOS 23 (Geoff Koerstz, Mal Donald tries; Tim Berry 2 conv, 3 pen goals) def BATHURST BULLDOGS 21 (Michael Weekes, Bart Bogart tries; Ray Lange conv, 3 pen goals).