THE BRAIDWOOD SERVICEMEN`S CLUB BEARS WENT DOWN 31-18 IN THE MAJOR -PRELIMINARY SEMI-FINAL AGAINST BUNGENDORE AT BUNGENDORE ON SATURDAY. THE BEARS NOW WALK THE SUDDEN DEATH TIGHT ROPE WHEN THEY WILL TAKE ON WES-BELCONNEN AT CROOKWELL NEXT SUNDAY AT 1.00.

THE BEARS GOT AWAY TO A 12-0 FLYING START WITH CONVERTED TRIES TO DANIEL BACKHOUSE AND MARK PIPER . BUNGENDORE REPLIED WITH 3 TRIES TO MAKE IT 12 ALL. NEWSOME CROSSED OVER JUST AFTER HALF TIME TO MAKE IT 18-12 . INJURIES TO STEVE CLARKE , SHAWN HEYCOX AND JAMES GREEN MEANT THA T THE BEARS WERE REDUCED TO A 3 MAN INTERCHANGE FOR THE SECOND HALF AND IT TOOK IT`S TOLL ON THE BEARS . THE TIGERS RACKED UP 19 POINTS AND PROGRESS TO NEXT WEEKS MAJOR SEMI AGAINST MINOR PREMIERS CROOKWELL.

BENDIGO BEST& FAIREST POINTS WENT TO MATT McCARTHY [3] WHO PUT IN A SOLID FOR THE ENTIRE 70 MINUTES, BROKE THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENCE EVERY TIME HE TOUCHED THE BALL AND DID MORE THAN HIS FAIR SHARE IN DEFENCE. ROCKY DEMETRIOU [2] PULLED OFF SOME HUGE HITS AND MADE EXCELLENT METRES IN ATTACK. ROCKY ALSO PICKED UP THE PLAYERS PLAYER AWARD FOR HIS TOP GAME WHILE BILLY HALLIGAN [1] IN THE CENTRES WAS NEVER FAR OFF THE BALL . HE CONSTANTLY PUT HIS BODY ON THE LINE IN BOTH ATTACK AND DEFENCE. 5/8 JIMMY EVANS EARNED THE COACHES AWARD FOR ANOTHER FINE GAME . JIMMY CONTINUED TO SET UP PLAYS FOR THE ENTIRE MATCH EVEN WHEN THE TIGERS HAD GOTTEN TO THEIR MATCH WINNING LEAD LATE IN THE MATCH.

THE PICK-A-BEAR JACKPOT DIDN`T GO OFF AND NOW SITS AT $ 470 WITH FOUR BEARS UNCOVERED. THE BRUCE STUART SCOREBOARD BUNGENDORE 31, BEARS 18[ BACKHOUSE 1TRY, PIPER 1, NEWSOME 1, McCARTHY 3 GOALS] THE BEARS WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE HUGE NUMBER OF SUPPORTERS WHO TRAVELLED TO BUNGENDORE AND EVEN BEAT THE LOCALS IN THEIR BARRACKING.