By Finn Morton

A close 24-22 loss to Easts at Bottomley Park has seen Wests drop to seventh on the ladder.

After their fifth loss in a row, the Bulldogs will now hope other results fall their way across the final three rounds of the regular season as their finals aspirations hang in the balance.

Heartbreakingly for the Bulldogs, their five losses have all been by seven points or less.

Wests captain Jeremiah Lynch has been disappointed with the past few weeks, especially with the competition as close as it is.

But Lynch is adamant that the Bulldogs are still in the fight despite their poor run of form.

“I wouldn’t say it has ruined our season but the losses certainly have hurt,” said Lynch.

“We have been in the hunt in each of the games but a lack of patience has ultimately cost us in the last few games.

“It’s always disappointing to lose a game at any stage but when the margin is less than seven and the competition is so tight, it only adds to the hurt.”

In a game which involved “a lot of feeling”, as they have over the last five rounds, Wests showed against Easts that they can compete against everyone.

But Lynch is fully aware that losses won’t improve their ladder position, so executing their opportunities is vital as they look to secure an increasingly unlikely finals birth.

“We have shown that the game plan works and the team we have is full of talent.

“The biggest improvement we need to make in the next couple of weeks is building phases throughout the game and executing our opportunities.

“We have been in every game. [But] Silly passes and unforced errors late in the game is putting us under unnecessary pressure.”

But the competition being as close as it is may work into Wests favour.

As Lynch highlighted, with so many teams in contention, the Bulldogs are still in with a chance.

An added sense of desperation and desire has seen multiple upsets over the last few weeks, which has kept five teams within six-competition points on the ladder.

While the Bulldogs may sit in seventh, they are only two points behind fourth-placed Easts.

“It is a tough run home and part from Brothers and Jeeps, there are a number of teams in contention going into the last three weeks.

“There is still an opportunity and we are backing ourselves to make the cut.”

In the other games, a commanding 48-31 victory over Souths sees Bond sit two-points out of the top four.

For the third week in a row, UQ won by seven or less as they continue to rise up the ladder. The Students secured a tight 22-19 victory away to Sunnybank.

Norths continue to search for their third win of the season as they lost 16-21 at home to Jeeps. It’s been a tough month for the Eagles who have lost by five or less in three out of their last four games, with the other loss seeing them blow a 26-0 half-time lead against Brothers.