BULLDOGS BITTEN BY LAW

TEACHERS West have been ousted from the Townsville District Rugby Union third grade finals series over a technicality in the rules.

The Bulldogs, who had only won two games during the regular season, caused a major finals boilover last weekend when they defeated rivals North Ward 17-14 in the elimination final.

It booked the Bulldogs an unlikely preliminary finals berth against Brothers.

But their shot at earning passage to the grand final has been stripped away after North Ward launched an official protest against last week’s result.

It is understood a player who had started in second grade for the Bulldogs the previous day, also started in the third grade fixture. The protest was upheld.

TDRU director of rugby Terry Shiells confirmed the result had been overturned.