With the game a tick over 19 minutes old, one of CSU’s key forwards – Charlie McIntosh – was left on the ground clutching his lower leg.

As the final siren sounded on a tough evening, CSU coach Scott Hatch was given the news McIntosh had broken his leg.

The news that CSU will likely be without the loose head prop for the remainder of the year is a huge blow, especially given they have one of the smaller packs in the competition.

“Obviously the front row was struggling as it was, our set piece was struggling, and then you lose a key man like that, you can never recover from that sort of thing,” Hatch said.

“He’s broken his leg, so we are probably going to lose him for the year.”

Though McIntosh’s injury was the most serious to be incurred in the match, Bulldogs’ squad did not escape unscathed.

Substitute Cameron Sinclair dislocated his shoulder, while flanker Alex Weal strained his hamstring.

“Cameron Sinclair, he’s had some trouble with his shoulder last season and at the Orange City 10s,” Bulldogs co-coach Nathan Pearce said. 

“I am really disappointed for him, he had a blinder in second grade and we really want to find that squad mentality and he’s a big part of that.

“We’ve also lost Alex Weal for three-to five weeks with a hamstring.”