A 60-metre intercept try to Andrew Smith has helped Albury continue to put pressure on the top five.
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The Thunder made it four wins on the trot as they held on for a 14-12 win over Cootamundra on Sunday.
The win keeps them two points away from a finals position, with five clubs fighting for the last three spots with five rounds to go.
In terrible conditions at Les Boyd Oval, the Thunder also had to overcome the loss of captain-coach Ben Jeffery an hour before kick off.
Jeffery was at the ground before driving home to be by his sick fiancee’s side.
In the end it was stand-in skipper Cameron Breust’s boot that was the difference between the two teams.
Both teams scored three tries each, with Breust’s sideline conversion the only thing separating both teams after 80 minutes of torrid rugby league.
James Smith had the chance to level things up for the Bulldogs, but he failed to convert his own try from the sideline.
The loss sees the Bulldogs slip from third to fifth and they are just one point ahead of Albury and Young.
There was plenty of build-up centreing on both team’s forward packs in the lead up to the clash, and Breust was pleased to come out of the arm wrestle on top.
“We dug really deep,” Breust said.
“It was a real battle through the middle but we were fortunate enough to get the win.”
With the scores locked at 4-4 at half-time, Andrew Smith’s intercept try put the Thunder four points in front with 26 minutes remaining.
Despite another hamstring issue, the former Country representative was able to put his team in front before Steven Willoughby’s second try levelled things seven minutes later.
Young gun Alex Jones put Albury’s nose ahead once again when he crossed out wide, and while James Smith got his team within two with his try three minutes from full-time, the Thunder were able to secure another important win.
Four rounds ago the Thunder were languishing in eighth, two wins off the top five, but are building up a good head of steam for the charge into finals.
“We’ve got a lot of momentum which works in our favour,” Breust said.
“We are starting to play some really good footy.”
One of the most pleasing aspects was how they responded without Jeffery.
“To do it without Benny is very good,” Breust said.
