After jumping to an early lead the Bulldogs NYC side were in the end defeated 22-12 by the Roosters at ANZ Stadium this afternoon.
It was four tries to two in the end in a match where the Bulldogs suffered more injuries. Halfback Brendan Cox went down with an ankle injury which will see him out for an extended period.
A host of changes were made by Coach Scott Murray prior to kick-off with Marcus Jensen, Danny Fualalo and Brock Cope all out due to injury with Michael Morgan, Alex Sorge and Brendaon Lumana coming into the side.
The Bulldogs started the game with plenty of vigour and managed to register their first points of the afternoon in the ninth minute of play. A penalty in their own territory gave the young pups a good ball set and a shift to the left ended in the hands of Brendan Cox who went over in the south-east corner. Five-eighth Brad Keighran converted to give the Bulldogs the lead 6-nil.
That was the final time the Bulldogs were able to cross the line again but it was the Roosters who crossed twice before the half-time break. Halfback Mitch Cornish crossed in the 23rd minute and converted his own try before centre Taane Milne scored six minutes. Cornish couldn’t convert and the Roosters went to the break with a 10-6 lead.
It was the ideal start to the second half with winger Tautalatasi Tasi crossing in the north-west corner in the 48th minute. Brad Keighran again had his kicking boots on and converted from the sideline to put the Bulldogs back in the lead, 12-10.
Whilst the Bulldogs were trying hard, the Roosters just had too much class and were able to cross two more times to register a 22-12 victory.
Centre Brendan Elliot scored the first of those tries with winger Jack Goodsell scoring the final try. Both were converted by Cornish, giving the Roosters the win.
ROOSTERS 22 (Cornish, Milne, Elliot, Goodsell Tries; Cornish 3 Goals)
Def.
BULLDOGS 12 (Cox, Tasi Tries; Keighran 2 Goals)
At: ANZ Stadium
