The Bulldogs NYC side have tonight narrowly done down 22-20 to the Storm at AAMI Park in Melbourne.
Both teams scored four tries each but it was the boot of Storm hooker Billy Brittan that proved to be the difference.
There were two changes to the Bulldogs side with Robbie Kamoto and Alex Sorge being ruled out with Brad Keighran and Josh Bergamin coming into the side.
It was a dream start for the Bulldogs with back rower Shaun Lane crossing in just the second minute of play. A quick shift to the right saw halfback Guy Hamilton go to the line and put through a grubber which Lane was able to regather and dive over to score. Keighran converted with the Bulldogs now out to an early 6-nil lead.
Just five minutes later the Bulldogs grabbed their second with winger Dujuan Liolevave crossing off the back of a great backline movement out to the right. Keighran had packed his kicking boots and slotted it over from out wide extending the lead out to 12-nil.
The home side were then able to answer back with three tries in the remaining 30 minutes of the half. Tries in the 14th (Rhys Kennedy), 19th (Tony Tumusa) and 32nd (Billy Brittan) put the Storm in front 16-12 with Brittan converting two of the tries.
With just one minute remaining before the break centre Renouf To’omaga crossed to level the scores at 16-all. Keighran had a conversion attempt to put the side in front but missed, leaving the scores locked up at the break.
The Bulldogs crossed early in the first half to break the deadlock and to get away to a 20-16 lead but it was quickly cancelled out in the 58th minute by Logan Houghton try which was then converted by Brittan, giving them a 22-20 lead.
The remaining 22 minutes was played from end to end but the home side were able to hold on through until the final siren.
STORM 22 (Kennedy, Tumusa, Brittan, Houghton Tries; Brittan 3 Goals)
Def.
BULLDOGS 20 (Lane, Liolevave, To’omaga, (scorer unknoen) Tries; Keighran 2 Goals)
At: AAMI Park, Melbourne
