FBF: Perrett Stars with Hat-trick

The Bulldogs cemented their spot in the top eight with a 28-16 victory over the Raiders in the nations capital this afternoon.

It was a convincing display early with the Raiders scoring two late tries to leave the scoreboard looking a bit more respectable.

Coach Des Hasler was happy with the way the way the side turned it around after last week.

Our preparation was good and I was proud with how we played today, Hasler said. We started well and we managed to hold on, we looked at a lot of areas of theirs that we could target.

It worked out well today.

Hasler made two changes to his side named earlier in the week with Tim Browne and Josh Jackson coming into the starting side and James Graham and Tony Williams moving back to the interchange bench.

The opening 40 minutes was all the Bulldogs with the blue and whites going to the break leading 20-6. The first period of play was the Josh Morris show with the fullback opening the scoring in the sixth minute of play off the back of a Josh Reynolds break. Reynolds split the defence of Dane Tilse and Sam Williams before getting into open space and then finding Morris who cruised over to score. Hodkinson converted to get the score out to 6-nil.

Morris was a huge part of the second try with the Kiama junior picking up a loose ball and then when about to be brought down he threw a magical right handed flick pass out to his winger Sam Perrett who did the rest to extend the lead. Hodkinson couldnt convert on this occasion with the score left at 10-nil after 21 minutes of play.

The Raiders claimed a try through five-eighth Sam Williams in the 26th minute but he was ruled to have knocked the ball on and from that the Bulldogs went 80m down field with Mitch Brown finding himself on the end of a slick right to left movement which sent the Gymea Gorillas junior over to score. With the breeze swirling around Hodkinson couldnt convert with the score remaining 14-nil.

Again the Raiders had claimed a try, this time through fullback Anthony Milford but after it was called a no try the Bulldogs again went 80m to go over and extend the lead through Tim Lafai in the 34th minute. It was a grubber from Hodkinson that ricocheted off a few sets of legs and Lafai picked it up and basically fell over the line to score. Hodkinson converted on this occasion with the lead out 20-nil.

With three minutes left in the half the Raiders finally had a try given to them with Sandor Earl the man to open their account. Off the back of a penalty the Raiders earned good field position and Earl received the ball off a grubber and put it down to score. Jarrod Croker smartly converted from the sideline with the Bulldogs going to the break leading 20-6.

The second half started in the same fashion as the first with the Bulldogs going over after just a few minutes of play. It was again Morris who orchestrated the try with the fullback again producing a miracle ball out to Perrett who then went over to score. Hodkinson was struggling with the boot and couldnt convert with the score now 24-6 after 43 minutes.

Eight minutes later it was Perrett who crossed once more to register his hat-trick and score his 16th try of the season. This time around it was Krisnan Inu who was the provider with the centre catching an awkward pass before drawing and passing to Perrett who dived over to score. Hodkinson couldnt convert with the match now looking to have been sewn up, 28-6.

The Raiders scored two consolation tries in the 67th minute through the fullback Milford and then Josh Papalii in the 77th with the score left at 28-16 when the siren sounded.

BULLDOGS 28 (Perrett 3, Morris, Brown, Lafai Tries; Hodkinson 2 Goals)

Def.

RAIDERS 16 (Earl, Milford, Papalii Tries; Croker 2 Goals)

Crowd: 11,847

At: Canberra Stadium