The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs NYC team has been beaten by the Cronulla Sharks at Southern Cross Group Stadium, 30-10.
The visitors opened the scoring in the 2nd minute when Morgan Harper orchestrated a swift backline play that set up winger Tui Katoa in the corner to cross over on the right flank.
Adam Keighran’s conversion was waved away and the Bulldogs led 4 nil.
The Sharks hit back immediately after consecutive sets inside Bulldogs territory with Briton Nikora finding outside back Sione Katoa to cross for the home sides first try of the evening.
Halfback Kyle Flannagan converted the try and the Sharks led 6-4.
Flanagan scored himself in the 25th minute when he dived over from dummy half to score under the post. The halfback converted his own try and the Sharks led 12-4.
The Sharks’ lost a player to the sin bin moments later, but that didn’t stop the homeside.
Centre Clayton Uia picked up a loose ball and sprinted 40m downfield to cross the try line in the 36th minute, Flanagan made it three from three and the Sharks led 18-4 at the break.
The Bulldogs were first to score after the break when winger Tui Katoa crossed in the 45th minute for his second in the north east corner of Southern Cross Group Stadium, Keighran converted from the sideline and the Sharks lead was cut to eight.
The 56th minute saw the Sharks shift the ball to their left and find winger Joshua Tuilagi who grabbed himself a four pointer. Flanagan slotted the conversion and the Sharks would lead 24-10.
Tuilagi grabbed his second try and the Sharks last eight minutes later when he split the Bulldogs defence and planted the ball over the line next to the post. Flanagan made it conversion number five for the night and give the Sharks a 30-10 victory.
SHARKS 30 (Tuilagi 2, Flanagan, Katoa, Uia tries: Flanagan 5 goals)
Def
BULLDOGS 10 (Katoa 2 tries: Keighran 2 goals)
