The Bulldogs Holden Cup side have this afternoon registered their third victory from four starts after a 36-32 victory over the Rabbitohs.
A Patrick Templeman try with four minutes remaining proved to be the game breaker as both sides were locked at 32-all throughout the final 10 minutes.
Coach Andy Patmore didnt make any changes to his side named earlier in the week.
The opening 10 minutes saw the Bulldogs totally dominate proceedings with three tries to kick start the match. In just the third minute the Rabbitohs made an error coming out of their own end which handed the Bulldogs possession just 40m out. The Rabbitohs were on a mission to hold the home side out but it was on the last where a Patrick Templeman cross-kick was snatched out of the air from Pio Seci to score. Templeman converted beautifully from five metres in from touch, with the early score 6-nil.
From the kick-off the Bulldogs made their way up the centre but as soon as they shifted it wide it was Dylan Rintoul who slipped through the gap and into open space. As he approached the fullback he had a flying Templeman on the inside and Rintoul got the ball to him and the fullback ran the remaining 30m to go in under the posts. He converted his own try with the score now 12-nil after eight minutes.
It was almost an identical set to follow from the kick-off with Rintoul again slipping through but on this occasion finding captain Moses Mbye on the inside who ran 40m untouched going in under the uprights. Templeman again converted making it the ideal start and an 18-nil lead after 10 minutes.
The tide soon turned with the Rabbitohs getting their fair amount of possession and answering back with three tries of their own. It basically came through the 23-33 minute mark and got the red and greens back into the match. Tries to Nick Hedley, Christian Hazard and Jackson Garlick. Two of the tries were converted by fullback Will Paterson with the Bulldogs lead reduced to two points, 18-16.
Patmore mustve sent down a number of stern messages because the young pups answered right back with two tries before the break with Pio Seci going over for his second of the afternoon and his opposite winger Costner Lemafa also went over with Templeman converting and one of those and the Bulldogs going to the break leading 28-16.
The second half opened with both sides going against each other but unable to crack through for any points. The Rabbitohs eventually went through to score two tries and come back to within two points again, 28-26.
When the Bulldogs were looking to get back into it the Rabbitohs went in again and hit the lead for the first time in the match. With the try converted it was now a four point lead, 32-28.
With the 10 minutes to go in the match Dylan Rintoul went across for his first
try of the afternoon in the south-east corner. Templeman couldnt convert with the scores level at 32-all.
With the Rabbitohs on the attack they looked certain to score and off the back of their bust they came to Templeman at the back and when the Rabbitohs looked to pass on the inside Templemans outstretched hand caught the ball and he then raced 85m untouched to score and break the deadlock. He was unable to convert, giving the Rabbitohs a chance in the closing stages but the young pups held on for a 36-32 victory and locked in their third victory from four starts.
BULDDOGS 36
Def.
RABBITOHS 32
A Patrick Templeman try with four minutes remaining proved to be the game breaker as both sides were locked at 32-all throughout the final 10 minutes.
Coach Andy Patmore didnt make any changes to his side named earlier in the week.
The opening 10 minutes saw the Bulldogs totally dominate proceedings with three tries to kick start the match. In just the third minute the Rabbitohs made an error coming out of their own end which handed the Bulldogs possession just 40m out. The Rabbitohs were on a mission to hold the home side out but it was on the last where a Patrick Templeman cross-kick was snatched out of the air from Pio Seci to score. Templeman converted beautifully from five metres in from touch, with the early score 6-nil.
From the kick-off the Bulldogs made their way up the centre but as soon as they shifted it wide it was Dylan Rintoul who slipped through the gap and into open space. As he approached the fullback he had a flying Templeman on the inside and Rintoul got the ball to him and the fullback ran the remaining 30m to go in under the posts. He converted his own try with the score now 12-nil after eight minutes.
It was almost an identical set to follow from the kick-off with Rintoul again slipping through but on this occasion finding captain Moses Mbye on the inside who ran 40m untouched going in under the uprights. Templeman again converted making it the ideal start and an 18-nil lead after 10 minutes.
The tide soon turned with the Rabbitohs getting their fair amount of possession and answering back with three tries of their own. It basically came through the 23-33 minute mark and got the red and greens back into the match. Tries to Nick Hedley, Christian Hazard and Jackson Garlick. Two of the tries were converted by fullback Will Paterson with the Bulldogs lead reduced to two points, 18-16.
Patmore mustve sent down a number of stern messages because the young pups answered right back with two tries before the break with Pio Seci going over for his second of the afternoon and his opposite winger Costner Lemafa also went over with Templeman converting and one of those and the Bulldogs going to the break leading 28-16.
The second half opened with both sides going against each other but unable to crack through for any points. The Rabbitohs eventually went through to score two tries and come back to within two points again, 28-26.
When the Bulldogs were looking to get back into it the Rabbitohs went in again and hit the lead for the first time in the match. With the try converted it was now a four point lead, 32-28.
With the 10 minutes to go in the match Dylan Rintoul went across for his first
try of the afternoon in the south-east corner. Templeman couldnt convert with the scores level at 32-all.
With the Rabbitohs on the attack they looked certain to score and off the back of their bust they came to Templeman at the back and when the Rabbitohs looked to pass on the inside Templemans outstretched hand caught the ball and he then raced 85m untouched to score and break the deadlock. He was unable to convert, giving the Rabbitohs a chance in the closing stages but the young pups held on for a 36-32 victory and locked in their third victory from four starts.
BULDDOGS 36
Def.
RABBITOHS 32
