We've defeated the Warriors tonight 24-16 in front of 30,112 fans in Wellington.
It was four tries to three with Trent Hodkinson having a perfect night with the boot with 4 from 4.
5th min: The Warriors opened the scoring in the fifth minute through winger Manu Vatuvei. A grubber was put through by the home side and as the ball rebounded of a few sets of legs it was regathered by Glen Fishiahi who then drew in Ben Barba before passing it on to Vatuvei who cruised over untouched. Shaun Johnson couldn't convert with the Warriors leading 4-nil.
17th min: It was the home side who extended their lead with a try to Thomas Leuluai. After back to back penalties and a dropout from the Bulldogs it was simply too much pressure from the Warriors to outlast. With the set-up as if the ball was going to be spread wide, it was a charge forward by the forwards who then got a hand free to offload to Leuluai who went over to score next to the left hand upright. Johnson converted to make the lead 10-nil.
30th min: Things weren't getting better for the Bulldogs with the Warriors crossing for their third try in the 30th minute. A break down the left saw Carlos Tuimavave in some space before he got the ball to Vatuvei on the wing. The Kiwi international then came back on the inside and threw a speculator to Fisiiahi on his inside who strode away to score under the uprights. Johnson converted to make the lead 16-nil.
35th min: The Bulldogs were able to register their first points of the afternoon through Captain Michael Ennis. Back to back sets had the Warriors on the back foot and it was 200th gamer Frank Pritchard who broke the line and got his left hand free which he then offloaded the ball to Ennis who went round to score under the posts. Hodkinson converted to close the gap to 16 - 6.
50th min: A try to Sam Perrett came after a slick left to right movement across the park. The ball went through the hands of James Graham, Ennis, Josh Reynolds, Tim Lafai and then on to Perrett with the Kiwi international going over to score in the right hand corner. Hodkinson beautifully converted from the sideline to close the gap to four points, 16-12.
75th min: The Bulldogs hit the front through Ben Barba who snuck over to score five metres in from the left hand sideline. The Bulldogs earned a repeat set after a Hodkinson bomb came down and hit Ennis on the head forcing a repeat set. From there the set was worked nicely with Barba going over to score and level things up. Hodkinson then converted to put the Bulldogs in front 18-16.
78th min: Josh Reynolds sealed the victory with a 65m run to score after a Warriors error. Error made it a superb night with the boot with his fourth conversion and confirming victory 24-16.
BULLDOGS 12 (Ennis, Perrett, Barba, Reynolds Tries; Hokinson 4 Goals)
Def.
WARRIORS 16 (Vatuvei, Leuluai, Fisiiahi Tries; Johnson 2 Goals)
Crowd: 30,112
At: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
It was four tries to three with Trent Hodkinson having a perfect night with the boot with 4 from 4.
5th min: The Warriors opened the scoring in the fifth minute through winger Manu Vatuvei. A grubber was put through by the home side and as the ball rebounded of a few sets of legs it was regathered by Glen Fishiahi who then drew in Ben Barba before passing it on to Vatuvei who cruised over untouched. Shaun Johnson couldn't convert with the Warriors leading 4-nil.
17th min: It was the home side who extended their lead with a try to Thomas Leuluai. After back to back penalties and a dropout from the Bulldogs it was simply too much pressure from the Warriors to outlast. With the set-up as if the ball was going to be spread wide, it was a charge forward by the forwards who then got a hand free to offload to Leuluai who went over to score next to the left hand upright. Johnson converted to make the lead 10-nil.
30th min: Things weren't getting better for the Bulldogs with the Warriors crossing for their third try in the 30th minute. A break down the left saw Carlos Tuimavave in some space before he got the ball to Vatuvei on the wing. The Kiwi international then came back on the inside and threw a speculator to Fisiiahi on his inside who strode away to score under the uprights. Johnson converted to make the lead 16-nil.
35th min: The Bulldogs were able to register their first points of the afternoon through Captain Michael Ennis. Back to back sets had the Warriors on the back foot and it was 200th gamer Frank Pritchard who broke the line and got his left hand free which he then offloaded the ball to Ennis who went round to score under the posts. Hodkinson converted to close the gap to 16 - 6.
50th min: A try to Sam Perrett came after a slick left to right movement across the park. The ball went through the hands of James Graham, Ennis, Josh Reynolds, Tim Lafai and then on to Perrett with the Kiwi international going over to score in the right hand corner. Hodkinson beautifully converted from the sideline to close the gap to four points, 16-12.
75th min: The Bulldogs hit the front through Ben Barba who snuck over to score five metres in from the left hand sideline. The Bulldogs earned a repeat set after a Hodkinson bomb came down and hit Ennis on the head forcing a repeat set. From there the set was worked nicely with Barba going over to score and level things up. Hodkinson then converted to put the Bulldogs in front 18-16.
78th min: Josh Reynolds sealed the victory with a 65m run to score after a Warriors error. Error made it a superb night with the boot with his fourth conversion and confirming victory 24-16.
BULLDOGS 12 (Ennis, Perrett, Barba, Reynolds Tries; Hokinson 4 Goals)
Def.
WARRIORS 16 (Vatuvei, Leuluai, Fisiiahi Tries; Johnson 2 Goals)
Crowd: 30,112
At: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
