The Holden Cup side have tonight made a successful trip over the bridge, defeating the Sea-Eagles 32-26 at Brookvale Oval.
It was five tries each with the boot of Patrick Templeman proving to be the difference.
There was just one change to the starting side named earlier in the week with Adam Elliot coming into the starting side with David Minute moving back on to the interchange bench.
A penalty against the Bulldogs in the 11th minute gifted the Sea-Eagles quality field position with the attacking opportunity starting from 30m out. From that set the home side worked it towards the centre of the park and on just the third tackle back rower Jamal Hopoate carried the ball forward 15m leaving two Bulldogs defenders behind him to crash over and score five metres to the right of the uprights. Fullback Clinton Gutherson had the kicking duties but couldnt convert from close range to leave the home side in front 4-nil.
The Sea-Eagles were able to extend their lead crossing for two further tries in the 15th and 21st minutes. The first through back rower Dylan Kelly and the second through Gutherson. Both were converted by the fullback giving the home side a 16-nil lead.
Four minutes later the Bulldogs were able to open their account through back rower Danny Fualalo. Back to back penalties sent the Bulldogs down field and some nice play saw Fualalo crash over. Fullback Patrick Templeman converted to close the gap to 16-6.
The next 10 minutes was played from end to end but the final five minutes was all the Bulldogs with the young pups crossing for two tries and going to the break in the lead. Jaelen Feeney crossed first before Lloyd Perrett cruised over untouched under the uprights as the half-time siren sounded. Both were converted by Templeman with the blue and whites leading 18-16.
The Bulldogs made it 24 unanswered points when winger Dylan Rintoul went over in the south-eastern corner. It was a sweeping play out to the left which ended with Templeman throwing a cut-out ball into the arms of Rintoul who beat his opposite to score. Templeman converted from the sideline to extend the lead out to 24-16 after 46 minutes.
The home side were able to keep themselves in the match when halfback Riley Tarvers crossed. A spiralling bomb went a mile in the air and Tarvers seemed to be in the right place at the right time with the ball looking to have just landed in his arms and the small halfback was able to fall over the line. Gutherson couldnt convert from close range and the scoreboard read 24-20 after 57 minutes of play.
Penalties are so important in this competition and the Bulldogs were able to get a further two back-to-back in the 63rd minute. With some tiring defence the young pups worked the ball down the middle and lock forward Jack Creighton had too much strength for Michael Stig and planted the ball down next to the left hand upright to score. Templeman simply converted to give the Bulldogs some breathing room, 30-20.
Again penalties were of benefit, this time for the home side. The Sea-Eagles earned the penalty and in the following set made a mini-break and on the following tackle Stig carried it forward before offloading to prop forward Jake Trbojevic who crossed. The kicking duties were handed over to centre Regan Haika who converted to close the gap once more to 30-26.
A penalty against the home side basically gifted the Bulldogs two points. With just three minutes remaining the Sea-Eagles were ruled to be offside and from 15m out directly in front, Templeman converted and put the lead out to a converted try, 32-26.
BULLDOGS 32 (Fualalo, Feeney, Perrett, Rintoul, Creighton Tries; Templeman 6 Goals)
def.
SEA-EAGLES 26 (Hopoate, Kelly, Gutherson, Tarvers, Trbojevic Tries; Gutherson 2, Haika 1 Goals)
At: Brookvale Oval
It was five tries each with the boot of Patrick Templeman proving to be the difference.
There was just one change to the starting side named earlier in the week with Adam Elliot coming into the starting side with David Minute moving back on to the interchange bench.
A penalty against the Bulldogs in the 11th minute gifted the Sea-Eagles quality field position with the attacking opportunity starting from 30m out. From that set the home side worked it towards the centre of the park and on just the third tackle back rower Jamal Hopoate carried the ball forward 15m leaving two Bulldogs defenders behind him to crash over and score five metres to the right of the uprights. Fullback Clinton Gutherson had the kicking duties but couldnt convert from close range to leave the home side in front 4-nil.
The Sea-Eagles were able to extend their lead crossing for two further tries in the 15th and 21st minutes. The first through back rower Dylan Kelly and the second through Gutherson. Both were converted by the fullback giving the home side a 16-nil lead.
Four minutes later the Bulldogs were able to open their account through back rower Danny Fualalo. Back to back penalties sent the Bulldogs down field and some nice play saw Fualalo crash over. Fullback Patrick Templeman converted to close the gap to 16-6.
The next 10 minutes was played from end to end but the final five minutes was all the Bulldogs with the young pups crossing for two tries and going to the break in the lead. Jaelen Feeney crossed first before Lloyd Perrett cruised over untouched under the uprights as the half-time siren sounded. Both were converted by Templeman with the blue and whites leading 18-16.
The Bulldogs made it 24 unanswered points when winger Dylan Rintoul went over in the south-eastern corner. It was a sweeping play out to the left which ended with Templeman throwing a cut-out ball into the arms of Rintoul who beat his opposite to score. Templeman converted from the sideline to extend the lead out to 24-16 after 46 minutes.
The home side were able to keep themselves in the match when halfback Riley Tarvers crossed. A spiralling bomb went a mile in the air and Tarvers seemed to be in the right place at the right time with the ball looking to have just landed in his arms and the small halfback was able to fall over the line. Gutherson couldnt convert from close range and the scoreboard read 24-20 after 57 minutes of play.
Penalties are so important in this competition and the Bulldogs were able to get a further two back-to-back in the 63rd minute. With some tiring defence the young pups worked the ball down the middle and lock forward Jack Creighton had too much strength for Michael Stig and planted the ball down next to the left hand upright to score. Templeman simply converted to give the Bulldogs some breathing room, 30-20.
Again penalties were of benefit, this time for the home side. The Sea-Eagles earned the penalty and in the following set made a mini-break and on the following tackle Stig carried it forward before offloading to prop forward Jake Trbojevic who crossed. The kicking duties were handed over to centre Regan Haika who converted to close the gap once more to 30-26.
A penalty against the home side basically gifted the Bulldogs two points. With just three minutes remaining the Sea-Eagles were ruled to be offside and from 15m out directly in front, Templeman converted and put the lead out to a converted try, 32-26.
BULLDOGS 32 (Fualalo, Feeney, Perrett, Rintoul, Creighton Tries; Templeman 6 Goals)
def.
SEA-EAGLES 26 (Hopoate, Kelly, Gutherson, Tarvers, Trbojevic Tries; Gutherson 2, Haika 1 Goals)
At: Brookvale Oval
