The Bulldogs NYC side have this afternoon won a golden point thriller 27-26 over the Canberra Raiders at ANZ Stadium.
The victory will see the young pups go straight through to week three of the finals and will await their opponent, which will be decided next weekend.
It was five tries a piece but an 85th minute field goal from fullback Patrick Templeman broke the deadlock and gave the Bulldogs the victory.
Coach Patmore made just one change to the side with David Minute coming on to the interchange bench with Michael Morgan the man to miss out.
The first points of the afternoon came through the Raiders with fullback Jack Ahearn crossing in the eighth minute of play. The Raiders earned a repeat set after winger John Sila was unable to get back into the field of play. From there Ahearn took the ball one off the ruck and threw a dummy before sliding through to score. Halfback Mitch Cornish couldnt convert with the Raiders out to 4-nil lead.
It was then the Bulldogs who answered back with Jaelen Feeney crossing for two tries within five minutes. The first came in the 13th minute with the halfback chipping and chasing himself before going over. The second saw the halfback split the defence and he strolled over to score, Templeman converted just one of the tries with the Bulldogs skipping out to a 10-4 lead.
The Raiders answered back with their second try but the remainder of the half was all the Bulldogs with a further two tries being scored, the first through back rower Shaun Lane and the second to centre Matthew Fukofuka. Templeman converted both with the young pups going to the break leading 22-10.
The second half saw the Raiders run in three tries in the 45th, 48th and 51st minutes with two of them being converted from Mitch Cornish and putting the Raiders in front 26-22 with 18 minutes remaining.
With eight minutes remaining the Bulldogs were able to level the scores with
Templeman able to pounce on a loose ball and in-turn score. He was unable to convert with the scores locked at 26-all.
The final eight minutes was played with plenty of panic from both sides but neither were able to compose themselves and break the deadlock when the final siren sounded.
The golden point period was played from end to end and with a shot at field goal both waved away from each side it was Templeman in the 85th minute who was able to slot over his chance from 15m out and giving the Bulldogs a 27-26 victory and a position in the Preliminary Final in a fortnights time.
BULLDOGS 27 (Feeney 2, Lane, Fukofuka, Templeman Tries; Templeman 3 Goals; Templeman 1 Field Goal)
Def.
RAIDERS 26 (Ahearn, Hawkins, Lee, Kent, Reuben Tries; Cornish 3 Goals)
At: ANZ Stadium
The victory will see the young pups go straight through to week three of the finals and will await their opponent, which will be decided next weekend.
It was five tries a piece but an 85th minute field goal from fullback Patrick Templeman broke the deadlock and gave the Bulldogs the victory.
Coach Patmore made just one change to the side with David Minute coming on to the interchange bench with Michael Morgan the man to miss out.
The first points of the afternoon came through the Raiders with fullback Jack Ahearn crossing in the eighth minute of play. The Raiders earned a repeat set after winger John Sila was unable to get back into the field of play. From there Ahearn took the ball one off the ruck and threw a dummy before sliding through to score. Halfback Mitch Cornish couldnt convert with the Raiders out to 4-nil lead.
It was then the Bulldogs who answered back with Jaelen Feeney crossing for two tries within five minutes. The first came in the 13th minute with the halfback chipping and chasing himself before going over. The second saw the halfback split the defence and he strolled over to score, Templeman converted just one of the tries with the Bulldogs skipping out to a 10-4 lead.
The Raiders answered back with their second try but the remainder of the half was all the Bulldogs with a further two tries being scored, the first through back rower Shaun Lane and the second to centre Matthew Fukofuka. Templeman converted both with the young pups going to the break leading 22-10.
The second half saw the Raiders run in three tries in the 45th, 48th and 51st minutes with two of them being converted from Mitch Cornish and putting the Raiders in front 26-22 with 18 minutes remaining.
With eight minutes remaining the Bulldogs were able to level the scores with
Templeman able to pounce on a loose ball and in-turn score. He was unable to convert with the scores locked at 26-all.
The final eight minutes was played with plenty of panic from both sides but neither were able to compose themselves and break the deadlock when the final siren sounded.
The golden point period was played from end to end and with a shot at field goal both waved away from each side it was Templeman in the 85th minute who was able to slot over his chance from 15m out and giving the Bulldogs a 27-26 victory and a position in the Preliminary Final in a fortnights time.
BULLDOGS 27 (Feeney 2, Lane, Fukofuka, Templeman Tries; Templeman 3 Goals; Templeman 1 Field Goal)
Def.
RAIDERS 26 (Ahearn, Hawkins, Lee, Kent, Reuben Tries; Cornish 3 Goals)
At: ANZ Stadium
