The Bulldogs young pups have given up an early lead this evening and gone down 26-14 to the Broncos at ANZ Stadium.
Broncos put on 26 unanswered points to run away with the match.
There was just one change to the side named earlier in the week with Peter Tiatia dropping out of the side and Valima Teaupa coming into the side for his first appearance of the year.
A number of penalties were awarded to both teams but on attacking opportunities, both sides shot themselves in the foot, losing the ball early on in the sets.
The first points didn’t come until the 25th minute when Reimis Smith crossed in the south-west corner. Again it was off the back of a penalty and off the back of a couple of offloads, the Broncos defence was reeling and a Guy Hamilton ball over the top to Smith who went over untouched. Brad Keighran couldn’t convert from out wide with the score remaining 4-nil.
Five minutes before the break the lead was extended through the left winger Marcelo Montoya. In a similar sequence of play to the way the first try was scored, Montoya received a looping pass and went over untouched. Keighran couldn’t convert and the score was 8-nil.
On the stroke of half-time the Broncos reduced the deficit with a converted try. Off the back of a penalty and off the back of a number of sets in defence, Broncos took the tap off a penalty and crossed on the first tackle to score through Michael Molo. The try was converted by Ashley Taylor and the Bulldogs went to the half-time break leading 8-6.
Soon after the break the Broncos went into the lead for the first time through Keegan Hipgrave. It was converted by Taylor, with the score now 12-8.
The lead was extended soon after off the back of a try to Logan Spaander. It was converted by Taylor from next to the uprights with the score now 18-8 after 53 minutes.
A smart grubber and a rush in attack brought about the Broncos next four-pointer. It was put in behind the defensive line and winger Jarryd Dodd won the race to the ball. Taylor couldn’t convert with the score staying at 22-8.
The romp continued with Joe Ofahengaue crashing over with eight minutes left on the clock. The second half saw the young pups just on the back foot and struggled to get out from their own end and they just couldn’t stop the big man. Taylor couldn’t convert with the scoreboard reading 26-8.
In the final play of the match, Hamilton put a cross-kick over to the western side and Harry Pondekas smartly took the ball to score but off the back of 26 unanswered points being scored, it was the young Broncos who were heading back north of the border with a 26-14 victory.
BRONCOS 26 (Molo, Spaander, Hipgrave, Dodd, Ofahengaue Tries; Taylor 3 Goals)
Def.
BULLDOGS 14 (Smith, Montoya, Pondekas; Keighran 1 Goal Tries)
At: ANZ Stadium
