The Bulldogs have rounded out their pre-season with a 20-nil victory over the Melbourne Storm at Belmore Sports Ground tonight.
Whilst 20 points were scored, the most pleasing thing for the side was that they were able to keep the visitors scoreless throughout the entire 80 minutes.
A strong first half based on the defence was the major factor that led to a 10-nil lead at the break.
It was in the 12th minute that the crowd rose to their feet in suspense as captain James Graham went down clutching at his ribs. The side will need to wait until Monday to get scan results on whether he will miss any football.
The opening exchanges were played through the middle of the park and it wasn’t until the 28th minute that the opening points were scored. It was a shift to the right that had the Storm defence reeling and a simple catch and pass from all involved created the overlap, giving Sam Perrett a free passage to the try line. With the try being score in the north-east corner, Chase Stanley had a tough first kick for the night and couldn’t convert, leaving the score at 4-nil.
Just before the half-time break it was another scurry out of dummy-half from Michael Lichaa that created the opportunity, for himself, to score under the uprights. The pressure was mounted by the side and Lichaa capitalised on the tired defence, to score. Stanley converted from right in front to take the blue and whites to a 10-nil lead at the break.
The first 10 minutes of the second stanza was played without any change to the scoreboard but Coach Des Hasler will have a nervous wait with David Klemmer being placed on report after he was called out by the match officials for an incident in the play the bal.
The 53rd minute saw Gulgong junior Josh Jackson run a great line and took a Josh Reynolds short ball, going over to score in the south-west corner. Stanley converted from out wide and the lead was extended out to 16-nil.
With the full-time siren just 30 seconds away, Dan Chisholm took on the line and managed to find Perrett out wide who crossed for his second of the night. The conversion was unsuccessful, leaving the scoreboard reading 20-nil at the end of 80 minutes.
BULLDOGS 20 (S Perrett 2, M Lichaa, J Jackson Tries; C Stanley 2 Goals)
Def.
STORM 0
At: Belmore Sports Ground
