A dominant display from the Canterberry-Bankstown Bulldogs forward pack has left the in-form Cutters scoreless, with the boys from Belmore coming away 30-0 victors.
The Bulldogs had first opportunity with the ball but failed to do anything with it in their opening two sets, opting for some poor tackle five options, kicking the ball in to touch and one booting one dead, gifting the Cutters a seven-tackle set.
The Cutters took advantage of the early possession marching their way up field to force a goal-line dropout. The home side however couldn’t turn the possession into points.
The opening exchanges of the game saw a see-sawing affair with both teams going blow for blow, with a fair share of possession, but neither team were able to cross the line.
The 17th minute saw the opening points of the game courtesy of Bulldogs halfback Harry Seijka, who scooped up a sloppy offload from the Cutters, racing 30 metres to score under the posts. Fullback Brad Abbey successfully converted the try to lead gibe the Bulldogs a lead of 6-0.
The Bulldogs crossed the line again in the 24th Minute through centre Kerrod Hollland, when he broke through some lazy Cutters defence out wide. A strong legs tackle from Cutters debutant Matt Dufty wasn’t enough to hold the 'Dogs centre out, who reached out to score the visitors' second. Abbey couldn’t convert and the score was 10-0.
A grubber from Bulldogs hooker Craig Garvey put in a nice grubber close to try-line saw prop Llyod Perret lead the chase to dive on the pill to give the dogs a considerable lead. Abbey’s kick was successful and the Dogs led 16-0.
Another try close to the line with back-rower Jake Kamire crashing over to extend the lead to 20.
A stack of late half penalties gave the Cutters opportunities down the Bulldogs end of the park, but some strong and desperate defence from the Dogs saw them retain their lead of 20-0 at the halftime break.
The Cutters came out firing in the second half producing their best set of the game, getting tackled on the last tackle just shy of the Bulldogs line.
The scarlet and red had ample opportunities in the opening stages of the second stanza to get some points on the ball, but poor execution saw the Cutters remain scoreless.
A bomb from the Bulldogs playmakers in the 52nd Minute saw Bulldog’s Abbey leap over the top of Cutters winger Yaw Kiti Glymin , plucking the Steeden out of the air to race away to score the visitors' fifth try.
Errors, penalties and temperatures boiling over from both sides, saw the scoring come to a halt for the most part of the final quarter of the game.
Bulldogs centre Rubenn Rennie crossed the line in the 72nd minute to extend the lead to 30-0, courtesy of another successful goal to Abbey.
An injury in the shadows of full-time to a Bulldogs player in the shadows of full-time saw the game abandoned with two minutes remaining.
The Bulldogs ran out 30-0 victors, keeping their 2016 campaign alive.
Canterbury-Bankstown 30 (H Siejka, K Holland, L Perrett, J Kamire, B Abbey, R Rennie tries; B Abbey 3 goals) def Illawarra 0
This article first appeared on NSWRL.com.au
