The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs NYC side has walked away from Belmore Sports Ground this afternoon with a 28 all draw with the Newcastle Knights.
After trailing 16 nil at the break, the Bulldogs youngsters scored five tries in the second 40 to match it with the fifth placed Knights and finish with a point from their Round 18 encounter at Belmore.
The Knights were impressive in the opening half thanks to tries from fullback Matt Cooper and a double to back rower Samuel McIntyre. Jack Johns converted two of the three tries to give the visitors a 16 nil lead at the break.
Following the break, the Bulldogs scored four tries in the opening 20 minutes of the half to lead 22-16, before the Knights hit back to level the scores at 22 all with just over ten minutes to play.
In the space of a minute, the Bulldogs had their fifth after prop forward Giordan Patea was able to collect the ball from the kick-off and beat the Knights defence to put the ball over the line next to the post. Keighran converted and the score was 28-22.
With three minutes left to play, the visitors split the Bulldogs defence and half back Hayden Loughrey scored. Kainoa Gudgeon converted to level the score at 28 all and it remained that way after 80 minutes.
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 28 (T: Keighran, Katoa, Smith, Manu, Patea, G: Keighran 4/5)
draw
Newcastle Knights 28 (T: McIntyre 2, Cooper, Andrews, Loughrey, G: Gudgeon 2/3, Johns 2/2)
TEAMS
Bulldogs
1. Corey Matthews, 2. Kiko Manu, 3. Adam Keighran, 14. Dalton Smith, 23. Alvin Maungaati, 6. Michael Doolan, 21. Tui Katoa, 8. Cameron Torpy, 9. Joseph Tramontana, 10. Giordan Patea, 11. Hayden Ashcroft (c), 12. Luis Strickland, 13. Zac Cardassilaris. Bench: 15. James Clark, 16. Spike Te’io, 17. Elie El-Zakhem, 19. Kayne Kalache.
Knights
1. Matt Cooper, 2. Mitch Andrews, 3. Kyle Smith, 4. Heath Gibbs, 5. Kainoa Gudgeon, 6. Kurtis Dark, 11. Jack Johns, 8. Cameron King, 9. Nash Birch, 10. Matt Croker, 15. Henry Penn, 12. Sam McIntyre, 13. Zac Hosking (c). Bench: 7. Hayden Loughrey, 16. Brodie Jones, 17. Jayden Butterfield. 18. Will Finau.