Read how each of our grades fared on the weekend.
First grade: Trial
A team of Canterbury Bulldogs young guns have scored a surprise 24-10 NRL trial win over a near full-strength Penrith Panthers side at Belmore Sports Ground on Saturday night.
Bulldogs coach Dean Pay decided to rest a number of star players for the clash, but it didn’t hamper the home side at all, running in five tries to the Panthers’ two to record an unexpected and comfortable victory.
Lachie Lewis set up both the Bulldogs’ tries in the first half, scored by Rhyse Martin and Tom Carr in the 31st and 39th minutes respectively after the hosts trailed 6-0 early following a Reagan Campbell-Gillard try.
Canterbury’s momentum continued after half-time, with Fa’amanu Brown burrowing across the line from dummy half at the 58th minute, while Josh Bergamin, who scored the winning try last weekend against the Raiders on the Sunshine Coast, crossed for a double at the 62nd and 69th minutes.
A 76th minute try to Christian Crichton was nothing more than a consolation for the Panthers.
Canterbury Bulldogs 24 (Josh Bergamin 2, Rhyse Martin, Tom Carr, Fa’amanu Brown tries; Kerrod Holland 2 goals) defeated Penrith Panthers 10 at Belmore Sports Ground.
Intrust Super Premiership NSW: Trial
The Penrith Panthers have defeated the Canterbury Bulldogs 46-4 in their Intrust Super Premiership NSW trial game at Belmore on Saturday.
Given the number of players called up to first grade this weekend, the Bulldogs’ ISP NSW side were unable to field their best team and forced to call upon several players from feeder club Cabramatta.
The visitors scored four first-half tries to lead 22-0 at the break, before crossing the line for another four second-half four-pointers to the Bulldogs’ one, which was scored by Malachi Morgan.
Penrith Panthers 46 defeated Canterbury Bulldogs 4 (Malachi Morgan try) at Belmore Sports Ground.
Jersey Flegg: Trial
Two unanswered tries in the second half have seen the Canterbury Bulldogs prevail over the Penrith Panthers in their Jersey Flegg trial match at Belmore on Saturday.
The two sides traded blows in the first 40 minutes, going to the halftime break locked at 12-all, but consecutive four-pointers to Nikau Williams in the 60th minute and Zac Hetherington in the 70th minute got the Bulldogs the win.
Canterbury Bulldogs 24 (Dalton Smith, Sua Aiiloilo, Nikau Williams, Zac Hetherington tries; Morgan Harper 2, Reuben Taylor 2 goals) defeated Penrith Panthers 12 at Belmore Sports Ground.
SG Ball: Round three
The Canterbury Bulldogs have cruised to a 38-12 victory over the Manly Sea Eagles in their round three SG Ball clash at Belmore Sports Ground on Saturday.
Manly took a 6-0 lead after 19 minutes, but from then on they were never in the contest, with the hosts taking a 12-6 advantage to the half-time break before sealing the result.
Tommy Talau scored two tries for Bulldogs in the second half.
Canterbury Bulldogs 38 (Tommy Talau 2, James Valevatu, Iverson Fuatimau, Ryan Gray, Logen Dillon, Jackson Topine tries; Topine 5 goals) defeated Manly Sea Eagles 12 at Belmore Sports Ground.
Harold Matthews Cup: Round three
The Manly Sea Eagles have secured a 26-12 victory over the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in their round three clash at Belmore Sports Ground on Saturday.
The visitors led 10-6 at half-time before the Bulldogs claimed a 12-10 lead early in the second half thanks to a Danny Ghantous try which was converted by Adam Lababidi.
But the Sea Eagles clinched the result with three second-half tries.
Manly 26 defeated Canterbury 12 (Compton Fuatimau, Danny Ghantous tries; Khaled Rajab, Adam Lababidi goals) at Belmore Sports Ground.
Tarsha Gale Cup: Round three
It was another tough and disappointing loss up against a talented Newcastle side in the heat.
The team will be looking to have a big week at training to work towards its goals and strengths.
Newcastle 92 defeated Canterbury 4 (Sinead Sio try) at Maitland Sports Ground.
