First half blitz sets up win over Thunderbolts

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Jersey Flegg side have finished the regular season with an impressive 42-18 win over Victoria Thunderbolts at Belmore Sports Ground.

The team’s 11th victory of the season cements a spot in the bottom four of the eight and a place in the 2019 finals series.

The Bulldogs win over the Thunderbolts was set up by an outstanding opening first half thanks to five unanswered tries and a 28-0 lead at the break.

Canterbury scored in the first minute of the match through winger Tyrone Harding, before adding a further three tries before the 20th minute mark.

Frank Kuresa grabbed his side’s fifth try of the half minutes later and Jackson Topine landed three conversions as well as a late penalty goal to give the home side a 28-point lead at the conclusion of the first half.

Both sides bagged three tries each after half-time with the visitors converting all three, while Topine could only convert one of the tries into six points.

Although the Thunderbolts won the second half, the damage was done in the opening exchanges of the match thanks to four tries from the Bulldogs within 20 minutes as well as a double from fullback Declan Casey to ensure a strong finish to the season and head into next week’s final series with winning form.

Bulldogs 42 (Casey 2, Kuresa, Harding, Rumble, Karaitiana, Winters-Chang, Ailoilo tries: Topine 5 goals) def. Thunderbolts 18 (Cordtz, Ahomana, Hanita-Paki tries: Salia 2, Flocas goals)