The Canterbury-Banktown Bulldogs have bounced back in the 2023 Knock On Effect Cup with a strong 44-16 win over the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Accor Stadium on Saturday night.
After a slow start to the half, the Bulldogs forward pack gain some momentum in the opening stanza.
Centre Hayze Perham scored the first 4-pointer of the match when Canterbury-Bankstown ran a block play down the left edge from 50 metres out. NSW Cup debutant Jonathan Sua jetting down the left flank, before passing it back inside to a supporting Perham who would step his way around defenders to get the Dog's up 6-0 after 8 minutes.
The Bulldogs were at it again when halfback Bailey Biondi-Odo broke through the Rabbitoh's left edge defence from the halfway line. Biondi-Odo seizing up a 2-on-1 one situation to put fullback Khaled Rajab over for his side's second of the night. Bailey Hayward nailing the conversion to push the lead to 12-0 inside the first quarter of the match.
Match: Rabbitohs v Bulldogs
Round 19 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
8th Position
away Team
Bulldogs
1st Position
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Canterbury-Bankstown would spoil the ball of the kick restart, opening the door for an attacking set to Souths. The home side taking full advantage of field territory to notch up their first points when captain Tom Carr went over unopposed in the left corner.
Though the Bulldogs would hit back immediately, the away side putting the ball through the hands for Sua to score his first at NSW Cup level and raise the scores to 16-4. The winger going over for his second night minutes later to increase the lead to 22-4 with 12 minutes left in the half. Where the score would remain the same heading into the sheds for halftime.
Perham kicked off the second half with his second try for the evening, out leaping the Rabbitohs defence in the 42nd minute to go down in the left corner.
The Kennel were on their feet again minutes later when Bailey Hayward played provider, putting in a deft kick behind the South's goal-line defence for Biondi-Odo to put down a nicely worked try.
South Sydney would hit back with a try to Zac Makelim crashing over close to the line with the score 34-10 with 25 minutes to go in the fixture.
But it would be Canterbury-Bankstown who hit back with another 4-pointer. Biondi-Odo returning the favour, chipping the ball in goal for Hayward to increase his personal points tally.
The Rabbitohs would run in a consolation try, after Makelim went over for his double minutes from fulltime. Though as the clock would countdown to the final siren, the Bulldogs would have the last laugh after Ryan Gray broke free from halfway. Handing the ball off to right centre Paul Alamoti who would dive over the try line to end the game.
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs returning to the winner's circle with a convincing 44-16 win over the South Sydney Rabbitohs in Round 19 of the Knock On Effect Cup at Accor Stadium on Saturday night.
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 44 (Tries: Hayze Perham 2, Jonathan Sua 2, Bailey Biondi-Odo, Bailey Hayward, Khaled Rajab, Paul Alamoti ;Goals: Bailey Hayward 6) def. South Sydney Rabbitohs 16 (Tries: Zac Makelim 2, Tom Carr; Goals: Tom Carr 2)
