Senior Pathways Wrap Round 8: Cup Pups Climb to Fifth

By Alex Hrissis, NSWRL.com.au

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have defeated the Penrith Panthers 34-18 at Belmore Sports Ground in Round 8 of the NSW Cup to improve their good run of form and move them up to fifth spot on the ladder.

The home side scored first points at Belmore on Saturday afternoon when some clean passing along the left edge found Jethro Rinakama who dived into the corner to score for his side. The kick was waved away to leave the score at 4-nil.

Bulldogs scored back-to-back tries after a scramble on the ten metre line saw a few sneaky offloads find Luke Smith who found a gap in the line and crashed over to score. The kick was converted to put the home team ahead 10-nil.

It was one way traffic as Canterbury-Bankstown scored again. Emerging front rower Lipoi Hipoi made a strong line break and blitzed down the field before finding Kurtis Morrin inside of him who scored underneath the posts with ease to give the home side a 16-nil lead.

The Panthers bounced back halfway through the first half through David Vale. The outside back made a run down the wing and skipped past several players before busting through a tackle and making it all the way to the tryline. The kick was nailed from the sideline to make the score 16-6.

The away side scored back-to-back tries to shorten the Bulldogs’ lead. Following a repeat set Penrith found themselves mounting pressure on the opposition and they were rewarded with a try. Passing down the left edge found Jack Cole who played a tidy short ball to Harrison Hassett who stormed through the line to score. The kick was converted to make the score 16-12.

The Bulldogs scored right on the stroke of half time to extend their lead over Penrith through in form winger Blake Wilson. Some long passes down the right side found Taaffe who tapped the ball along to Wilson who dived in the corner to score a try and send his team into the sheds with a 22-12 lead.

The home side extended their lead over Penrith with some dangerous movement down the left edge. The ball found utility Drew Hutchison who threw a tasty dummy to the Panthers defender and cut through the line to score. Taaffe converted to extend the lead out to 28-12.

The Panthers wouldn't go down without a fight however as they scored halfway through the second period to try and get back into the game. Trent Toelau threw a cutout pass to a wide open Asu Kepaoa who looked to score for all money but was nearly dragged out by the opposition. He managed to get a pass away which fell directly into the hands of Harry Armstrong who scored the try. Toelau nailed the conversion to tighten the score to 28-18.

But the Bulldogs all but confirmed the victory over Penrith as some slick passing down the ridge edge found Jonathan Sua who bursted through the line to score his first try of the day. The kick was slotted by Taaffe to make the final score 34-18.

Talking Points

• Lipoi Hipoi had himself another standout game for the Bulldogs, notching up several line breaks, tackle busts and a try assist.
• The victory over Penrith makes it three wins in a row for the Bulldogs and moves them up to fifth place on the ladder.

Key Moment

The Bulldogs scored in just the third minute of the game through Rinakama which laid the platform for the win over a strong Penrith outfit who have won five of their last six games.

What’s Next?

In Round 9 of the NSW Cup, the Bulldogs travel to Wentworth Park to face the Sydney Roosters. 

Jersey Flegg Cup: Bulldogs 24 def by Panthers 25, Silktails 10 def by Roosters 32

With four tries apiece, all that separated the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and the Penrith Panthers in a thrilling match at Belmore Sports Ground was a solitary field goal. 

The Bulldogs struck back after conceding the first try with Jed Reardon crossing, with Hamish Wilson following suit for a 12-6 lead. 

Penrith returned serve, however, with three more tries for a 22-12 lead at the break.

With a mountain to climb, the Bulldogs rallied in the second half, with Joseph Teaupa scoring in the 50th minute before Reardon bagged his second with less than ten minutes to go.

But it was a field goal with two minutes remaining that ultimately proved the difference, with the Bulldogs fighting through but downed 25-24. 

The Kaiviti Silktails were unable to claim victory at the NSWRL Centre of Excellence, downed 32-10 on Saturday afternoon.

In a hard-fought first half, the Silktails found themselves down only by eight points with two tries to the 'home' side, but found themselves trailing by 14 after 46 minutes.

Soon after, however, Mikaele Senibua crossed for the first try of the match, closing the deficit to ten points with just half an hour remaining.

Unfortunately the Roosters caught a second wind, scoring three further tries to seal the result, while a 74th minute try to Isoa Lakepa. 

In Round 9 of the Jersey Flegg Cup, the Bulldogs face the Roosters at Wentworth Park alongside the NSW Cup team, while the Kaiviti Silktails take on the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles on Sunday afternoon. 

Ron Massey Cup: Bulldogs 22 def by St Marys 42

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Ron Massey side were handed a heavy defeat at the hands of St Marys at Hammondville Oval in their Round 6 clash. 

The visitors piled on the points in the first half, with the Bulldogs finding themselves with a mountain to climb in the second half. 

Despite scoring four tries to Adam Runchel, Toby Sullivan, Carson T'Maalii and Alan Holten, the Bulldogs were unable to climb back, defeated 42-22. 

In Round 7 of the Ron Massey Cup, the Bulldogs will face Blacktown Workers at HE Laybutt Field.