Senior Pathways Wrap Round 14: Thrilling Tie at Accor

It took Mitchell Woods just nine minutes to snatch his first cup try on debut, linking up with fellow half Hutchison whose kick bounced up nicely for Woods. They were in for their third, through the middle as Jake Turpin from hooker found prop Sam Hughes close to the line (18-0).

The Magpies found initial points in their first full set inside Canterbury’s attacking zone. Halfback Kurt Falls swung around to the left side of the attack late in the set to break the line with a deft grubber that found his centre Brent Naden (18-6).

They found their second straight after, marching down the field before second rower Luke Jack surprisingly found himself running into dummy half with momentum, using it to his advantage to crash over the Bulldogs defence (18-10)

In a third consecutive set the Magpies found points, working a short play down their left side again which passed through three hands ending with Izaac Tu’itupou skirting the touchline to land in the corner (18-14).

Canterbury jumped back on the offence to close out the half as Blake Taaffe, now at five-eighth, put a charging Logan Spinks through a hole. The second rower burned past fullback Kit Laulilii to put his side up 24-14 at the break.

The Magpies struck first in the second, taking their attack to the right hand side for the first time to great effect when substitute Tristan Hope floated a pass out to Charlie Staines with an acrobatic finish to bring the margin to within four (24-20).

The Dogs hit right back with Spinks’ second before a Woods feigned kick instead saw the Dogs run it on the last play to great effect as winger Jonathan Sua crossed over to break the game back open (32-20).

With 11 minutes to go, Magpies winger Tu’itupou completed his hat trick and Staines at the opposite end found a second to level the score with less than 90 seconds to play.

The moment was set for Mitchell Woods to strike the match winning field goal, but pressure from the Magpies did enough to help send the halfbacks shot to the right of the uprights, the game finishing 34-all

Talking Points

• In a negative for both sides, penalties against each side cost them both dearly, with most of the points in the first half coming off the back of sets directly following infringements.
• Sam Hughes was instrumental to Canterbury’s ability to march up the field. The forward’s no nonsense running game saw him finish with 16 runs for 137 metres, followed closely behind by Luke Smith with 107 metres.
• Despite the Magpies scoring seven tries to Canterbury’s six, it was the boot of Kurt Falls that cost the Magpies in the end. The halfback only managed 3 conversions. Just one more of his four attempts could have sealed the match.

Key Moment

With the Magpies gaining momentum early in the second half and the margin down from 18 to four, Mitch Woods stepped up on debut. 

Moving from the right to the left to earn his first try assist, his decision moments later to run the ball on the last instead of kick pushed the margin back to 14, showing the competition a real glimpse of his future in a blue and white jumper to come.

What’s Next?

The Bulldogs will be back at Accor stadium next Saturday to take on a last placed Rabbitohs side desperate for a win, while the Magpies return home in a crucial clash against the Sea Eagles.

Jersey Flegg Cup: Bulldogs 38 def Tigers 10, Silktails 10 def by Dragons 46

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Jersey Flegg Cup team produced a thumping 38-10 defeat of the Wests Tigers at Belmore Sports Ground. 

Winger Jope Rauqe scored a hat-trick as the Bulldogs piled on eight tries to maintain their spot in sixth position. 

Rauqe's first-half brace helped the Blue and White to a 14-4 lead at the break, but the side went to another level in the second stanza, running in five more tries with the flying winger completing his triple in the 67th minute. 

The Tigers' second try came with just minutes to spare while the Bulldogs were down a man in the sin-bin, completing an impressive 38-10 victory.

The Bulldogs will now face off against the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Redfern Oval on Saturday afternoon in their Round 15 clash. 

Meanwhile, it was a tough afternoon for the Kaiviti Silktails at Collegians Sporting Complex in Wollongong against the St George Illawarra Dragons, going down 46-10. 

The home side kicked off proceedings with three tries in the opening stanza, while a penalty goal to Melikiseteki Nacaginimasei in the 39th minute closed the deficit to fourteen. 

Unfortunately, it was the Dragons running away with the result in the second half, while a quick fire brace to centre Ratu Kikau proved a highlight, scoring twice in the span of four minutes.

The Silktails will now turn their attention to the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in Round 15 on Thursday night at Sharks Stadium.