The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have created history in their inaugural NRLW match, claiming a 26-12 victory over the Newcastle Knights at Accor Stadium.
Despite trailing early, the side converted a 10-6 lead half-time lead into a fourteen-point victory, with Co-Captains Tayla Preston and Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa leading from the front.
Match: Bulldogs v Knights
Round 1 -
home Team
Bulldogs
5th Position
away Team
Knights
8th Position
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Six players - Simina Lokotui, Moana Courtenay, Adi Vani Buleki, Latisha Smythe, Shaquaylah Mahakitau-Monschau and Shaniece Monschau - made their NRLW debuts in the process.
Courtenay created history by becoming the very first try scorer for the Bulldogs in the NRLW, touching down in the 29th minute in the south west corner of Accor Stadium.
The debutant centre bagged a double, as did five-eighth Ashleigh Quinlan, whose second four-pointer sealed the result with just six minutes on the clock.
Despite the Knights earning a great opportunity to lay on first points early on, the defensive resolve led by Holli Wheeler and Teakaraanga-Katoa saw the Bulldogs' line remain in tact.
Courtenay Scores the Bulldogs' First NRLW Try!
But it would be the Knights drawing first blood with five-eighth Georgia Roache dummying through the line to score, with the visitors taking a 6-nil lead after seventeen minutes.
A break down the wing put the Novocastrians back in range, but another effort play from Wheeler halted their raid metres from the line, allowing the side to regain their composure.
Fullback Andie Robinson blitzed through with multiple defenders only to be held up, while, Ebony Prior's efforts forced a kick out on the full as the momentum shifted.
An offside penalty invited the Knights back into Bulldogs territory, but once again it was the steely defence leading the way, with Teakaraanga-Katoa diffusing a grubber.
Quinlan Crosses
Preston's boot caused plenty of issues for the Knights' back three, with a clearing kick bouncing inch perfect to force a scrum 15 out, while Pani Hopoate was the next to be held up over the line.
But it was third time lucky with a classy offload from Robinson leading to the first try of the match, with Courtenay etching her name as the first try scorer for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
A 55-metre kick return from Robinson put the side in prime position to steal the lead before the break, and they did so through a swerving run from Quinlan - with Preston's conversion giving the side a 10-6 lead at the break.
Continuing their momentum, the Bulldogs charged through the middle third of the field, with Alexis Tauaneai, Teakaraanga-Katoa and Hopoate continuing to wreak havoc.
Yet another off-the-ball effort saw a result, with Smythe diving on a dropped ball to put the Bulldogs back in attacking range, but a forward pass at the death denied Robinson a four-pointer.
Co-Captains Combine!
Multiple indiscretions continued to open the door for the Blue and Whites to extend their lead, and it was the Co-Captains combining with Preston's grubber and a wicked bounce finding Teakaraanga-Katoa under the posts.
The Steeden continued to bounce in Canterbury's favour, with another kick from the playmaker landing in the arms of Shaniece Monschau, who put Courtenay in for her double just minutes later.
While the Knights crossed soon after to get themselves back in the contest, it was Quinlan's cunning from dummy half sealing the historic result with six minutes remaining.
A Bounce From Heaven and Courtenay's Over Again!
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 26 (Moana Courtenay 2, Ashleigh Quinlan 2, Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa tries; Tayla Preston 3 goals) def Newcastle Knights 12 (Georgia Roache, Botille Vette-Welsh tries; Jesse Southwell 2 goals)
