Senior Pathways Wrap Round 25: Dual Wins Against Wests

But it wasn’t long before the visitors hit back, with Toby Sexton floating a cross-field kick towards the try-line that deflected into the hands of Jed Reardon, finding a charging Jack Todd on his outside who blew bast desperate defenders and dived over. Sexton added the extras to lock the contest up at six-all.

A piece of masterful ball playing from the Bulldogs halves gave them their first lead of the afternoon. Sexton linked up with Drew Hutchison on the left edge who shaped to pass out the back, causing the Magpies defenders to rush up in an attempt to shut down the move. But Hutchison played the short ball to a charging Logan Spinks who put on a show of speed to beat the fullback to the try line. Sexton slotted the conversion for a 12-6 advantage.

With the wind in their sails, the Bulldogs went the length of the field on the resuming set after kick-off to score their third try in 12 minutes. The blue and white were willing to attack from anywhere, and a left-foot step from Spinks saw him find some space 30 metres out from the Magpies’ line. As defenders dragged him down from behind, he flicked an offload into the path of Cassius Tia who had open pastures in front of him. Sexton converted with ease from in front of the sticks to establish a 12-point buffer for the Bulldogs at half time.

An error coming out of their own end proved costly for the Magpies, with the visitors taking full advantage of the attacking territory as a shift out wide to Jonathan Sua saw him fool a defender with a dummy and then carry another one across the line as he planted the ball down for his 13th try of the season. Sexton steered the conversion between the uprights to put the Bulldogs well and truly in the box seat at 24-6. 

It seemed as though the floodgates had opened for the Bulldogs, scoring their fifth and sixth tries of the afternoon in quick succession through Jethro Rinakama and Lipoi Hopoi. Sexton’s faultless outing off the kicking tee continued, slotting both kicks to tally up 36 points for the blue and white.

But the Magpies managed to snatch one back, with a clever play from Kit Laulilii who charged up his run on the left side of the ruck before appearing on the right at full speed, steamrolling would-be tacklers before planting the ball down. Falls’ successful conversion made it 36-12 with 19 minutes on the clock. 

Both sides crossed the stripe once more before the hooter, and the contest concluded with a convincing 40-18 triumph in favour of the Bulldogs.

Talking Points

• It was an impressive team effort from the Bulldogs, with each player fulfilling their role with precision and persistence and the try-scoring being shared amongst the group.
• The contest was a stark contrast to their Round 14 clash at Accor Stadium – a 13-try thriller that ended in a 34-all draw.
• Young stars Kit Lualilii and Heamasi Makasini were standouts in a losing side, with Laulilii’s power and leg speed through the middle making him a nuisance for defenders and Makasini’s impressive athleticism in the backline drawing plenty of attention.
• Magpies’ winger Izaac Tu’itupou was on the receiving end of a high tackle early in the contest. He failed his HIA, ruling him out of next week’s match and forcing the home side into a backline reshuffle.

Key Moment

On the attack and with the opportunity to halve the 12-point deficit in front of them early in the second half, the Magpies lost their bearings and coughed up possession. The Bulldogs took the ball the length of the field in the next set, and then another untimely error from the Magpies handed their opponents a golden opportunity to extend their lead. A right-side shift saw the blue and white cross the line for the fourth time, turning a try-scoring opportunity for the Magpies that could have propelled them back into the contest into an even larger lead for the visitors.

What’s Next?

The Bulldogs will be hosting the high-flying Dragons at McCredie Park in Guildford on Saturday afternoon, whilst the Magpies will travel to Wentworth Park to lock horns with the Roosters.

HNWP: Bulldogs 10 def by Mounties 24

It was a tough result for the Harvey Norman Women's Premiership side, who were defeated 24-10 by Mounties at Kirkham Oval in Camden.

In a late change of venue, the Bulldogs got on the board first through Hannah Makira in the twelfth minute. The visitors hit back before Bridget Hoy crossed to give the Blue and Whites a 10-4 lead at the break. 

However, their opponents took charge in the second half with a further four tries, with the Bulldogs unable to add to the scoresheet.

The Bulldogs will face the Parramatta Eels on Monday night at Kellyville Park in Round 9. 

Jersey Flegg Cup: Bulldogs 38 def Tigers 32, Silktails 16 def by Sharks 22

Goal kicking proved to be the difference for the Bulldogs in their 38-32 victory over the Wests Tigers at Lidcombe Oval, with both sides scoring seven tries apiece.

In a high-scoring affair, the Bulldogs got to work in the first half with a double to to Jordi Mazzone as well as tries to Sosefo Finau and Bronson Reuben seeing the scoreline at 20-10 at the break.

Flying winger Mazzone bagged his hat-trick after just 45 minutes, while Reuben scored a second as the Blue and Whites took a dominant 22-point lead with half an hour remaining.

While the home side hit back, centre William Afualo sealed the result with ten on the clock as the Tigers scored three quick fire tries - albeit consolation - in the dying stages.

The Bulldogs will face the St George Illawarra Dragons in the final round of their season at McCredie Park in Guildford on Saturday afternoon.

For the Kaiviti Silktails, it was a brave effort against the fourth-placed Sharks at Prince Charles at Nadi, fighting tooth and nail in a 22-16 defeat.

Buoyed at home, the Silktails touched down in the sixth minute thanks to Gabriel Rawamila. Although their opponents struck back in quick succession, a four-pointer to Iowani Mainalovo in the dying stages of the first half saw the scoreboard read 18-10. 

The Sharks extended their lead ten minutes into the second stanza, but the never-say-die Silktails crossed through Mikaele Senibua. A penalty in the 66th minute via Mainalovo closed the deficit by just a single converted try. 

The Kaiviti Silktails will play their final match of the season at Churchill Park in Lautoka on Saturday against the South Sydney Rabbitohs.