Brave Bulldogs Go Down In Tight Loss To Roosters

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs were brave in defeat, going down 20-18 to the second-placed Sydney Roosters in front 30,000 fans at Allianz Stadium.

After a pre-game ceremony for Indigenous Round, the Dogs got set for kick-off and were greeted by an almighty roar from the north-western corner, which was packed with loud and proud Bulldogs fans.

It was a high-energy start from both sides but first points came through a Bulldogs penalty goal after Daly Cherry-Evans, who captained the Roosters in James Tedesco’s absence, was pinged for an escort.

The Roosters had an opportunity to get on the board shortly after when a Jethro Rinakama knock-on handed them prime field position. But the Bulldogs’ rushing defence forced an error on the first tackle to get the ball back.

The Home side did eventually score first though in the 13th minute off the back of a six-again with Billy Smith crossing in the corner. The conversion attempt was waived away, leaving the score 4-2.

The following few minutes saw both sides make a bunch of errors, but it was the Roosters who were able to capitalise while in possession with a kick bouncing and landing in the lap of try-scorer Suia Wong.

Matt Burton was involved in the contest in the air prior to the Wong try and came down awkwardly on his knee. The superstar centre stayed down but was able to play on after his knee was strapped.

Sitili Tupouniua, however, did not have the same luck with the impact forward – who had just returned from a hamstring – succumbed another hamstring concern late in the second half. In a promising sign though, Tupouniua was able to walk unassisted and unhampered into the sheds.

The Bulldogs came out of the second half firing and were rewarded with three tries in 11 minutes snatch the lead.

While Jacob Kiraz scored the first, you can put it down to some smarts out of dummy-half from Bailey Hayward, who left the Roosters’ markers grasping for air as be broke through for an inspiring before finding Kiraz on his inside. Crichton added the extras to level scores 8-all.

Workhorse halfback Lachlan Galvin backed that up seven minutes later with the 21-year-old producing a show-and-go to scoot around Reece Robson and score just to the posts. A Crichton conversion took the Dogs’ to a 14-8 lead.

Four minutes later Kiraz crossed for his second of the night after a Kurt Mann tackle forced a Roosters effort and the ball was quickly spread to a charging Kiraz on the right wing.

However the Roosters snatched back the lead after scoring two tries in two minutes. Billy Smith crossed for his second of the night before a charging Salesi Foketi grounded Sam Walker’s kick with one hand. Walker converted both tries to take his side to a 20-18 lead.

Cameron Ciraldo’s men fought hard in the final minutes but were unable to score a matchwinner, leaving the score at 20-18.

The Bulldogs now rest and reset for a Home game against the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Accor Stadium in Round 24.