Bulldogs Suffer Tough Loss In NRLW Clash With Tigers

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs’ NRLW side has suffered a 44-14 loss to the Wests Tigers at Campbelltown Stadium.

It was an energetic start from Brayden Wiliame’s side with the Bulldogs’ rushing defence forcing an error in the first minute and then following it up by getting over the line twice – only for both tries to be disallowed.

A rampaging run from Co-Captain Angelina Teakaaranga-Katoa helped her side find prime field position early and the Dogs looked to have capitalise on that when Bridget Hoy crossed in the corner – however her foot went into touch.

Minutes later Monica Tagoai – who returned from a knee injury – crossed but the referee deemed Ash Quinlan’s pass forward.

The Tigers marched their way down to the other end of the field but the Bulldogs’ gritty defence held them out and then returned serve – but this time securing the points with Simina Lokotui scoring in the corner. Tayla Preston’s conversion attempt was waved away, leaving the score 4-0.

The Tigers snatched a two-point lead eight minutes later after Salma Nour burrowed over from dummy-half to score under the posts. Raecene McGregor kicked the conversion to take the score to 6-4.

They backed that up with another try after taking advantage of a ruck penalty. Shenai Lendill took a quick tap but was brought down by some desperate Dogs defence close to the line. However, they could only hold on for so long and Faythe Manera crashed over. McGregor converted to extend the Tigers’ lead to 12-4.

With less than five minutes left in the first half, the momentum had well and truly swung in the Tigers’ favour. Another ruck penalty handed them a golden opportunity down on the Bulldogs’ line and they struck with Christian Pio crossing untouched. McGregor’s conversion extended the lead to 18-4 heading into the break.

The Tigers picked up from where they left off in the opening two minutes of the second half with Manera burrowing over from dummy-half for her second try of the game. McGregor made it 4/4 conversions to take her side to a 24-4 lead.

The Bulldogs needed to score next to keep themselves in the game and they did exactly that with Quinlan coming up with her signature cutout pass again, this time to Tagoai. Preston’s conversion attempt was waved away, leaving the score 24-8.

But their joy was short-lived with the Tigers capitalising off another ruck penalty to score their fifth try of the game via winger Lily Rogan. McGregor slotted an impressive sideline conversion to take the score to 30-8.

Three minutes later they were in again with prop and former Bulldog Shaniece Monschau crashing over. Ironically, after converting from the sideline McGregor missed this one that was just to the side of the posts.

The Bulldogs didn’t drop their heads though and instead spread the ball down their right side to score through Daynah Nankivell on the very next set. Preston was able to block out the heckling from boisterous Tigers fans and nailed the sideline conversion to take the score to 34-14.

The Tigers proved to be too good though and put the cherry on top of a dominant win with two tries in the final six minutes. A pinpoint cross-field kick from McGregor set up Rogan for her second of the night before Nour – who opened up the scoring for her side – also finished it with her second too.