The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have gone down in a gallant final performance of the season against the Sydney Roosters.
With the Roosters coming into the clash undefeated they were heavy favourites, but the Bulldogs staged a stunning first-half ambush to take a two-point lead into the break.
They eventually ran out of steam though late in the second half and the Roosters ran away with it to finish 42-12 winners.
It was a fitting start to the game with our NRLW debutant Shanthie Lui taking the first carry of the game. The 19-year-old fullback ran off the back fence to a loud roar from the Bulldogs’ bench.
That energy continued with the Dogs dominating the opening 10 minutes which saw them nearly cross twice.
Co-captain Tayla Preston fooled the Roosters’ defence with a show-and-go but was eventually chased down and taken over the sideline.
Back-to-back penalties handed the Bulldogs prime field position and Simina Lokotui looked to have scored first points with a terrific putdown, however a video replay later showed her foot touching the sideline.
Brayden Wiliame’s side showed some trademark Bulldogs defence with desperate tackles and some big hits, but eventually did concede the first try with Otesa Pule crashing over close to the line. Jocelyn Kelleher converted to take the Roosters to a 6-0 lead 13 minutes into the game.
The Roosters backed that up six minutes later with Corban Baxter putting Jess Sergis into space with a neat pass. While Andie Robinson tried to run her down Sergis proved to be too quick, taking the score to 10-0.
A powerful drive back into the in-goal laid the platform for what came next with the Bulldogs making the most of their repeat set as Monica Tagoai charged over to score her side’s first points. Preston slotted the conversion to take the score to 10-6.
The momentum was well and truly in the Dogs’ favour and they struck again, this time with Robinson winning the contest in the air to score off a pinpoint kick from Preston, who added the extras to take her side into the half-time break up 12-10.
The Bulldogs came out of the break up and about, continuing with their impressive defensive efforts in the first 12 minutes. But they were soon put to the test when Tagoai was sin-binned for what was deemed to be a hip-drop tackle.
After an admirable five minutes one player down, the Dogs’ brave defence eventually broke with the Roosters scoring three consecutive tries via Millie Elliott, Taina Naividi and Otesa Pule. Kelleher converted two of the three tries to take the score to 26-12.
The Roosters extended their lead after a cutout pass found Mia Wood, who crossed in the right corner, before a Sergis runaway try and a late Kelleher try off the scrum sealed the 42-12 final score.
Sydney Roosters 42 (Pule 2, Sergis 2, Elliott, Naividi, Wood, Kelleher tries; Kelleher 4/7 goals) def Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 12 (Tagoai, Robinson tries; Preston 2/2 goals)
