Bulldogs
down Dragons in second half carve-up
Report from: Steven
Williams
15/05/04
The Canterbury Bulldogs have turned on a tremendous
second half performance to thrash St George Illawarra
38-12 at WIN Stadium tonight.
Following
an entertaining first half, the Bulldogs scored
a try against the run of play and lifted to score
again. At half time, the visitors held a handy 12-2
lead.
Following
a no-try ruling against the Dragons, the Bulldogs
replied to be the first team to score in the second
half and then proceeded to take charge of the ruck.
Saints
were hampered by knee injuries to centre Matt Cooper
and front rower Jason Ryles who were both forced
from the field. But it was the Canterbury defence,
followed up by some sensational attacking movements,
which dictated the end result.
DRAGONS
12
Tries: Poore, Hornby
Goals: Riddell 2/3
defeated by
BULLDOGS 38
Tries: Patten 2, Grimaldi, Harris, El Masri, Feeney
Goals: El Masri 7/7
WIN
Stadium
Referee: Tim Mander
Video Referee: Chris Ward. Touch Judges: Steve Chiddy,
Darren Gocher
By
the clock:
0
min: Great conditions in Wollongong and a big crowd
at WIN Stadium this evening.
Kickoff!
10
min: Still 0-0. Saints applying the pressure with
repeat sets at the Bulldogs line.
20
min: No change, still 0-0. Possession favouring
St George 56%.
24
min: PENALTY GOAL - Dragons. Mark Riddell from almost
in front after Willie Mason is penalised for hanging
onto the tackled player. Dragons 2-0
27
min: TRY - Bulldogs. Luke Patten scores after Mason
picks up a loose ball and runs at the line. Follows
a bizarre call from the referee when Mason is called
"held" but runs on. Referee Mander, for
reasons best known to himself, orders a scrum to
be packed down when a penalty was the go. From the
scrum, Shaun Timmins then knocks on at first receiver
and the Bulldogs take full advantage, scoring from
close range. Conversion 15m in from touch Hazem
El Masri. Bulldogs 6-2
32
min: TRY - Bulldogs. Tony Grimaldi busts through
from 20m out and scores next to the posts. Conversion
El Masri. Bulldogs 12-2
38
min: NEWS - Saints come close to scoring but knock-on.
A dust-up follows with a bit of feeling coming into
the match.
HALF
TIME: Saints had opportunities early but were being
held out by some solid Canterbury defence. Nevertheless,
they looked to be going the ascendancy before the
Bulldogs scored a try against the run of play. After
that, gaps started appearing in the Dragons' defensive
line and the Bulldogs scored again.
Possession: Dragons 51%
Second
half underway...
42
min: NO TRY - Dragons denied when Tony Jensen is
ruled in front of the kicker. Follows a mid-field
bomb from Lachlan Russell which is dragged down
by Ben Creagh who runs away to 'score'. The video
ref rules that Jensen, who was within 10m of the
play, to be offside.
NEWS
- Matt Cooper (Dragons) hasnt returned in the second
half and Ben Creagh is playing in the centres. News
is that Cooper has a knee injury and will not return
- and may be out for some time.
49
min: TRY - Bulldogs. Patten gets a double following
a bomb. Conversion El Masri OK. Bulldogs 18-2
52
min: NEWS - Jason Ryles (Dragons) after twisting
his left knee has been assisted from the field.
Dragons playing some ordinary football and the Bulldogs
have the home side rattled.
56
min: TRY - Bulldogs. Ben Harris scores out wide
after the defence is found wanting. Follows a 50/50
penalty against Ashton Sims (Dragons) for incorrect
play-the-ball. Conversion from El Masri is outstanding.
Bulldogs taking charge and well in front 24-2.
64
min: TRY - Bulldogs. El Masri scores out wide following
a chip over the top to the flank from Braith Anasta.
Bulldogs semingly offloading at will. El Masri conversion
is a another ripper. Bulldogs 30-2
67
min: TRY - Bulldogs. Jamie Feeney scores 15m in
from touch. Follows a sensational play where Jamaal
Lolesi makes a break down the left flank and then
kicks in-field for Feeney, who catches it on the
full and has enough momentum to score. Conversion
El Masri is OK. Bulldogs 36-2
NEWS
- Dragons front rower Jason Ryles will not be back
but has been diagnosed with a minor ligament damage
and will not be out for the long term.
73
min: TRY - Dragons. Justin Poore runs into a huge
gap to score his first 1st grade try 10 metres in
from touch. Conversion Riddell unsuccessful. Bulldogs
36-6
75
min: NEWS - Fights breaking out as frustrations
get to boiling point. Dragons five-eighth Timmins
is penalised for thumping Anasta.
77
min: PENALTY GOAL - Bulldogs. El Masri makes mistake
as Riddell is penalised for a head high. Bulldogs
38-6
79
min: TRY - Dragons. Ben Hornby scores behind posts
following a deft grubber from Lincoln Withers. Saints
get into double figures. Conversion Riddell OK.
Bulldogs 38-12
FULL
TIME: An all round dominant performance from the
Bulldogs who put in a tremendous second half effort
to blow Saints off the park.
Possession: Bulldogs 54%
Standout performance from Bulldogs skipper Steve
Price with 30 tackles, 16 hitups and 122 metres
gained.
Mark O'Meley also put in top notch effort in the
forwards.
Hazem El Masri was the pick of the backs with a
personal tally of 25 points, scoring a try and kicking
7 goals from 7 attempts.
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Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - S Price (Bulldogs)
2 - M O'Meley (Bulldogs)
1 - H El Masri (Bulldogs)
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