Mounties defeat Bulldogs in NSW Cup

by NRL

The Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs suffered their fourth loss of the VB NSW Cup premiership, going down to a fiercely determined Mounties side 20-18 on a wet and miserable afternoon at Mt Pritchard Sports Ground on Saturday.

With both side looking to gain early ascendency, it was Mounties who opened the scoring with a penalty goal to Canberra Raiders half back Sam Williams after an early strip penalty infringement in the 8th minute.

A short time later the Bulldogs capitalised on Mounties error. A deftly placed kick by half back Trent Hodkinson, playing his first game in NSW Cup, saw Ratu Tagive out leap the Mounties defence to score out wide and the conversion by Hodkinson saw the Bulldogs lead 6-2 after 13 minutes.

The Bulldogs should have scored on the very next set when Shane Pumipi broke through from dummy half. Pumipi found Daniel Abou-Sleiman in support, who in turn passed to Hodkinson and the ball went to ground with the line wide open.

With the Bulldogs more likely to score, if not for poor handling, the game turned into the expectant arm wrestle for the next 15 minutes in the greasy conditions.

A doubtful obstruction penalty against the Bulldogs at the 30 minute mark gave Mounties possetion in the Bulldogs half and a shift to the right edge saw Nathan Massey throw a long ball to an unmarked Michael Bani who raced 10 metres to the corner to score. The conversion from the sideline by Sam Williams gave Mounties an 8-6 lead.

On the stroke of half time, Mounties took a stranglehold on the match when rampaging second rower Pat Galea crashed through some poor defence to give his side a 14-6 half time lead.

The second half turned into a battle for field position and it was at the midway point when the Bulldogs worked their way back into the game as second rower Josh Jackson crashed over to score and make the score 14-12.

Needing to score next, it was one handling error too many that cost the Bulldogs again as Mounties second rower Pat Galea burst through the Bulldogs right hand side defence again, for hooker Matt McIllrick to score under the posts, giving Mounties a 20-12 lead with six minute left on the clock.

The Bulldogs managed a late try to young centre Ed Murphy and with Trent Hodkinson's sideline conversion, the score finished up 20-18 to Mounties at fulltime.

The loss has resulted in the Bulldogs dropping to 4th position on the VB NSW Cup ladder and needing a win next Saturday against the Cronulla Sharks at Belmore Sports Ground.

With the Bulldogs NRL & NYC sides receiving a BYE next weekend, all Bulldogs supporters are encouraged to get out to Belmore Sports Ground on Saturday (kick-off 3:00pm) to support our VB NSW Cup side.

Scorers
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 18
Tries: Ed Murphy, Ratu Tagive, Josh Jackson
Goals: Trent Hodkinson (3)

Mounties 20
Tries: Michael Bani, Pat Galea, Matt McIllrick
Goals: Sam Williams (4)

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