A second half comeback has seen the Bulldogs overcome the Titans in Indigenous Round
Result
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 20
Tries: Jake Averillo (43), Josh Addo-Carr (45), Jacob Kiraz (64), Jayden Okunbor (77)
Goals: Matt Burton 2 (44, 78)
Gold Coast Titans 18
Tries: David Fifita (3), Joe Stimson (31), Phillip Sami (59)
Goals: Tanah Boyd 3 (4, 22, 33)
Report
A second half comeback by the Canterbury Bulldogs has seen them defeat the Gold Coast Titans in a controversial match at Accor Stadium.
In blustery conditions, the Bulldogs overturned a 14-0 half time deficit to claim a 20-18 victory.
The Titans raced out of the blocks, scoring in just the 4th minute when David Fifita crashed over the defence to score. Tanah Boyd converted, giving them an early 6-0 lead.
They came close to scoring again in the 17th minute, however were denied when Jayden Campbell lost the ball over the tryline.
Boyd added a penalty goal in the 23rd minute to extend the lead to 8-0.
Controversy erupted on the half hour when Reed Mahoney was put on report for an apparent hip drop. He was then forced off for a HIA after being struck in the by Tino Fa’asuamaleaui’s forearm, which went unpunished.
Fa’asuamaleaui played a key role in the Titans next try minutes later, offloading to Joe Stimson despite the attention of five defenders. Boyd added the extras, pushing the lead to 14-0, where it remained at half time.
The Bulldogs wasted no time in getting back into the contest, with a Matt Burton bomb landing in the arms of Jake Averillo, who raced 30m to score. Burton converted, cutting the deficit to 14-6 five minutes into the second half.
Burton played a key role in their next try in the following set, dummying through the line and linking up with Harrison Edwards before Hayze Perham set Josh Addo-Carr up for a try in his return game.
The Bulldogs missed out on a chance to draw level in the 55th minute when Jacob Kiraz was unable to rein in another Burton bomb, however a successful captain’s challenge found a Titans knock on.
An unlucky bounce denied them a try in the following set, before an obstruction a minute later cost them again.
After withstanding a mountain of pressure, the Titans scored a crucial try with 20 minutes remaining, with Phil Sami crossing out wide to push the margin back beyond a converted try.
Further controversy erupted in the 65th minute when Josh King was ruled to have passed off the ground, however a captain’s challenge after a replay was shown at the stadium overturned the decision.
The Bulldogs took advantage of the decision immediately, with a Burton bomb bouncing straight into the arms of Jake Averillo to score, bringing the score back to 18-14.
Clearly rattled, Fa’asuamaleaui was placed on report for a dangerous tackle. A set later, a third successful captain’s challenge found a strip after Tevita Pangai Junior was ruled to have knocked on.
With three minutes remaining, a grubber by Burton ricocheted back to the Bulldogs, where they got it to the middle of the field for Jayden Okunbor to surge through and score next to the posts. Burton converted to take the lead 20-18.
The Titans had enough time to launch an attempt at a two point field goal, however Boyd’s kick fell well short and they were left to rue another second half collapse.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS
Embed from Getty Images3 – Matt Burton (Bulldogs)
2 – Reed Mahoney (Bulldogs)
1 – Max King (Bulldogs)
