Andrew Pelechaty reviews the high-scoring thriller between the Sydney Roosters and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
Result
Sydney Roosters 25
Tries: (4) James Tedesco 17th, 22nd; Junior Pauga 50th; Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 67th
Goals: (4) Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 18th, 23rd, 52nd, 68th
One-Point Field Goals: Luke Keary 74th
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 24
Tries: (4) Josh Addo-Carr 42nd, 54th; Tevita Pangai Junior 11th; Reed Mahoney 14th
Goals: (4) Matt Burton 13th, 15th, 44th, 56th
Report
Canterbury-Bankstown raced to an early 12-0 lead with back-to-back tries to Tevita Pangai Junior and Reed Mahoney.
But the Eastern Suburbs club hit back with two James Tedesco tries in five minutes. It was 12-12 after 22 minutes, which was also the half-time score.
Canterbury were first to score after half-time when Josh Addo-Carr ran 80 metres down the left edge (after a Roosters error). Matt Burton converted for an 18-12 lead.
The Roosters quickly responded after a Tedesco break from dummy half, with Junior Pauga running 55 metres to score after supporting Teddy.
Burton threaded the perfect grubber for Addo-Carr’s second as the tries kept coming. Burton converted to give Canterbury a 24-18 lead after 56 minutes.
The Roosters levelled up again when Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii scored with 13 minutes left.
The Roosters led for the first time when Keary kicked a one-point field goal with five minutes left.
The Bulldogs had a seven-tackle set with 30 seconds left, but Addo-Carr put up a speculative rugby union-style kick from his 20, which the Roosters defenders cleaned up to seal the win – their first since Round 9.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS
Embed from Getty Images3 – James Tedesco (Roosters)
2 – Tevita Pangai Junior (Bulldogs)
1 – Josh Addo-Carr (Bulldogs)
