Canterbury-Bankstown vs Wests Tigers
Result
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 26
Tries: Hayze Perham 4th; Josh Addo-Carr 13th, 28th; Matt Burton 54th
Goals: Kyle Flanagan 6th, 15th, 30th, 39th, 55th
Wests Tigers 22
Tries: Brent Naden 21st; Luke Brooks 66th; Fonua Pole 69th; Charlie Staines 70th
Goals: Adam Doueihi 23rd, 69th, 70th
Report
A secong half capitulation almost handed Wests Tigers a win at Belmore Sports Ground, but ultimately it was the home side who hung on after racing away to a huge lead.
Some expansive play early on saw Hayze Perham get his first try as a Bulldog after some slick work from Viliame Kikau. Kyle Flanagan converted for a 6-0 lead.
Errors crept in to the home sides game but their defence was strong, resulting in a Paul Alamoti intercept, finding speedster Josh Addo-Carr in support for a 12-0 lead.
Tigers star signing John Bateman showed his worth with a crafty grubber and regather at the 20 minute mark but he dropped it over the line.
David Klemmer was placed on report in the 22nd minute for a cannonball tackle and could be on strife.
In the ensuing set Brent Naden crept in an intercept and raced away to score under the posts, with the conversion taking the score to 12-6.
Although they blew a couple of chances, Alamoti made no mistake when he came down with a defensive bomb and set up a beauty.
He drew and passed to Addo-Carr, before his winger did the same. Alamoti showed strength and skill to pop a beautiful offload back to Addo-Carr for a length of the field try.
A penalty goal on the stroke of halftime saw the Bulldogs go to the sheds up 20-6.
Despite making more errors and giving away more penalties, the Bulldogs looked more likely to score.
Matt Burton brought his running game to Belmore, hitting a hole from a Reed Mahoney pass and stepping his way under the posts. Flanagan’s conversion made it 26-6.
The Bulldogs were coasting in second gear with 15 minutes to go, getting through simple sets. Although they had chances, the Tigers never looked likely. But that was about to change.
A forward pass sent things in motion for Wests, who raced away to score through Luke Brooks. Minutes later Brandon Wakeham put Naden through some poor defence and Fonu Pole touched down under the posts. The conversion brought the score to 26-16.
On the very next set Brooks was at it again, setting up Charlie Staines for a runaway try under the posts. In the blink of an eye it was 26-22.
With three minutes to go Corey Waddell claimed a try from a loose ball, but the Bunker ruled against him, although the home side got the ball back.
The Tigers had one final chance but couldn’t score the game winning try, with the Bulldogs hanging on for a less than satisfying win.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS
Embed from Getty Images3 – Jacob Kiraz (Bulldogs)
2 – Paul Alamoti (Bulldogs)
1 – Hayze Perham (Bulldogs)
