Round 8
Warriors 16 l. Bulldogs 30

2006 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Bulldogs win test of character
Sun April 30, 2006
The Bulldogs despite a woeful effort last week and further turmoil during the week with Reni Maitua dropped for disciplinary reasons are in 6th position on the table after defeating the New Zealand Warriors 30-16 today at Ericsson Stadium.

One club that has always been able to deal with adversity and controversy has been the Bulldogs and today whilst they didn't play out of their skins showed some of that special Steve Folkes character and toughness to come away from Auckland with the two points and remarkably remain two points off the Premiership lead. It was a test whether this current side had the mettle and steel of the previous Bulldogs sides of the era's when Steve Mortimer, Peter Tunks, Terry Lamb, Darren Britt and Steve Price were captains and today proved there is still some fight left in the Bulldogs despite how wounded they might be.

The Warriors riding on the back of a favourable penalty today received an early one where Tony Martin registered first points on the board for a 2-0 lead.

Daniel Holdsworth scored his first try in Bulldogs colours six minutes into the game when he ran onto an offload from Mark O'Meley, who did enough to win Test selection ahead of former Bulldogs team-mate Steve Price and Sydney Roosters captain Craig Fitzgibbon. Hazem El Masri converted to give the Bulldogs a 6-2 lead.

Louis Anderson gifted the Bulldogs their second try in the 18th minute when his fumble right on the line after rucking the ball out saw Roy Asotasi pounce on the ball to score. El Masri landed his second goal for the Bulldogs to jump clear at 12-2.

Poor defence from Willie Tonga allowed Wairangi Koopu to score the Warriors first try in the 34th minute with Martin adding the extras and could have scored a spectacular try only for Brent Webb to be offside from a deft grubber from Nathan Fien.

The Bulldogs got possession right on halftime following a brain explosion mistake from Clinton Toopi with Tonga redeeming his failed defensive attempt to put the Bulldogs up 16-8. El Masri couldn't convert as the vistors went to the break with a lead of eight points.

It took two minutes into the second half for the Warriors to get right back into the match when Sione Faumuina scored and with Martin converting it was a two point ball game.

Mark O'Meley was sent to the sin bin in the 49th mintue for holding down in the play the ball after a spate of Warriors penalties and Martin landed the penalty to level up the scores with the momentum all for the Warriors.

The Bulldogs received a massive bonus with El Masri scoring outwide in the 55th minute following great work by Luke Patten whilst O'Meley was still in the sin bin. El Masri converted from wide out to push the Bulldogs 22-16 clear.

El Masri landed a very important penalty goal in the 64th minute giving the Bulldogs an eight point lead heading into the final 15 minutes.

The Warriors threw everything at the Bulldogs but constant errors let them down. Sonny Bill Williams who started the match at right centre and played the full 80 minutes provided the Bulldogs with the match-winner when he put El Masri over in the corner with three minutes remaining. El Masri landed his 4th goal of the match giving him a personal tally of 16 points and two short of 100 for the current season.

It wasn't the best game of football but one of character for the Bulldogs in how they would redeem themselves from the effort against Manly and the dramas surrounding Maitua. They answered that test extremely well. Two other positives from the match was the debut of Ben Roberts at halfback and he displayed promise for the future. The other positive was Williams getting through 80 mintues as he continues his climb back following a horrific run of injuries in 2005 and also in the off-season.

Patten and Tonga are on reports for incidents in the match where a one match suspension is very possible for both. The more worrying one is Warriors forward Anderson who has been selected in the Test match. Even though Tony Grimaldi was basically on his knees when Anderson tackled him, the Kiwis have had very poor luck with the judiciary at around Test time where Stephen Kearney would always happened to be annually suspended in his playing days.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs junior representative sides enjoyed semi-final victories on the weekend. The undefeated Harold Matthews Minor Premiers defeated Western Suburbs 44-18 and the SG Ball side coached by former Bulldog Barry Ward bounced back from a 78-12 loss against the Roosters in the final round last year to defeat the same side 30-20 in the game that matters. One of the tryscorers was Daniel Folkes, the son of former International and current coach Steve Folkes. Both results are a tribute to the strength and professionalism of the Canterbury-Bankstown Junior League.


Bulldogs hold out Warriors
Sun April 30, 2006
Source: www.bulldogs.com.au

The Mitsubishi Electric Bulldogs have held on to take the two points against a sloppy Warriors outfit in Auckland this afternoon with a 30-16 victory. The Bulldogs managed to control the ball a little better than the home side in the opening half and as a result they went into the sheds up 16-8.

The Warriors opened the scoring in the 4th minute via a penalty goal to Tony Martin but soon found themselves behind when Daniel Holdsworth scored his first try in the 'Dogs colours off the back of a Mark O'Meley offload just three minutes later. El Masri made sure of the conversion and the visitors were out in front 6-2 after seven minutes.

The Bulldogs then continued to dominate both possession and field territory and eventually the Warriors couldn't hold on as Roy Asotasi swooped on the loose ball close to the line after a solid hit forced the ball free from Loius Andersons' grasp. El Masri converted the Asotasi try and the Bulldogs stretched their lead to 10 points after the first quarter of play.

With ball handling becoming a problem for the Warriors the Bulldogs had several chances to increase their early lead but poor last tackle options and silly errors became the 'Dogs downfall and eventually they paid a heavy price when the Warriors scored a great try through Koopu after finding himself on the end of a Nathan Fien scoot from dummy-half and scoring amongst heavy traffic. Tony Martin converted and with just six minutes remaining in the opening half the Warriors had put themselves right on the Doggies tail, trailing 8-12.

The Warriors efforts were all taken from them with just one minute remaining as centre Clinton Toopi had a brain explosion and attempted to offload in an impossible position, handing the Bulldogs possession in the Warriors half and some simple backline movement led to a Willie Tonga try on the stroke of half-time. El Masri was unsuccessful from out wide as the Bulldogs went into the sheds up 16-8.

The second half began brilliantly for the Warriors as they crossed the line through Faumuina just two minutes into the half, taking full advantage of a Bulldogs mistake. Tony Martin added the extras and the home side were well and truly back in the match down just 14-16.

Penalties around the ruck were becoming all too common on behalf of the Bulldogs and in the end referee Gavin Badger had enough as he gave 'Dogs prop Mark O'Meley his marching orders. With just 12-men on the field the Bulldogs were sure to struggle in defence, however it didn't soften their attack as they surprisingly found the line courtesy of some great lead-up work through fullback Luke Patten who then found point-scoring wizard Hazem El Masri. He converted his own try and the Bulldogs hit the front with 25 minutes on the clock.

O'Meley then returned to the field as the Bulldogs looked to bury the Warriors in the final twenty. The 'Dogs were given a gift two points after Tony Grimaldi was hit with a high-shot inside Warriors' territory.

El Masri's points-scoring did not end their after the Bulldogs managed to hold out some fierce Warriors attack with under five minutes remaining, he then finished off the home side after a break from Sonny Bill Williams down the right flank resulted in the four-pointer as the Bulldogs held on to win 30-16 and record their fourth win of season 2006.

Adam Perry left the field late in the first half and there are fears he has damaged the medial ligament in his knee which may see him out of action for the blue and whites. Both Luke Patten and Willie Tonga are on report after Patten performed a late shot on Warriors halfback Nathan Fien and Tonga was reported after a lifting tackle during the second half on Warriors Grant Rovelli.

Report source: www.bulldogs.com.au

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