Round 15
Bulldogs 20 d. Cowboys 12

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

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

Bulldogs grind out Cowboys
Sun June 18, 2006
The Bulldogs are now in an equal share of second position after grinding out North Queensland 20-12 in a traditional Canterbury knock 'em and grind 'em out performance at Cararra Stadium on the Gold Coast today.

North Queensland were very confident getting back on the winners circle today believe they could adopt the Brisbane method of stopping the powerful Bulldogs pack but it was anything except that as the Canterbury forwards steam-rolled the club to an important victory.

All season the Bulldogs have been criticised of not being able to beat the title contenders and have now knocked over the Wests Tigers, Cronulla, Newcastle and North Queensland to provide some myth to that theory.

Roy Asotasi who is being heavily chased by Souths and traditional big spenders Sydney Roosters added a few extra dollars to his value with a superb 40m burst to open up the Bulldogs scoring after Cameron Phelps showed some great desperation to dive on the loose ball to get the Bulldogs into field position.

North Queensland struck back with Paul Bowman scoring in the 14th minute to level up the scores following Johnathan Thurston's conversion.

Hazem El Masri landed his second goal when the Bulldogs received a penalty in the 25th minute to regain the Bulldogs lead, which they took into half-time.

The Bulldogs started the second half as the more dominant side and where grinding their way to another try when Brent Sherwin decided to go wide with Brenton Bowen intercepting his pass, which if he didn't El Masri would have scored. Bowen had too much pace for the Bulldogs cover defence to score under the posts. Thurston converted for the Cowboys to lead 12-8.

It took a freakish try for the Bulldogs to get back in front when Sherwin kicked across field where it didn't come off right with El Masri however still in the right position to receive the intended kick and passed it on the inside to Sherwin who scored what in the end was a fine try. El Masri landed a difficult conversion for the Bulldogs to lead 14-12.

Sherwin landed a great deep kick in the next set of six to the edge of the ingoal area where the Bulldogs chase headed by Matthew Utai trapped Matthew Bowen deep in the corner where he attempted a suicide offload with Daniel Holdsworth swooping on the loose ball with Tony Grimaldi in support to score untouched. El Masri added the extras with the Bulldogs eight clear.

North Queensland threw everything at the Bulldogs but their scrambling and swarming defence along with their relentless forward power dented the Cowboys of stealing victory and getting their season back on track. The Cowboys have now lost seven of their past eight matches as the representative season has taken its toll on North Queensland and there seems to be little light at the end of the tunnel. North Queensland hold onto 8th position ahead of Wests Tigers and Canberra purely on for and against differences.

The Bulldogs sit in 4th position and are fractionally behind Brisbane and Cronulla on for and against differences. It wasn't a pretty win for Canterbury today but it was one of their trademark patient performances where they took the opportunities when they came and fought all the way for victory. The Bulldogs played to their strengths and it was an important victory considering the opponents and the scoreline of the same corresponding match last year on the Gold Coast.

Willie Mason, Asotasi, Utai and Sherwin were the Bulldogs stand outs with replacement hooker Daniel Irvine very impressive in his first NRL match of 2006 and showed that the Bulldogs dummy half depth is very sound with Irvine, Grimaldi, Corey Hughes and Billy Ngawini all good options for Steve Folkes to use.

Sonny Bill Williams came off midway through the second half with a knee injury and was kept off as a precaution. The worst case scenario is being out of action for a week but is 90% likely to play against Melbourne this coming Friday night.

Next week is the crunch test for the Bulldogs as they face to runaway leaders Melbourne at Olympic Park. The critics, which include a couple of former Premiership winning players now on radio will be out in force if they lose and will be running with the same old punchline that they can't beat any teams above them on the table. However in all reality, the game this coming Friday night is a Channel Nine blockbuster but just another game in the regular home and away season.

It doesn't get any easier for North Queensland as they face the inform St George Illawarra Dragons at Win Stadium next Saturday night. A loss by them could see the Cowboys out of the top eight after at one stage leading the Premiership by four points.


Bulldogs rope in Cowboys
Sun June 18, 2006
Source: www.bulldogs.com.au

The Mitsubishi Electric Bulldogs have grabbed a share of second spot on the competition ladder after defeating the Cowboys 20-12 on the Gold Coast this afternoon.

With the Bulldogs going down last week to the Raiders and the Cowboys staring down the barrel of 7 losses from their past 8 matches the Bulldogs struck the first blow with a try to Roy Asotasi in the 9th minute. The big prop found himself bursting up the middle before racing away to score under the posts.
El Masri made no mistake with the conversion as the scoreboard read 6-0 in favour of the 'Dogs.

The Cowboys certainly couldn't afford to go further behind so early in the match and courtesy of a Bulldogs error the Cowboys forced their way over the line in the 14th minute via Matt Bowen. Thurston made sure of the extra two points and the scores were level.

The two sides then battled it out in the forwards before Cowboys Josh Hannay failed to play the ball correctly, resulting in Hazem El Masri adding the two points with a penalty goal in the 26th minute.

With the half-time break approaching both sides then turned it on as they looked to spread the ball and offload at will. The Cowboys came very close with just minutes remaining but a Sonny Bill shoulder was an obsticle too hard to evade as the teams headed to the sheds.

The 16,231 strong Gold Coast crowd were licking their lips at the thought of a tight second half and that is exactly what they got. The 'Dogs pushed hard early and were peppering the Cowboys line before a Sherwin pass close to the line was snatched by Brenton Bowen who then ran the field to score and put the North Queensland boys ahead.
Thurstons' conversion attempt was successful as the Cowboys went ahead 12-8.

For the next twenty minutes the Bulldogs had several chances to hit back however as they have done on many occasions this season, they failed to convert good field position into all important points.

In the 64th minute the Bulldogs went on the attack once more and a stray crossed field kick from Sherwin looked to be yet another lost opportunity until El Masri worked the ball back in-field before the switch of play saw Sherwin recieve the ball as he dummied his way over the line. Hazem slotted the all-important conversion and the Bulldogs had re-gained the lead with just 15 minutes remaining.

The Bulldogs then were without Sonny Bill Williams who left the field after his knee pulled up a little sore. The Bulldogs then went on the charge with a well-weighted kick down field which saw Matt Bowen stranded deep in the corner before he lost the ball as Holdsworth swooped and offloaded to Grimaldi who scooted over to seal the win.

Several late surges from the Cowboys were unsuccessful as the Bulldogs got home 20-12 in a hard-fought victory.

Report source: www.bulldogs.com.au

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