The Bulldogs Holden Cup side have finished the year on a high, defeating the Titans 38-18 on the Gold Coast this afternoon.
It was a strong performance from the side who now have finished their season with their third victory of the year today.
The young pups were able to go into their final match of the season with the 17 men that were named earlier in the week.
Although the side had nothing to play for apart from pride, they were able to register the first points for the afternoon through hooker Alex Sorge. It was some movement to the right that caused the defence to shift and when the ball was thrown back on the inside and Sorge went straight through a gap to score. Brad Keighran couldn’t convert with the score 4-nil after four minutes.
Eight minutes later the lead was extended through winger Tautalatasi Tasi. The Bulldogs had a mountain of possession and with the Titans on the back foot due to the heavy defensive load, Tasi went over in the north-west corner. Keighran couldn’t convert with the score now 8-nil.
The 20th minute saw the lead extended even further when Tasi crossed for his second try of the afternoon. Back to back sets gave the Bulldogs good field position and a set play out to the right gave Tasi a clear passage to the try line. Keighran couldn’t convert from out wide with the score now 12-nil.
A simple charge forward from Herman Ese’ese gave the Bulldogs more points when he just used his brute strength to roll over his opposite and then over to score. Keighran converted for the first time of the afternoon to make the score 18-nil after 27 minutes.
Three minutes before the break the Titans registered their first points through winger Brian Kelly. The try couldn’t be converted by Deacon Fletcher with the score now 18-4.
With the half-time siren about to sound a kick in general by the Bulldogs was put into the corner and on the return centre Renouf To’omaga managed to perform a brilliant one-on-one steal and ran five metres to score. Keighran couldn’t convert and the Bulldogs went to the break leading 22-4.
Coming back from the break the Titans were able to score first through captain Kane Elgley crossing. Fletcher couldn’t convert with the score now 22-8 after 50 minutes.
Tasi was able to cross for the Bulldogs in the 53rd minute, making that his third for the afternoon. The try couldn’t be converted with the score now 26-8.
It was tit-for-tat through until the final siren with two tries being scored each. The home side crossed in the 59th through Karl Lawton and then centre Shaun Hudson in the 75th. Fletcher converted one of the tries leaving them on 18 points at the end of the match.
To’omaga grabbed his second of the match in the 68th minute and then Keighran went over in the 77th minute to secure the win. Cox converted the first try with Ese’ese converting the second, giving the Bulldogs a 38-18 victory to end their year.
BULLDOGS 38 (Tasi 3, To’omaga 2, Sorge, Ese’ese, Keighran Tries; Keighran 1, Cox 1, Ese’ese 1 Goals)
Def.
TITANS 18 (Kelly, Elgey, Lawton, Hudson Tries; Fletcher 1 Goal)
At: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
