Key posts
Poll: Dogs or Dragons, who’s your tip?
Stats: Will Dragons ill-discipline take a toll?
Halftime: Bulldogs take slender lead into the break
There’s the break, and the Dragons need it like nothing else. Especially with Lachie Galvin sneaking through a disjointed line and sending Jacob Preston into the backfield, only for his pass to be – correctly – ruled forward.
Canterbury with the momentum thanks to plenty of penalties. But St George Illawarra are defending with real guts and grit. Expect the Bulldogs to hang on for a win, but it’s good, honest footy this.
Bulldogs 10 Dragons 8
Penalties galore as tempers flare
More drama, and Stephen Crichton is in trouble. He’s come through chasing a Matt Burton bomb and hit Setu Tu in the head. Tu was falling as he took the high ball and that’s what kept Crichton from going to the bin I think, because he didn’t miss.
Tu’s head was less than a metre off the ground at the point of contact, Crichton at least lowered himself as well.
Penalty is the call and then Viliame Kikau has hit Kyle Flanagan in the back – play on is the call. This is getting spicy. Luciano Leilua only adds to it, turning over possession by striking out at Jacob Preston in a carry. Criminal behaviour when you’ve actually got the ball.
Clint Gutherson is hit by the Canterbury defence.Credit: Getty Images
And another! The Bulldogs are turned away before halftime. It’s a scrambled last play that ends with Clint Gutherson fielding a chip kick, and then he takes off, running behind his own player Setu Tu. The Dragons challenge the obstruction call. And lose. Busy, costly few minutes for St George Illawarra, but they’re hanging in there. Crichton opts to take the shot at goal with three minutes to play.
Bulldogs 10 Dragons 8
High shots: Dragons ill-discipline proves costly
Big call and potentially, a real momentum swing. Sitili Tupouniua spilled the ball straight off the kick-off after heavy contact with Toby Couchman.
He and his brother came up cheering like they’d just won on the tables. Unfortunately the Bunker correctly ruled that Couchman hit Tupouniua in the head – penalty and on report, and the Dogs go on the attack.
The set ends with another penalty. Winger Christian Tuipulotu is on repot, and probably facing a week off, for a late shoulder charge on Connor Tracey. Kyle Flanagan at least keeps his gloves up as Jacob Preston comes flying at him. Hits hard and forces the error.
Bulldogs 8 Dragons 8
Penalty: Crichton levels up
A Kyle Flanagan error gives Canterbury very welcome field position, and they come calling with Jacob Preston again. The Dragons are doing well to hold on.
Jacob Preston has been a threat all game.Credit: Getty Images
Preston offloads on the last, it’s a bit messy, and Lachlan Galvin volleys a kick into the in-goal. Moses Suli is penalised for holding him back as Stephen Crichton takes the two. Surprising choice, would’ve thought they’d go after the try. Scores are locked up after 26 minutes.
Bulldogs 8 Dragons 8
Dragons winning the energy battle
Early doors of course, but the Dragons are in this up to their eyeballs. They’re up over the advantage line and punching holes through the middle of this vaunted Bulldogs defence. Short, sharp passes at the line is doing the job.
The momentum is starting to swing into their defence too. One set they’ve limited the Bulldogs to just 13 metres. On the next, Canterbury are swinging wide to try and get around them. It’s productive and Bronson Xerri is making metres down the right, but the Dragons scramble defence is up to the task.
Bulldogs 6 Dragons 8
Try: Dragons hit back through big man
The Dragons hit straight back though. Very promising. It’s Damien Cook out of dummy-half from close range. Left-foot grubber in behind the defensive line and of all people, it’s Emre Guler racing through to score. A front-rower off the nudie run 15 minutes into the season. Love it.
Bulldogs 6 Dragons 8
Try: Preston smokes Dragons early
Oh me, oh my. Jacob Preston. Oh my. Canterbury’s back-rowers are their strength, and aren’t they what. The Bulldogs have looked a little off so far, but Lachlan Galvin has gone after the Dragons right-edge, where Kyle Flanagan and Luciano Leilua were all at sea. One up, the other back, and Galvin sends Preston at them at a squillion miles an hour.
One of the game’s best hole-runners does the rest. And stands up Clint Gutherson with a lovely in and away too. Excellent play.
Bulldogs 6 Dragons 2
Penalty goal: Dragons claim first points
Jacob Preson looking threatening outside Lachie Galvin on the right edge but bizarre play from Canterbury when they swing the other way.
Clunky attack with Galvin and Burton out of sync before they’re caught without a dummy-half at the play-the-ball. Dragons then go on the attack and they’ll get an extra set after Sam Hughes takes Clint Gutherson out of a kick chase. Dragons take the shot at goal and Valentine Holmes has first points of the game.
Bulldogs 0 Dragons 2
Kick-off: Bulldogs get us under way
Third and final game of this Vegas business is underway. Matt Burton sends it long and Dragons have first use. Canterbury’s defence is full of venom early. Not a big set in terms of yardage before a long clearing kick by new Dragons No.7 Daniel Atkinson.
Bulldogs 0 Dragons 0
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