Roosters hold off gutsy Bulldogs to remain unbeaten

v BYE

Sydney Roosters recovered from a slow start to record a 28-24 victory over a gutsy Bulldogs side in front of 13,505 fans at Sydney Football Stadium tonight. 

Stung from their first up loss last weekend, the Bulldogs started tonight off with a rocket strapped to them. Off an error from Aidan Guerra in the opening set, they swept right as Brenko Lee gave it to Kerrod Holland to score within the first 120 seconds. They added a second, through Josh Morris from another errant Roosters pass to make it 8-nil. 

Luke Keary who put in a star performance on the glitter strip last weekend, continued his good vein of form, as he took on the line before it shifted to Boyd Cordner to reel it back to 8-6. Roosters found their pomp once again, with a right-to-left shift that Latrell Mitchell provided a deft kick for Daniel Tupou to force down. 

It seemed Tupou was auditioning for the NBA with the height he showed at the Sydney Football Stadium. Keary put the ball right on the spot for the leaping winger to leave three Bulldogs defenders like statues and stretch it to 14-8. A late Michael Gordon penalty put it beyond a converted try just before half-time. 

Roosters used their kicking game to good effect in the damp conditions - Mitchell Pearce put his last tackle kick on a dime for Shaun Kenny-Dowall to push into the path of Blake Ferguson to put it inside the try-line for 22-8. 

Bulldogs refused to lay down and have their tummy tickled despite the early loss of Holland, they responded with quick hands to put Brett Morris over in the 51st before some ball-playing from captain James Graham sent Adam Elliot across to make it four the deficit. 

Sydney Roosters pulled themselves back ahead double digits when Keary once again, took the ball to the line and found a rampaging Mitchell Aubusson who sped past the defense to make it 28-18 with less then ten to play. 

The visitors conspired to give the 13,505 in attendance a grandstand finish, as a second try to Josh Morris in the 76th minute gave them a final chance to pinch the contest. Roosters aimed up well in defense to hold on and make it two-for-two to start season 2017.