Bulldogs flex second half muscle to down Titans

Canterbury have continued their late season surge with a solid victory over the Gold Coast today, downing the Titans 36-14 at Central Coast Stadium.

Over 11,000 fans flocked to a sunny Central Coast Stadium to see what the home side's fans considered their bogey team come to town.

Having relocated this game from their normal ANZ Stadium home base, Canterbury were hoping a new venue would bring luck to their chances and indeed they delivered on that promise after 14 minutes when Brett Morris crossed out wide, overcoming an opening period of poor handling from both sides to get the Doggies on the board.

Curtis Rona added to his impressive 2015 try tally nine minutes later, scoring his 18th of the season out wide, and the subsequent Trent Hodkinson conversion saw the hosts lead 12-0 after 25 minutes.

The Titans, not to be counted out, returned serve through Kalifa Faifai Loa in the 33rd minute, with the Gold Coast centre latching onto a superbly placed Aidan Sezer kick to get his side on the scoreboard.

Canterbury went on to flex their considerable muscle in the second half. Greg Eastwood scored after 55 minutes to extend his sides lead, before the Titans returned serve again through the speed of James Roberts.

Ahead 16-10, the Bulldogs then put down the accelerator, Brett Morris bagging his second before Rona and Eastwood grabbed the second of each of their tries. David Klemmer finished off the winning sides' scoring with three to go before the Titans bagged a consolation try through Faifai Loa once again, to bring the final score to 36-14.

From this one the Titans will have concerns over Agnatius Paasi who targeted Brett Morris in the first half under a high ball. He'll be looking at a Dangerous Contact charge when the match review charge sheet comes out tomorrow, and may miss the Gold Coast's clash against Canberra next Sunday at Cbus Super Stadium.

Canterbury have a bittersweet injury - next week they'll likely be without Michael Lichaa after he sustained a lower leg fracture, but do welcome back Josh Reynolds who will likely slot in at hooker when the 'Dogs face the Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium on Friday night.

Match Details

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 36 Gold Coast Titans 14
Venue: Central Coast Stadium
Crowd: 11021
Halftime Score: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 12 Gold Coast Titans 4

CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (36)
Tries: Brett Morris (2), Curtis Rona (2), Greg Eastwood (2), David Klemmer
Field Goals:
Conversions: Trent Hodkinson (4/7)
Penalty Goals:

GOLD COAST TITANS (14)
Tries: Kalifa Faifai Loa (2), James Roberts
Field Goals:
Conversions: Aidan Sezer (0/1), Greg Bird (1/2)
Penalty Goals:

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Sam Kasiano
2 points - Brett Morris
1 point - Greg Eastwood

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Welcome to coverage of our second Sunday arvo clash - the Bulldogs have shifted their 11th home game of the season up the road to Gosford, where they'll host the Gold Coast. The Titans have been somewhat of a bogey side for the blue-and-whites lately - earlier this season the league's newest club downed Canterbury 28-14 at Robina, and will be hoping to upset the applecart once again.

In TEAM NEWS we see the Bulldogs have omitted Aiden Tolman due to injury. Sam Kasiano starts at prop (he started at lock last week, versatile much?) while Lloyd Perrett grabs the vacant bench spot. The Titans have wholesale changes - Leva Li debuts at fullback with Josh Hoffman moving to the halves to partner Aidan Sezer - Kane Elgey is out. Mortimer (hooker) and Burr (second row) start today, with Falloon benched and Ryan James ruled out. Kickoff is 4:10pm.

Fulltime in the Holden Cup - the Titans dominated the day but had to hold off a Bulldogs comeback to win 32-30.

Gold Coast trot out onto a sunny Central Coast Stadium. Plenty of fans have turned out at Gosford.

Now the Blue-and-Whites join them, Bay 16 goes up as the temporary home of The Kennel.

1: Canterbury kick off, and the Titans bring it back for the first hit up of the afternoon.

2: First general play kick of the afternoon from Aidan Sezer starts off ordinary but produces a decent result. Bulldogs scrum on their own 10m line.

2: UNFORCED ERROR CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Sam Kasiano makes an unforced error.
Bulldogs first hit up is a lost ball from big Sam. Titans scrum 20m out.

3: UNFORCED ERROR GOLD COAST TITANS
Greg Bird makes an unforced error.
Bird loses it on just the second play for the Titans, Bulldogs will get it back.

5: UNFORCED ERROR CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Michael Lichaa makes an unforced error.
Lichaa's lost it in a tackle and now he's down injured. Not pretty. Titans then go up-field and force a drop-out.

5: Play resumes - Lane comes on for Lichaa who managed to hobble off the park.

6: Curtis Rona leaps spectacularly to take a ball in-goal. Canterbury pick up a penalty off the 20m restart with the Titans deliberately slowing Rona's path to the 20m.

7: DOUBLE INTERCEPT! Jackson offloads through a hole near the line, and Sezer takes it on a 60m run... before he tries to find support and passes to the chasing Curtis Rona. Bulldogs work it back from 25m out.

8: Last tackle option for Canterbury goes awry and the result is a Titans scrum 10m out from their own line.

10: Bulldogs push all the way up the park, then Li retrieves the last tackle grubber for the Titans before drawing an arguable penalty.

11: UNFORCED ERROR GOLD COAST TITANS
Greg Bird makes an unforced error.
Bird attempts the offload and passes it forward. Tough call maybe?

12: The 'Dogs now pick up a penalty with the Titans hanging on a little too long in the tackle and a rake.

13: UNFORCED ERROR CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Brett Morris makes an unforced error.
The Bulldogs fullback can't take a Shaun Lane offload close to the line.

13: UNFORCED ERROR GOLD COAST TITANS
Kalifa Faifai Loa makes an unforced error.
Drop-a-thon. Faifai Loa tries getting the ball loose and just loses it. Bulldogs scrum 20m out... more attack for the "home" side.

14: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Brett Morris. Kick to come.
Brett Morris crosses out wide. The nuggets say TRY after a video ref referral.

16: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson successful.
Hodkinson with a perfect sideline conversion from the Leagues Club side of Central Coast Stadium.

18: Error-free sets (yes, you read correctly) from both sides after the Brett Morris try.

20: OUCH. Agnatius Paasi has been put ON REPORT for a woeful mid-air tackle on Brett Morris who was attempting to catch a bomb. Penalty Canterbury on their own 10m.

21: Big period of play from Canterbury here, they've surged up the other end and are trapping the Titans deep in their own half in the ensuing return set.

24: Browne and Klemmer both on for Canterbury who have a reduced bench rotation. The Bulldogs have just forced a drop-out off David Mead after a neat kick from Moses Mbye.

25: VIDEO REF | Curtis Rona has scored, but the Bulldogs managed to give the Titans the ball who then returned it to them... let's see how this works.

25: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Curtis Rona. Kick to come.
Brett Morris offloads out wide to... James Roberts for the Titans, who is going out, so he flicks it back infield for... CURTIS RONA! The Bulldogs winger goes in to score a comical try which brings him within one of Radradra on the top tryscorers list.

26: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson successful.
The railway side touchline this time... Hodkinson makes no mistake.

29: UNFORCED ERROR CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
David Klemmer makes an unforced error.
Klemmer loses it near halfway handing the Titans a reprieve, and an attacking chance if they're good enough.

30: Canterbury concede a penalty 1m out on the last tackle - Mbye hanging on too long in the tackle. Titans with a full set to inflict some damage here.

31: Titans last tackle option is good but just has one too many bounces in it. Sezer's grubber goes dead and Canterbury will restart with a seven tackle set from the 20m.

32: UNFORCED ERROR CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Josh Jackson makes an unforced error.
Jackson throws it forward to Klemmer from dummy half and that's a Titans scrum.

33: TRY GOLD COAST TITANS
Scored by Kalifa Faifai Loa. Kick to come.
Sezer's vision is perfect - he puts a grubber in behind Perrett and KFFL is all over it to score out wide at the Highway end of the ground.

34: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION GOLD COAST TITANS
Conversion attempt by Aidan Sezer unsuccessful.
Sezer can't convert from the far side of the ground, margin stays at eight after the Faifai Loa try.

36: Leva Li cleans up an important Bulldogs last tackle kick 5m from his own line.

39: Bulldogs force a drop-out. Lafai grubbers ahead, Lane wins the race to the ball by soccering it ahead, then he and Hodkinson fall over each other before Faifai Loa picks it up and is tackled in goal.

39: The last tackle option is a kick that rolls dead. Titans 20m restart with a minute left.

40: Titans last ditch effort before the break finishes with a forward pass. Canterbury lead by 8 at oranges.

41: We're back underway at Gosford, Bulldogs first possession as the sun disappears and the lights take hold.

43: End to end to start the second forty. Both sides pushing from one end of the ground to the other. First points will be crucial.

44: Gold Coast with the better of the field position so far. Paasi takes them to 20m out on the last...

45: UNFORCED ERROR GOLD COAST TITANS
David Mead makes an unforced error.
Curtis Rona fields a poor kick from Sezer, runs to David Mead who strips it, and loses it. Dogs scrum 20m out.

45: Penalty Canterbury just two into the set. They attack from 40m out.

46: VIDEO REF | NO try for Josh Morris, checking grounding but he looks to be held up.

46: NO TRY. No evidence to overturn so Canterbury have it back for one more tackle...

46: Last tackle option is a bit tepid. Cross-field kick easily fielded by Nene Macdonald for the Titans.

47: UNFORCED ERROR GOLD COAST TITANS
David Mead makes an unforced error.
Sezer puts it high and Mead is chasing, but loses it into Morris. Bulldogs ball.

49: Some loose passing and forceful defence sees the Titans cough it up just inside the 'Dogs half, Canterbury now away with it.

50: Bulldogs turn it over on the last, Gold Coast start this set with a play the ball 1m from their own line.

52: BANG, and BANG. Kasiano lines up Bird, then two plays later smashes Aidan Sezer. Now Canterbury break down the left before picking up a penalty for a high shot by Matt White.

53: Canterbury let another attacking opportunity go to waste. Titans 20m restart after a Rona grubber goes dead.

54: High ball from the Titans, they get it, tap it back... then hand it over to Canterbury who now are surging up field!

54: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Greg Eastwood. Kick to come.
Hodkinson grubber - THE LOCK SCORES! BANG!

57: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson unsuccessful.
Hodkinson can't push the margin beyond twelve, that conversion attempt is wide to the right.

57: INJURY: Aidan Sezer is off the park for the visitors... With Canterbury scoring to lead by twelve that's no good. Sezer's shoulder is being assessed.

58: UNFORCED ERROR CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Trent Hodkinson makes an unforced error.
Lazy stuff from Hodkinson who puts it out on the full trying to find the touchline and slow things down.

59: TRY GOLD COAST TITANS
Scored by James Roberts. Kick to come.
WOW! Speed to burn! Roberts leaves the Bulldogs defence grabbing at thin air. Game back on!

60: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION GOLD COAST TITANS
Conversion attempt by Greg Bird successful.
Bird assumes the tee and converts from in front after Roberts scored under the sticks.

62: UNFORCED ERROR GOLD COAST TITANS
Daniel Mortimer makes an unforced error.
Mortimer loses the ball trying to get up and play it after some pressure from the Doggies' big men. Dogs scrum on their own 40m.

62: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Brett Morris. Kick to come.
DOUBLE! Brett Morris gets his second after breaking into the back-field. Canterbury go ahead by ten with a kick to come.

64: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson successful.
No drama for Hodkinson from 15m to the left of the posts. On replay, the try looked to have two forward passes in the lead-up - a lucky break for Canterbury.

65: Fifteen to go. Twelve the margin. The Bulldogs haven't beaten the Titans in a few years... is this the time?

66: UNFORCED ERROR GOLD COAST TITANS
Josh Hoffman makes an unforced error.
Hoffman can't take a horrid Mortimer pass from dummy half. Canterbury scrum just short of the Titans' 40m.

67: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Curtis Rona. Kick to come.
The top tryscorer race is tied once again! Rona a double, Canterbury up by 16.

69: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson unsuccessful.
Hodkinson misses this one. Canterbury by 16 with just 12 minutes left.

70: Titans with the short kickoff and they have it! First tackle, 20m out... and now the Gold Coast have a penalty 15m out! Tap and go!

71: No dice for the Titans and you'd have to think that's their chances of a comeback done for.

72: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Greg Eastwood. Kick to come.
THEY'RE BACK! THE ENTERTAINERS! Rona breaks, then the next play sees the Bulldogs put it through multiple hands for Eastwood to rumble over the line from 5m out.

73: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson unsuccessful.
Another uncharacteristic Hodko miss.

77: Contest winding down now, Titans spill it again coming out of their own end. Canterbury scrum 40m out.

79: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by David Klemmer. Kick to come.
Klemmer off the nudie run as well! Bulldogs running away with it now, as many predicted.

79: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson successful.
Hodkinson makes it 4 from 7 for the Doggies. Great boost for the Canterbury for-and-against.

80: VIDEO REF | Possible Titans try to Kalifa Faifai Loa, checking sideline. On-field is NO TRY.

80: TRY GOLD COAST TITANS
Scored by Kalifa Faifai Loa. Kick to come.
KFFL gets the late try, throwin his legs in the air like he just don't care. Great put-down.

80: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION GOLD COAST TITANS
Conversion attempt by Greg Bird unsuccessful.
Bird's attempt to finish proceedings swings well wide after starting true.

80: That's fulltime, the Bulldogs re-leapfrog Manly back into the top eight with a 22-point victory.