Bulldogs hold out emotion-charged Knights

In a semi-final like atmosphere played in front of 23604 parochial fans, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have downed a passionate Newcastle Knights 20-18 in a gripping contest at Hunter Stadium.

The match was Newcastle's traditional Old Boys Day, where past players form a guard of honor upon the home team entering the field. Leading his team out through them, was their long standing captain and one of the club's favourite sons Kurt Gidley, who along with Tyrone Roberts, Beau Scott and Clint Newton were playing their last home game for the Knights.

The home team drew plenty of motivation from the occasion and got off to a lightning start as predicted with a try to back-rower Tariq Sims in the 13th minute. It was Gidley who was also playing his 250th game, that laid on the first four-pointer with a neat chip kick in behind the Bulldogs defensive line that bounced up fortuitously for Sims to plant it over in the corner. From the sideline, Gidley nailed the conversion to give his side a 6-0 lead early.

The home team continued to be full of running in the ensuing minutes and looked set to extend their lead when live-wire fullback Jake Mamo threw a cut-out pass that looked to be putting Akuila Uate over in the corner. The competition's equal leading try scorer Curtis Rona had other ideas though and used his reach to pluck the ball out of thin air and race 100 metres untouched in the 21st minute.

A gallant chase from Tyrone Roberts meant the conversion attempt was a tough one and Knights bound halfback Trent Hodkinson missed the conversion to leave his team still trailing by two.

The try seemed to put a halt to all the emotion and momentum the Knights were playing with and the visitors would soon cross again to silence the crowd. Running onto a short ball from Hodkinson, centre Tim Lafai strolled through a yawning gap in the defensive line to plant the ball down in the 26th minute. Five-eight Moses Mbye converted to give his team a 10-6 lead.

That try seems to have come at a high cost though with Hodkinson suffering what looks to be a serious wrist injury that could potentially end his Bulldogs career.

With the Bulldogs forwards now asserting their dominance in the middle, their diminutive dummy half Damien Cook took off for a slashing 45 metre individual try to give his team an eventual 14-6 lead heading into the half-time interval.

The Knights again came out of the blocks in the second half, playing with plenty of passion and eventually getting back into the contest with a try to winger Nathan Ross in the 52nd minute. Pouncing on the bouncing ball following a well weighted grubber from Roberts, the home team were right back in the contest trailing 14-12.

The Knights looked like scoring again only moments later, but the try to Mamo was disallowed by the video referee who ruled the ball had come off the Knights custodian in the mid-air contest.

Soon after, the pendulum again turned the way of the visitors after back-rower Frank Pritchard sold a dummy to crash over in the 63rd minute. Lafai become the Bulldogs third kicker of the night in knocking over the conversion from out wide to give his team what looked to be a commanding eight point lead heading into the business end of the match.

The home team were never going to lay down tonight though and Tariq Sims made a surging run to put the Knights in a strong attacking position. A quick spread from the ensuing play the ball resulted in a try to Gidley who took it upon himself to take the line on and drag his team back into the contest as he has for much of his 15 year illustrious career. Roberts converted to reduce the deficit to just two and set up a grandstand finish.

In a gripping final ten minutes the Knights threw plenty at the finals bound Bulldogs, but their defence stood tall in what could prove a valuable hit-out heading into the pressure of semi-final football to claim a memorable victory.

Next week, the Knights will be looking to finish what has been a largely disappointing season on a high when they travel to the foot of the mountains to take on the Penrith Panthers on Saturday afternoon.

The Bulldogs will be sweating on scans for Hodkinson's wrist, but the potential loss of the Origin number seven could be offset somewhat by the likely return of Josh Reynolds from injury. They will return home to ANZ Stadium and host the New Zealand Warriors in the final game of the regular season next Sunday night.

Match Details

Newcastle Knights 18 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 20
Venue: Hunter Stadium
Crowd: 23604
Halftime Score: Newcastle Knights 6 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 14

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (18)
Tries: Tariq Sims, Kurt Gidley, Nathan Ross
Conversions: Kurt Gidley (1/1), Tyrone Roberts (2/2)

CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (20)
Tries: Curtis Rona, Timoteo Lafai, Damien Cook, Frank Pritchard
Conversions: Trent Hodkinson (0/1), Timoteo Lafai (1/1), Moses Mbye (1/2)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Damien Cook
2 points - Kurt Gidley
1 point - David Klemmer

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Welcome to Hunter Stadium for Leagueunlimited's coverage of what shapes as an intriguing encounter between the Newcastle Knights and the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
Coming off the back of an upset victory over the Storm last week, the home side will have plenty of emotion to draw upon against their highly favoured opponents. Celebrating their traditional Old Boys Day, Alex McKinnon will be officially inducted into the Old Boys Club. Tyrone Roberts, Beau Scott, Clint Newton and one of Newcastle's favourite sons, Kurt Gidley will play their final home games for the club. Gidley will also rack up his 250th game and Akuila Uate runs out for game 150.
The Bulldogs, sitting 7th on the ladder are fast hitting their straps at the business end of the year and will be looking to continue their strong form and a late push for a top 4 finish. Sitting on 98 career tries, Bulldogs centre Josh Morris is within striking distance of joining the 100 tries club.

LATE MAIL - For the Knights, Tyler Randell and Chris Houston join the run-on side for Adam Clydesdale and Jeremy Smith who are both late omissions. Sam Mataora and Danny Levi join the bench.
No disruptions for the Bulldogs who will line up 1-17.

1: Underway in the Hunter with the Knights getting 1st use of the steeden

2: A solid 1st set with some solid charges

3: PENALTY Bulldogs with Snowden on report for a swinging arm on Eastwood

3: Back to back penalties, Dogs on the attack...

4: Penalty Knights as Franky Pritchard coat hangers Jake Mamo with tempers flaring up early!

5: Repeat set Knights with a Gidley chip kick batted dead by Hodkinson

6: UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Kade Snowden makes an unforced error.
Snowden coughs it on tackle one whilst trying to get up & play the ball

6: Now Jackson loses it & the Knights get another chance to attack..

7: UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Kade Snowden makes an unforced error.
Again the big man loses it attempting a quick play the ball...

9: A good set from the Dogs showing a willingness to spread the ball in their own half. Ross fields a Hodkinson bomb on the last

10: Perrett bursts up to halfway

11: Sione Mata'utia makes good yards down the left

12: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by Tariq Sims. Kick to come.
Gidley chips in behind the Dogs defensive line with a cruel bounce of the ball seeing Sims touch down in the left corner

14: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Conversion attempt by Kurt Gidley successful.
The skipper has taken back the kicking duties tonight & sends that one straight through the posts

15: A strong set following points running 70m before B.Morris fields a kick on the last

16: Hodkinson follows up his kick with a driving tackle on Mamo

17: Tyrone Roberts drives a low kick into touch 15m out from the Dogs line

19: PENALTY Knights against Jackson for not getting up quick enough

21: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Curtis Rona. Kick to come.
A cut out ball from Mamo looked like putting Uate over in the corner, but Curtis Rona steals it from his clutches to go 100m

22: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson unsuccessful.
From the left touchline...Hodkinson pushes it to the right

23: Lafai drops it in the tackle & the Knights have it on halfway

24: UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Beau Scott makes an unforced error.
Scott spills it whilst trying to change direction and that looked plain ugly..

25: Penalty Dogs after Scott catches BMoz high was making good yards up the middle

27: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Timoteo Lafai. Kick to come.
Lafai strolls through a yawning gap running off Hodkinson

28: Hodkinson looks to have hurt his wrist in the play & he is heading off

28: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Moses Mbye successful.
Mbye takes the kick with no troubles

29: Mamo takes a floating kick from Mbye & brings it back to his 20

30: Tyrone sends it high but Perrett fields it on his 20

32: Roberts kick rolls dead, 20m tap Bulldogs

33: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Damien Cook. Kick to come.
The fill in rake scoots off to a 45m run to the line. Wheres this kid been?

34: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Moses Mbye unsuccessful.
Mbye hooks the sideline attempt way right

36: After a promising left side spread, Rona is dragged into touch by the Knights cover defence. Scrum on halfway

37: Tyrone threads the needle with his grubber but BMoz did well in cleaning it up

38: Uate brings it back to his 30 after Mbye's kick

39: PENALTY Knights, they have it 25m out from Dogs line...

39: Pritchard fields a Knights grubber showing the hands of a surgeon the big man

40: Roberts sends one up high but the Dogs clean it up.
And it's time for oranges at Hunter Stadium. With adrenaline running high the Knights were full of running in the opening 20 minutes, but a try against the run of play to the Bulldogs changed the momentum of this contest.
Can the Knights get off to another fast start to get back into this one or will the Bulldogs prove too powerful to handle?

41: Back in action with Klemmer bringing it back for the Bulldogs

42: News from the sheds is Trent Hodkinson has played his last game in Bulldogs colours after the confirmed his wrist is fractured... a cruel blow

43: Repeat set for the Knights with J.Morris tackled in goal from a Roberts chip kick

45: PENALTY Knights and they will stay on the attack here...

46: And Gagai turns it over after a some strong Bulldogs goal-line defence

47: J.Morris chips ahead on the last but Mamo fields & makes good metres

48: UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Beau Scott makes an unforced error.
Scott spills his lollies running onto a short ball from Gidley, he was in space too...

50: PENALTY Knights with Browne going high on Mata'utia & the face slapping begins...

51: Another Penalty & Gidley takes a quick tap

52: VIDEO REF possible Knights try, just checking the grounding....

52: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by Nathan Ross. Kick to come.
Roberts stabs a grubber in-goal and Ross reels in the bouncing ball to touch down

53: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Conversion attempt by Tyrone Roberts successful.
Tyrone nails it from out wide with the famous NEWCASTLE chant ringing in his ears

54: Scott kicks on the last with B.Morris cleaning it up on his 10

55: Following a charge down, Mbye kicks it dead with his 2nd attempt

56: VIDEO REF possible Knights try, checking the contest off a bomb and the grounding....

56: NO TRY with the ball coming off Mamo before he picked it up to dive over

56: K.Sims is being assisted up the tunnel and it looks like his night is over

57: Mamo does well to get the ball back in play, here comes the Bulldogs swarming in D

58: Roberts kicks long out of dummy half & B.Morris brings it back to his 30

59: J.Morris burst through but his pass went astray and the Knights scrambling defence do well to hold the Dogs out

61: PENALTY Bulldogs to relieve some pressure. The Knights ran the ball on the last after making a break & eventually Mamo had an air swing trying to kick

62: VIDEO REF possible Bulldogs try, checking for obstruction...

62: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Frank Pritchard. Kick to come.
Green lights. Cranky Franky sells the dummy after getting the ball on the left to crash over

62: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Timoteo Lafai successful.
Lafai takes over the kicking and nails it from out wide

63: A massive set from the Bulldogs running 90m but the Knights scramble again & come up with the J.Morris kick

66: B.Morris takes a good catch on his own 10

67: Mbye kicks high on the last but Ross takes a good catch under pressure on his 10

68: A snowden cut-out pass sees Ross in space who kicks back in field, Cook cleans it up for the Dogs

69: UNFORCED ERROR CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Sam Kasiano makes an unforced error.
Kasiano trying to play basketball passes the ball into touch one handed. Knights scrum 40 out from their own linw

71: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by Kurt Gidley. Kick to come.
After T.Sims burst through down the left, the ball was spread quickly & the skipper takes them on to score in game 250

71: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Conversion attempt by Tyrone Roberts successful.
Tyrone gets the Knights to within 2

73: Handover to the Dogs after a towering bomb bounces into the hands off Ross who was tackled just short of the line

74: Klemmer with a driving run to halfway

75: Changeover Dogs on their own 40 with Gagai taken down on the last

75: Gagai fields the bomb in goal and a quick 20 tap sees the Knights on the charge...

77: Repeat set with Pritchard cleaning up the grubber from Gidley

77: UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Akuila Uate makes an unforced error.
Uate knocks on from the drop-out..........

79: Scott jams in and floors Mbye on the last

79: Mayhem! the Knights chip ahead, Scott comes up with it, the ball is stripped, J.Morris & the ref are down in back play. Play on Dogs ball

80: Uate touches it before Mbyes kick goes dead in the last play of the match

80: FULLTIME at Hunter Stadium and the Bulldogs have stood tall in a semi-final like atmosphere to hold out a determined & passionate Knights outfit. Thanks for joining us tonight. Stay tuned for our match report to come and head over to our live coverage of what should be another cracking contest between the Storm and the Cowboys