Reynolds the hero as Bulldogs end Sea Eagles season

v BYE

It took 88 minutes, six field goal attempts, a missed penalty goal and a controversial No Try ruling, but in the end an extra time try to Josh Reynolds has seen Canterbury win 20-16 over Manly in an amazing game of rugby league played before 10,290 fans at ANZ Stadium.

Having been denied a try in the first minute of extra time for impeding Daly Cherry-Evans, Bulldogs playmaker Josh Reynolds was on the spot to field a Sam Perrett grubber to give Canterbury a win that elevates them into third position, while the Sea Eagles will be left to rue a year of missed opportunities as their finals hopes came to an end with the loss.

Getting off to the perfect start, Manly halfback Daly Cherry-Evans opened the scoring, when he leapt onto his own bomb to give the visitors a 6-0 lead after just three minutes.

The Bulldogs responded through Brett Morris who crossed for two tries in the 22nd and 26th minutes to give the Bulldogs a 12-6 lead heading into the break.

With their season on the line, the Sea Eagles started the second half in fine fashion with an earlier try through Matthew Wright, as both sides continually traded blows in defence and on the scoreboard.

Canterbury hit back in the 56th minutes after a series of enterprising passes enabled Sam Perrett, who announced his retirement earlier this week, to cross out wide, before a quick response from Jorge Taufua saw the scores locked at 16-all with a quarter of the match remaining.

Taufua looked to have produced to go-ahead score in the 69th minute, but a double movement verdict from the bunker saw both sides exchange field goal attempts to no avail.

In the final play of regulation time, the Sea Eagles had a chance to win the game with a 40-metre penalty goal, but with Jamie Lyon unable to cover the distance the match moved into extra time.

In the first minute of extra time, Josh Reynolds elected to kick ahead due to the pressure from the oncoming Manly defence, seeming regathering cleanly the Bulldogs looked to have secured victory, only for the bunker to deem the Canterbury five-eighth prevented Daly Cherry-Evans from gaining possession.

But then, with the game seemingly headed for a draw, the Bulldogs produced a miracle try through Reynolds, allowing them to run out 20-16 winners.

Next week, the Bulldogs travel to Brisbane next Thursday to tackle the Broncos, while Manly will resume hostilities with Melbourne at Brookvale Oval on Saturday night.