Bulldogs' bite too strong for Tigers' roar

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have pulverised the Wests Tigers 30-10 on a chilly night at ANZ Stadium. The last time these teams met, the Tigers embarrassed the Dogs with a upset hammering. Tonight, the tables were turned as the Dogs stepped up in order to redeem some pride in front of 9,877 brave fans.

Des Hasler named the same 1-17 side as last week, whilst the Tigers had two late withdrawals of Keith Galloway and Kurtis Rowe. Last week's Tigers debutant Jy Hitchcox was moved to fullback. Both teams looked promising at kick-off, with the Bulldogs aiming to cement their position in the top 8. The Tigers, however, were looking to turn things around after four straight losses.

Two early penalties to the Bulldogs set them up with a perfect opportunity to score. They capitalised in the 9th minute with Greg Eastwood setting up the decoy of Josh Jackson, and he produced the goods with help from sloppy Tigers defence. Trent Hodkinson converted, putting the Bulldogs in an early lead of 6-0.

The Tigers kept giving away penalties as if they were presents at Christmas. A penalty to the Bulldogs 5 metres out from their line helped Corey Thompson dive into the corner in the 16th minute. A quick look upstairs validated the grounding, and the Dogs extended their lead. Hodkinson seamlessly added the two points.

Still early days and the Doggies leading 12-0, the Tigers were given opportunities but bombed each one. The rain started to pour, and the Doggies slipped and slid around some defenders, with Tim Lafai dodging some Tigers to get the try in the 21st minute. Once again, Hodkinson converted right over the black dot, making the score 18-0.

Tigers' centre Blake Austin dropped the ball on the dropkick, the Bulldogs coming up with a scrum 10m out from the Tigers' line. Hodkinson kicked for the winger, but was too hard and went out. The Tigers had some work to do to get out of their own 10, and they managed to do it, ending up about 200m from the Dogs' line. A small chip from superstar Tigers halfback Luke Brooks ended up in the wrong hands, as Doggies back Corey Thompson cleaned it up.

An amazing play from the Tigers in the 26th minute also failed to get the points. They broke the defensive line, and ran the length of the field. Though, an attempted offload resulted in Hodkinson picking it up. The Dogs' ensured they used this opportunity, with Lafai dummying and going in for the line. Shocking defence from the Tigers let Lafai fly past them as he got his second try of the night. I experienced déjà vu as Hodkinson converted; the Dogs' points increasing to 24-0 at the 28th minute.

A tug-o-war continued, with many sloppy plays and penalties in the last 10 minutes of the first half.

A quiet 10 minutes on the other side of halftime, lead to a sudden try by Luke Brooks. Deep into the Tigers' own 20, Doggies halfback Hodkinson kicked on the 5th, where Brooks stopped it with his foot, picked it up and foot-raced 90m to the try-line. Unfortunately for Wests, Cory Paterson could not get the extra 2 points - the score becoming 24-4 at the 51st minute.

The Dogs answered this try 15 minutes later, with captain Michael Ennis kicking for himself and getting over the line. A successful conversion brought the score to 30-4. After several mistakes from both parties, in the final minute Aaron Woods managed to get his fingers on the ball, getting another 4 points. Sadly, it was too little too late, even with Paterson's successful conversion leading to a 30-10 score.

After 80 minutes in horrible weather conditions, the Bulldogs added some very important for/against points to their tally, as they aim to have a strong run home before finals. The 30-10 win definitely diminishes the Tigers' finals dreams.

The Bulldogs' next challenge will be a blockbuster at ANZ Stadium against the surging South-Sydney Rabbitohs for next week's fixture of Thursday Night Football. The Tigers will face the bottom-of-the-ladder Canberra Raiders for Saturday night footy. 

3 points - Josh Jackson
2 points - Aaron Woods
1 point - Timoteo Lafai

CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (30)
Tries: Josh Jackson, Corey Thompson, Timoteo Lafai (2), Michael Ennis
Conversions: Trent Hodkinson (5/5)

WESTS TIGERS (10)
Tries: Luke Brooks, Aaron Woods
Conversions: Cory Paterson (1/2)

Welcome to another dose of Thursday Night Footy! Tonight's fixture includes the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, who are aiming to cement their position in the top 8 and have a strong start to finals. The Tigers? Well, they are playing for pride after two abysmal weeks in a row. Can they turn things around?

LATE MAIL: The Bulldogs have named the same 1-17 team as last week.
Wests Tigers have a few changes, with Keith Galloway and Kurtis Rowe being late withdrawals. They will be replaced by Sitaleki Akauola and Matthew Lodge.
Jy Hitchcox will move to fullback.

1: AND WE'RE ABOUT TO START...

1: WE'RE OFF! Matthew Lodge collects the footy

2: Bulldogs end up with the ball, 8m out from the line... Lafai drops it

2: Tigers scrum 10m out from Bulldogs' line

2: Farah kicks and bounces out of the sideline, Bulldogs scrum 10m out from Tigers line

5: Tigers' casualty ward looks like a small audience.

6: PENALTY to the Tigers, they end up 10m out from their line

7: Mitchell Moses kicks but winger misses the cue, Bulldogs restart

8: PENALTY to the Bulldogs, Tigers were in the 10

9: Doggies in with a shot... and now they get a penalty. Hand on the ball against Aaron Woods

9: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Josh Jackson. Kick to come.
Eastwood sets up the decoy!

11: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson successful.
Hodkinson's kick is on point. Bulldogs lead 6-0

15: Penalty to the Bulldogs, marker held on too long

15: Bulldogs are like 5m out from the line

15: Tigers give away ANOTHER penalty... Bulldogs get 6 again

16: POSSIBLE TRY TO COREY THOMPSON...

16: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Corey Thompson. Kick to come.
Thompson dives into the corner

16: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson successful.
Hodkinson makes no mistake once again

21: Rain starts to pour....

21: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Timoteo Lafai. Kick to come.
Lafai dodges some defenders and gets the try!

21: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson successful.
Hodkinson could do this blindfolded... Straight over the black dot

23: KNOCK-ON Blake Austin... when it actually came off his shins. This is awkward. BUlldogs in with another chance

24: Hodkinson kicks but too hard, Tigers scrum 10m out

25: Luke Brooks kicks straight to Corey Thompson

26: AMAZING PLAY from the Tigers but an offload goes straight to Hodkinson!!! Missed chance

28: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Timoteo Lafai. Kick to come.
Lafai with a double!! A dummie proves to be effective. Tigers with some shocking defense

28: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson successful.
Absolute beauty of a kick

31: PENALTY to the Tigers... Canterbury inside the 10

31: Luke Brooks finds touch, Tigers are 25m out

32: Wests Tigers knock-on right in front of the line, poor souls

33: Penalty to the Bulldogs, Tigers were offside

33: Hodkinson finds touch, Bulldogs on the 50m line

34: Forward pass Doggiezzzz

35: Sironen attempts a chip but Thompson cleans it up

36: T-Rex attempts an offload, ends up with Farah

37: UNFORCED ERROR CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Trent Hodkinson makes an unforced error.
Knock-on by the playmaker

38: Tigers scrum... and they bomb it 10 seconds later. Tigers pls wat r u doin

38: Doggies scrum

40: Amazing defense from the Bulldogs!! Forces Austin back over the tryline... Line drop out now

40: Bulldogs pulverising the Tigers as we go into half-time...

40: Bulldogs kick on the 4th, but it goes dead

42: T-Rex needs about 4 people to take him down

42: UNFORCED ERROR WESTS TIGERS
Blake Austin makes an unforced error.
Knock-on

44: Bulldogs about 3m from the line

44: 6 again for the Dogs, 5m from the line

45: PENALTY to the Doggies

47: Possible try to the Doggies!! Checking the grounding and the ball coming off someone's head.. GOing upstairs

47: NO TRY... Knock-on in goal

49: UNFORCED ERROR WESTS TIGERS
Aaron Woods makes an unforced error.
Woodsy loses the ball

51: TRY WESTS TIGERS
Scored by Luke Brooks. Kick to come.
Brooks runs 90m to score!!! Stops Hodkinson's kick with his foot and picks it up for the footrace

51: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION WESTS TIGERS
Conversion attempt by Cory Paterson unsuccessful.
Can't get the extras

53: Penalty to the Bulldogs!!

56: Tigers 8m out from the line

57: Jackson comes up with the ball... Bulldogs trying to get out of their own 20 now

58: Luke Brooks looks like he has a hamstring strain

60: Tigers save a try... Farah kicks on the 3rd

61: Jackson kicks and it goes dead

61: Hitchcox is down

61: He's alright... zero tackle

62: Knock-on Tigers

64: Penalty to the Tigers, Farah taps, Bulldogs steal the ball

65: CROWD: 9,877

66: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Michael Ennis. Kick to come.
Ennis kicks for himself and scores!!!

68: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson successful.
Once again Hodkinson produces the goods

70: Tigers bombing opportunity after opportunity. 10 mins to go

72: Penalty against Moses Mbye... Tigers tap at the 30m line

72: Tigers in with a chance

74: Knock-on by Chris Lawrence, Bulldogs 40 out from their own line. On the charge

79: POSSIBLE TRY TO JOSH MORRIS... GOING UPSTAIRS

79: And he dropped it!!! What a shame, the effort by Thompson was impeccable

79: Tigers scrum

79: Morris laughing at himself hahahhaaha

79: Possible try to Woods but looking unlikely

79: Or is it???

79: TRY WESTS TIGERS
Scored by Aaron Woods. Kick to come.
And he gets the 4 points!!! Too little too late, but Woodsy was tremendous tonight

80: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION WESTS TIGERS
Conversion attempt by Cory Paterson successful.
Makes no mistake

80: And there we have it!!! Bulldogs just too good, winning 30-10. Such a turnaround from the last time they played the Tigers. Thanks for playing, kids!

80: Stay tuned for the match report!