Bulldogs score gritty win over Sharks

The Bulldogs have taken advantage of an under-strength Sharks outfit to score a 14-12 come-from-behind victory at Toyota Park.

With regular first graders Brett Kimmorley and Adam Dykes missing the Sharks were forced into playing stand-in NSW five-eighth Greg Bird in the no. 6 jersey along with rookie Anthony Watts at half.

Despite this it was all one-way traffic in the first half as the Sharks opened up a 12-nil lead at the break. Three penalty goals and a converted try to Luke Covell stitched up the lead for the home side, and the try was something special.

A long break down the western side of the field by Ben Pomeroy looked to be cruelled by fullback Simmons who was tackled in front of the posts with several team mates out side him.

But some good vision saw Bird throw a great pass to Covell out wide who scored in the corner after 11 minutes of play. This was only try of the first half and the only points the Sharks would score all day.

Canterbury needed to up the ante in the second half and they began to do that towards the end of the match. They finally crossed the stripe in the 55th minute down the eastern side of the field after Roberts put Tonga through a gap with a great ball before he turned it inside to Ryan to score.

Another oddity of the match was El Masri