The Canterbury Bulldogs have taken another upset in a dramatic and sometimes controversial circumstances by 18-16 over the Wests Tigers at a cold and windy ANZ Stadium.
The Wests Tigers were given a scare pre-game when Moses Mbye was treated for a groin injury before the game but was given the all-clear to start the game. The opening period was mixed for the Tigers as they managed to get on the board after just 7 minutes when Paul Momirovski showed good strength to get on the outside of Dylan Napa and fight his way to the line. The try came with pain for the Tigers with Moses Mbye having to succumb to his groin injury.
The Tigers then got another scare when Robbie Farah suffered a knee injury but elected to continue playing on despite the injury and the Tigers elected to take a shot at 2 points in the 23rd minute but it was waved away. Things swung momentarily to the Bulldogs when Farah was forced from the field and Tigers second rower Luke Garner was sin binned for a late hit on Lachlan Lewis.
The Dogs couldn't turn their field position and possession into points and the Tigers were able to go up the other end of the field and extend their lead out to 8-0 with a penalty goal to Momirovski. The Bulldogs couldn't put up a bark and the Tigers lead 8-0 at the break.
The refresh at the half-time break was what the Bulldogs needed to find their bark as they manage to run in three tries within the first 15 minutes of the second half. The first of the Bulldogs second half tries came through Josh Jackson who ran a good line off Jack Cogger and Josh Jackson ran to the hole in the defensive line and was able to go through and score.
The Bulldogs second try was nearly one to Josh Jackson again but instead the Bulldogs captain was brought down short and it was Jeremy Marshall-King who threw a dummy out of dummy half and went under the Tigers defence to score. The Tigers were trying to knock on the door and the Bulldogs were keeping them out and actually rubbed salt into the wounds when Benji Marshall threw a poor pass that was intercepted by Nick Meaney who raced 85m to score and take the Bulldogs out to the 18-8 lead.
The Tigers continually tried to knock on the door but were being held out by the Bulldogs until Paul Momirovski got his second try of the match after like his first try he spun out of a tackle and was able to get the ball down to score and give the Tigers a chance despite Momirovski hitting the post with his conversion.
It was a nervous final few minutes and Bulldogs fans thought their worst fears were going to come true when Chris Smith was sin binned for a late tackle on Ryan Matterson, which was very similar to the call of sin binning Luke Garner in the first half. The nervous moments continued for the Bulldogs as Benji Marshall attracted the defence and sent Garner through to score and give the Tigers a kick to level things.
The conversion from Momirovski was a shocker with the Tigers winger hooking the conversion from close range which meant that the Bulldogs would hold onto the 18-16 win.
Next weekend, the Bulldogs take on the Rabbitohs on Saturday night whilst the Tigers have a tough trip to Brookvale on Thursday night to take on the Manly Sea Eagles.