Bulldogs find their bark in Belmore homecoming

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Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v Gold Coast Titans

It was a day to remember for the blue and white faithful as the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs trounced the Gold Coast Titans 32-0 to post their first win of the season.

Scoring six unanswered tries, while keeping an opposition scoreless for the first time since the final round of the 2021 season, the win marked the first time the Bulldogs held a team to nil at Belmore since 1996.

Surviving an early scare after Kieran Foran dropped a pass from AJ Brimson with an open run to the try line, the Bulldogs were left to rue a missed opportunity of their own with the bunker overturning a try to Blake Wilson due to an obstruction in the lead up.

Fan favourite Jacob Preston (17th minute) endeared himself to the Belmore faithful with the opening try of the game, running onto a pass from Drew Hutchison close to the line.

In an opening half which saw both sides lack cohesion, Viliame Kikau (30th minute) charged down a clearing kick from Tanah Boyd to extend the lead for the home side.

The Titans managed to hold their line for multiple sets late in the half but were unable to strike back with points of their own as the Bulldogs took a 12-0 lead to the sheds. 

Going close to extending their lead through Josh Curran, only for the bunker to deem an obstruction against Matt Burton moments after the resumption of play, a barge-over effort from Reed Mahoney put the Bulldogs up by three converted tries.

Forcing another error out of Boyd with tremendous defensive pressure, a powerhouse run from Jacob Kiraz (53rd minute) sealed the result to give the Bulldogs only their fourth win from 13 appearances at Belmore since 2015.

Piling on further points with Connor Tracey (60th minute) and Blake Taaffe (63rd minute) crossing for their first tries in blue and white colours, the Titans were dealt further insult to injury with captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui assisted from the field with concerns over his knee.

The 32-0 victory, played before a crowd of 12,037 supporters, was a deserved reward for underrated front-rower Max King in his 100th first grade appearance.

Next week, the Bulldogs will face the Rabbitohs on Good Friday afternoon at Accor Stadium, while the Titans will host the Dolphins at CBUS Super Stadium on Saturday evening.