Brusing Bulldogs overcome Titans

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Gold Coast Titans v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

Canterbury have won over Gold Coast on Sunday at NRL Magic Round, 38-18 victors at Suncorp Stadium.

The Dogs started the stronger, with Jacob Kiraz scoring the opener after six minutes, converted dutifully by Stephen Crichton. The try came mere moments after Gold Coast half Tom Weaver left the field with concussion, the #7 falling awkwardly trying to tackle Bulldogs hulk Viliame Kikau.

By the 13th minute the 'visiting' side had doubled their lead with a Connor Tracey try laid on by Jacob Preston out on the right edge. Crichton converted again for 12-0.

The Gold Coast got on the board through Beau Fermor after momentum had begun to shift their way, and looked the stronger side at the half-hour mark when Phil Sami had their second... but goalkicking let them down with Brian Kelly - stepping up in Weaver's absence - wayward with the boot.

Five minutes from the break, Kelly himself would find his way to the sin-bin after a professional foul and the Bulldogs booted a penalty goal through Crichton to take a 14-8 lead into the sheds.

Kelly returned to the fold at 45 minutes and the Bulldogs returned to the scoresheet at the same time, having not taken advantage while the Gold Coast centre was off the field.

Kiraz scored his second at that point from a short-side play involving Stephen Crichton, and it was backed up shortly after by Jacob Preston who pounced on an empty ball and crossed - with Crichton converting both, the lead suddenly ballooned out to 26-8.

A hat-trick awaiting Kiraz 24 minutes from fulltime and at 32-8 the contest was effectively over, although against the run of play the Gold Coast did strike back on the hour-mark with Fermor's second try of the day, reducing the margin back to 20 points.

Alofiana Khan-Pereira would've had the Dogs fans worried in the 65th minute when he ran 90 metres to score and bring the scoreline to 18-32, but Canterbury settled things after his try and the Gold Coast wouldn't trouble the scoreboard again.

Chris Randall (GLD) added his name to the sin bin list at the 70th minute for a professional foul and Jacob Preston (CBY) joined him four minutes from fulltime for a Crusher Tackle, with the game effectively ending 12-on-12 save for a few seconds late in the contest when Randall returned. Reed Mahoney scored a 79th-minute try to bring the fulltime margin back to 20 points for the ladder-leading Bulldogs.

Canterbury head to Canberra next Saturday in a mouth-watering top-four clash, while the Titans are down at Newcastle on Friday evening.