Bulldogs win ugly, but win nonetheless
Roar Guru By Alan Nicolea, 4 Aug 2009 Alan Nicolea is a Roar Guru
They may have found themselves twelve-nil down in the opening ten minutes against a Rabbitohs’ team fighting to make the top eight, but the Bulldogs still managed to scrape to a 26-18 win.
After two quick tries to Nathan Merritt and David Fa’alogo, the Rabbitohs found themselves in a position to put Canterbury to the sword and keep alive their fledging finals hopes.
Coming off three straight victories over the Panthers, Broncos and the Roosters, South Sydney played with the necessary confidence that nearly garnered them an upset victory against one of this season’s premiership heavyweights.
But for all of South Sydney’s recent form, not to mention a 12-nil buffer, Jason Taylor’s men still found themselves on the wrong end of the scoreboard against the same Bulldogs side that lost so convincingly against the Eels last Saturday.
Despite the poor start from the Bulldogs, a twelve point buffer was always going to do little to deter Kevin Moore’s men from completing the job at hand against an enthusiastic Rabbitohs outfit.
With the limited opportunities the Bulldogs had in the first half, the side still managed to make the most of the chances given to them.
Josh Morris and Hazem El Masri were each the try-scoring beneficiaries in the first half, courtesy of great lead-up work from Luke Patten and Jamaal Idris respectively.
Despite still trailing by two points, the Bulldogs had the momentum that earlier in the season would have seen them run away with the match.
Controversy, however, managed to rear its ugly head again for the Bulldogs, as the Rabbitohs scored a try despite half Chris Sandow running behind a team-mate.
A play that should have seen a penalty awarded to the Bulldogs ended up giving the Rabbitohs a valuable 18-10 buffer heading into the sheds.
While lesser teams would have played on with frustration, the Bulldogs once again displayed an attitude and composure that will serve them so well in the finals.
Not only did the Bulldogs peg back an eight point deficit, they managed to keep the Rabbitohs scoreless in a second half that saw the Bulldogs only get better as the game wore on.
In the past, the Bulldogs were a team renowned for starting well but finishing poorly.
Now it seems the Bulldogs have found the necessary formula to play at a high intensity for the full eighty minutes.
It might be their ability to win ugly that may prove the key difference in allowing the Bulldogs to be one of two teams remaining when the Grand Final rolls around in October.
Recommend this story.
The Crowd Says (18) | Page 1 of Comments
Have Your Say
- Explore:
- Canterbury Bulldogs, Jason Taylor, NRL, Rugby League, South Sydney Rabbitohs
August 4th 2009 @ 7:58am
Pippinu said | August 4th 2009 @ 7:58am | Report comment
Fair’s fair – we oughtta give some credit to Freo.
August 4th 2009 @ 11:48am
Dogs Of War said | August 4th 2009 @ 11:48am | Report comment
Your confused pip. This is about the almighty Canterbury Bulldogs!
Who just seemed to play there game, without worrying about the other team at all. Whether they can ramp it up a level is another story, which we will have to if we are to beat the likes of the Dragons and the Storm, my 2 picks at this point, as the teams who are looking better than everybody else.
But then again, winning becomes a habit, and the Bulldogs do seem to be on a roll.
August 4th 2009 @ 12:07pm
Pippinu said | August 4th 2009 @ 12:07pm | Report comment
I knew that Dogs – just being mischievous.
It was interesting that my bullies won ugly as well on the weekend – stamped their authority in the first 10 minutes of the game, and then just did enough for the rest of it to coast and win relatively comfortably.
August 4th 2009 @ 1:44pm
Mick from Giralang said | August 4th 2009 @ 1:44pm | Report comment
Yawn!
August 4th 2009 @ 1:22pm
Tom Alexander. said | August 4th 2009 @ 1:22pm | Report comment
Sometimes i stress out about their chances after some of their performances, and then i remember “shit”, we are second on the ladder, what am i complaining about. I hope there is a rematch with the Dragons, because then i want to see 2 things happen, (A) the dragons get smashed and (B) the look on Sowards face, which will be priceless.
August 4th 2009 @ 1:48pm
Mick from Giralang said | August 4th 2009 @ 1:48pm | Report comment
Steve, interesting point about the Sandow try. I know Phil Gould was outraged that it was given, simply on the grounds he ran behind one of his defenders. But I am sure referees must judge whether the defence is impeded before penalising this action. After watching numerous replays I don’t think the Doggies’ were obstructed to any significant degree. I just love watching Souths at the moment, they’re full of excitement machines.
Having said that, the Dogs proved themselves worthy premiership contenders. They weren’t quite on their game yet still ground out a wn against a very talented opponent. Looking forward to their clash with the Raiders this weekend.
August 4th 2009 @ 1:50pm
Mick from Giralang said | August 4th 2009 @ 1:50pm | Report comment
Oops…sorry Alan my post was addressed to you.
August 4th 2009 @ 3:21pm
Pippinu said | August 4th 2009 @ 3:21pm | Report comment
You mean that “yawn” was addressed to Alan – that’s no way to treat a Roar Guru!!
August 4th 2009 @ 5:08pm
alan nicolea said | August 4th 2009 @ 5:08pm | Report comment
Mick
Sorry that i made you yawn mate (If you did aim the yawn at me). I am no hardcore opinion writer and i have nothing against the NRL anyway. For all of its off field troubles, its on field action for mine far outplays anything that any off field controversy can dish out, and its damn exciting to watch. To on field matters, the Bulldogs were nowhere near their best against the bunnies yet managed to scrap a win out of fairly difficult circumstances. They are a very proffessional unit now. I echo your sentiments about the Bulldogs.
P.S – if your yawn was directed at the AFL, that is totally understandable.
August 4th 2009 @ 5:16pm
Pippinu said | August 4th 2009 @ 5:16pm | Report comment
Alan – I’m pretty sure he directed it at the AFL!!
August 4th 2009 @ 5:27pm
Mick from Giralang said | August 4th 2009 @ 5:27pm | Report comment
“P.S – if your yawn was directed at the AFL, that is totally understandable.”
Bingo!
August 4th 2009 @ 5:21pm
alan nicolea said | August 4th 2009 @ 5:21pm | Report comment
Pippinu
Just checking that’s all. I mean, my articles get no where near 100 or so responses so you know…. sorry for the misjudgement. And the AFL does interest me a little, the Swans – St Kilda game was awesome.
August 4th 2009 @ 5:29pm
Mick from Giralang said | August 4th 2009 @ 5:29pm | Report comment
Alan, your articles are always thought provoking and well written. They’re the first thing I go to on the Roar.
August 4th 2009 @ 5:30pm
Pippinu said | August 4th 2009 @ 5:30pm | Report comment
No worries – even though I knew what this article was about – it got my attention because my bullies won ugly as well on the weekend, i.e. did what they needed to do and no more.
Mick enjoys giving me a hard time!
August 4th 2009 @ 5:46pm
Robbos said | August 4th 2009 @ 5:46pm | Report comment
They’ve still got the wrong Morris!!!!
August 4th 2009 @ 5:52pm
Mick from Giralang said | August 4th 2009 @ 5:52pm | Report comment
How did Slippery spawn that pair of monsters?
August 4th 2009 @ 6:51pm
Robbos said | August 4th 2009 @ 6:51pm | Report comment
Funny, I thought that many times as I see them running around & keep thinking, he must’ve married a big (tallish) lady.
August 4th 2009 @ 6:02pm
alan nicolea said | August 4th 2009 @ 6:02pm | Report comment
Thanks Mick – Indeed Slippery has spawned two monsters – that is if you are not a Dragons or Bulldogs supporter. Geez they are great to watch.