Sport

Chasing tail again

A DISAPPOINTING first half has resulted in the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs suffering a 20-point loss to the Cronulla Sharks on the Gold Coast, going down 24-44.


The Bulldogs made one change to their 17 named earlier in the week, with Renouf Atoni coming into the side on the bench for Ofahiki Ogden.
Luke Thompson was outstanding for the Dogs and although he spent 10 minutes in the sin bin for a late tackle, the prop forward got through 63 minutes of work that included a try, 17 carries for 180 metres, 10 tackle breaks, 31 tackles and a barn storming run to set up a try for half Jake Averillo.
Trailing 30-6, Canterbury started the second half on fire, scoring two tries within the first five minutes through Nick Meaney and Dylan Napa, reducing the margin back to 30-18.
A barge-over try from Cronulla next to the posts extended the Sharks lead.
Canterbury could not be put to bed though and when the ball found Thompson, the Englishman beat four defenders to leave a path of destruction before finding Averillo to score his fifth try of the season and once again cut the lead to 12.
A penalty goal in the 68th minute and a try in the 72nd minute sealed the win for Cronulla.
Bulldogs coach Trent Barrett said that although he thought their first half was poor, he was pleased with the comeback in the second half.
“In the first half we were passive on our edges and disconnected,” he said.
“We came surging back in the second half but then gave the game back to them … we still have to learn how to win.”
The Bulldogs next take on the Titans on Sunday, August 1, at 2pm at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast.