Passes first test as Bulldogs half

A LATE field goal upset fans and cost Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs a thrilling victory over Manly who secured the 13-12 win in heavy rain on Sunday night.
In a scrappy contest, the Bulldogs levelled the scores with nine minutes to go before Manly took advantage of a Braidon Burns’ error late in the match to slot home the one-pointer from 22 metres out.
On a night the Sea Eagles paid tribute to the late Bob Fulton with the unveiling of the northern grandstand named in his honour, it was the visitors who shocked the home crowd early with two tries inside 14 minutes to take an 8-0 lead.
Bulldogs halfback Brandon Wakeham, a late inclusion for the side, opened the scoring in the first minute.
They then extended their lead when new recruits Burns and Matt Dufty linked up on the right edge.
For all of Canterbury’s good work in the first half, the Sea Eagles took a 12-10 lead into the break despite completing at 62 per cent (compared to Canterbury’s 91 per cent) and having only 45 per cent possession.
Bulldogs halfback Brandon Wakeham was a late inclusion, replacing Jake Averillo in the No.7 jersey. He responded with a try.
Bulldogs playmaker Matt Burton missed a crucial conversion from next to the posts in the first half in what turned out to be a costly miss.
“I’m disappointed for the players,” Bulldogs Coach Trent Barrett said.
“They’re trying their guts out. Trying hard. That try before half time hurt.
“That was one we didn’t need to give away and to ultimately lose the way we did by a point – a lot of lessons there for us around game management.”
The Bulldogs will take on the Storm in Melbourne on Sunday from 4.05pm.