StephenP
ArnoldKnights put luckless Bulldogs to the sword
June 7th 2008 09:27
The Newcastle Knights have arrested a worrying three game losing streak with a scrappy 22-12 victory over a luckless Canterbury Bulldogs outfit at a slippery ANZ Stadium tonight.
In what was a dour, and at times boring game, Newcastle led from start to finish against the injury riddled Canterbury outfit, with the booming kicking boot of Newcastle’s Jarrod Mullen keeping the Bulldogs pinned inside their own half for the majority of the match.
The main post-match talking point will concern a controversial refereeing blunder from Sean Hampstead midway through the second half, with the experienced referee refusing to send a potential four-pointer to Canterbury skipper Andrew Ryan up to the video referee.
Newcastle took full advantage of an early Bulldogs handling error; Wes Naiqama floating a loose speculator out to an unmarked James McManus, with the flying winger stepping inside the cover defence to crash over in the corner.
Naiqama capped off the perfect start by converting from wide out to push the Knights out to a 6-0 lead after just three minutes.
The Bulldogs showed what they could do when they actually held onto possession, with livewire half Ben Roberts scooting wide to provide space for winger Matt Utai, with the powerhouse flanker stepping neatly inside the Knights cover defence to race away and score.
Hazem El Masri made light work of the conversion attempt, leaving the match tied up at 6-all after 17 minutes.
However, some razzle dazzle football got the Knights back into the lead six minutes later, with the ball flying through four sets of hands in spectacular fashion before debutant flanker Junior Sau barged over for a 10-6 lead.
Both teams changed their game plan noticeably after the half-time break, with the greasy Sydney conditions making it for a grinding, second half slug fest.
In a match where all the 50-50 calls were going well and truly against the home team, referee Hampstead earned the ire of the Bulldogs faithful when he failed to send the Ryan try up to video referee Bill Harrigan in the 55th minute.
The chorus of boos grew even louder when replays suggested Ryan had cleanly grounded the ball to the disbelief of both sides, with things getting even worse just two minutes later when rookie Knight Sau finished off a spectacular sixty metre movement to cross for his second try for a 16-6 lead.
And the Knights were able to warp the match up thanks to yet another shocking handling error from a young Canterbury backline, with veteran Knights centre Adam McDougall crossing for a rare try after backing up a long Chris Bailey break.
Naiqama’s third conversion of the evening made it game over at 22-6 inside the final ten minutes.
But to their credit, the famous Canterbury fighting spirit provided a converted try to fullback Nick Youngquest to leave the door slightly ajar, but it was yet another late handling error that sealed their fate.
Newcastle Knights 22
Tries: Junior Sau 2, James McManus, Adam McDougall
Goals: Wes Naiqama 3
defeated
Canterbury Bulldogs 12
Tries: Matt Utai, Nick Youngquest
Goals: Hazem El Masri 2
At ANZ Stadium
Referee – Sean Hampstead
Parramatta Eels 30
Tries: Luke Burt 2, Brett Finch 2, Joel Reddy
Goals: Luke Burt 5
defeated
Canberra Raiders 12
Tries: David Milne, Bronx Goodwin
Goals: Todd Carney 2
At Parramatta Stadium
Wests Tigers 40
Tries: Dean Collis, Shannon McDonnell, Matthew Head, Ben Te’o, Chris Heighington, Benji Marshall, Brett Hodgson
Goals: Brett Hodgson 6
defeated
North QLD Cowboys 16
Tries: Nick Slyney, Ty Williams, Ben Harris
Goals: John Williams 2
At Campbelltown Stadium
In what was a dour, and at times boring game, Newcastle led from start to finish against the injury riddled Canterbury outfit, with the booming kicking boot of Newcastle’s Jarrod Mullen keeping the Bulldogs pinned inside their own half for the majority of the match.
The main post-match talking point will concern a controversial refereeing blunder from Sean Hampstead midway through the second half, with the experienced referee refusing to send a potential four-pointer to Canterbury skipper Andrew Ryan up to the video referee.
Newcastle took full advantage of an early Bulldogs handling error; Wes Naiqama floating a loose speculator out to an unmarked James McManus, with the flying winger stepping inside the cover defence to crash over in the corner.
Naiqama capped off the perfect start by converting from wide out to push the Knights out to a 6-0 lead after just three minutes.
The Bulldogs showed what they could do when they actually held onto possession, with livewire half Ben Roberts scooting wide to provide space for winger Matt Utai, with the powerhouse flanker stepping neatly inside the Knights cover defence to race away and score.
Hazem El Masri made light work of the conversion attempt, leaving the match tied up at 6-all after 17 minutes.
However, some razzle dazzle football got the Knights back into the lead six minutes later, with the ball flying through four sets of hands in spectacular fashion before debutant flanker Junior Sau barged over for a 10-6 lead.
Both teams changed their game plan noticeably after the half-time break, with the greasy Sydney conditions making it for a grinding, second half slug fest.
In a match where all the 50-50 calls were going well and truly against the home team, referee Hampstead earned the ire of the Bulldogs faithful when he failed to send the Ryan try up to video referee Bill Harrigan in the 55th minute.
The chorus of boos grew even louder when replays suggested Ryan had cleanly grounded the ball to the disbelief of both sides, with things getting even worse just two minutes later when rookie Knight Sau finished off a spectacular sixty metre movement to cross for his second try for a 16-6 lead.
And the Knights were able to warp the match up thanks to yet another shocking handling error from a young Canterbury backline, with veteran Knights centre Adam McDougall crossing for a rare try after backing up a long Chris Bailey break.
Naiqama’s third conversion of the evening made it game over at 22-6 inside the final ten minutes.
But to their credit, the famous Canterbury fighting spirit provided a converted try to fullback Nick Youngquest to leave the door slightly ajar, but it was yet another late handling error that sealed their fate.
Newcastle Knights 22
Tries: Junior Sau 2, James McManus, Adam McDougall
Goals: Wes Naiqama 3
defeated
Canterbury Bulldogs 12
Tries: Matt Utai, Nick Youngquest
Goals: Hazem El Masri 2
At ANZ Stadium
Referee – Sean Hampstead
In tonight’s other matches -
Parramatta Eels 30
Tries: Luke Burt 2, Brett Finch 2, Joel Reddy
Goals: Luke Burt 5
defeated
Canberra Raiders 12
Tries: David Milne, Bronx Goodwin
Goals: Todd Carney 2
At Parramatta Stadium
Wests Tigers 40
Tries: Dean Collis, Shannon McDonnell, Matthew Head, Ben Te’o, Chris Heighington, Benji Marshall, Brett Hodgson
Goals: Brett Hodgson 6
defeated
North QLD Cowboys 16
Tries: Nick Slyney, Ty Williams, Ben Harris
Goals: John Williams 2
At Campbelltown Stadium
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