Match Details
Match Date	30th Aug, 2002
Opponent	Melbourne
Result	Win 24-16
Coach	Steven Folkes
Captain	Steve Price
Venue	Sydney Showground Homebush
Crowd	10,337
Referee	Paul Simpkins

The Bulldogs have recorded their 19th win of the 2002 season, but it's the first win that will count on the 2002 NRL table for the embattled club.

They downed the Melbourne Storm 24-16 in a horrendously scrappy game that included 43 handling errors, 86 missed tackles and 21 penalties.

Neither side could hang onto the ball in the greasy conditions with the Melbourne Storm only completing half of their 47 sets with the ball. In fact had they been able to hold onto the ball in key moments of the game, the Storm probably would have come home victorious - at least on three occasions the Storm lost the ball over the line with a try beckoning while the Bulldogs had one or two go the same way.

The match started on a great note for the Bulldogs. In the lead up interim Steve Mortimer gave a passionate speech to the Bulldogs faithful, which was met by massive cheers and a standing ovation. The players ran onto the field through a giant banner stating, "Proud to be a Bulldog. Loyalty, Passion, Courage. Thanks Guys." The other side read "2003 Bring it on."

The Bulldogs lost Steven Price in the opening set through concussion, but it didn't halt the Dogs momentum as giant forward Willie Mason crashed over to score just two minutes into the game.

Ahead 6-0 the Bulldogs had plenty of great opportunities to post further points, but a combination of good Storm defence, a lot of dropped ball and some poor options saw the scoreboard stay unaffected. The best chance for the Dogs game when Willie Mason was crashing over to score his 2nd try of the match but lost the ball just before grounding it.

Several minutes later the Storm opened their account with a 35 metre penalty goal to halfback Matt Orford.

The Storm had limited opportunities in the first half, and would have been livid with themselves when they conceded a try just four seconds before the halftime break. With the Bulldogs attacking, Darren Smith got low to the ground from dummy half and just reached forward and planted the ball on the line before the Storm defence had a chance to react. With the conversion the Bulldogs went into halftime leading 12-2.

It could have been 18-2 just minutes into the 2nd half with the Bulldogs failing to take advantage of several attacking chances in the opening minutes.

The Storm recovered and started to grow in confidence. Six minutes into the half, British forward Ian Sibbit scored the easiest of tries after the Storm simply used the numbers and found a massive overlap outwide.

Five minutes later the gap was narrowed further, when Orford kicked his second penalty goal of the match.

Up 12-10, the Bulldogs crossed to score what looked like a legitimate try in the 58th minute through Luke Patten. But Simpkins called for the video referee and it became apparent that their had been obstruction on a Storm defender in the lead up. Patten's break came through the whole created by the fallen defender and the try was disallowed.

This lifted the spirits of the Storm, playing basically a semi-final. It was a game they needed desperately to win to have any chance of making the playoffs. Minutes later Storm winger Matt Geyer reached over to score in similar fashion to Darren Smith's try. However there was much more doubt to his one. The video referee deliberated over a series of endless angles, did Geyer promote the football a second time, did Luke Patten have his hand underneath the ball? These were all the doubtful questions to be asked, but eventually the benefit of the doubt went the Storm's way and the try was awarded much to the wrath of the 10,000 strong Bulldog contingent.

Ahead for the first time in the match; 16-12, the Storm couldn't hang on for more than a couple of minutes. The Bulldogs struck through Willie Talau after taking an inside ball from Brent Sherwin. The kiwi winger was never going to be stopped as he crossed a couple of metres from the left hand upright. El Masri converted to put the home side back in front.

The match was finally wrapped up four minutes from fulltime when Brent Sherwin stepped his way through flimsy defence and slammed the ball down underneath the posts for his third try of the season. For the Storm they looked dejected figures as they contemplated missing the finals. It will now take results to go their way, and a must win game at Canberra Stadium next weekend for the Storm to have any chance.

For the Bulldogs they know they won't be there anyway [pending the appeal], but that didn't stop Bulldogs fans celebrating the win - as it was the first joy for the club since the story first broke two weeks earlier.

Source: www.rleague.com

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