Match Details
Match Date	28th Apr, 2002
Opponent	Cronulla
Result	Win 30-10
Coach	Steven Folkes
Captain	Steve Price
Venue	Endeavour Field (Toyota Park)
Crowd	15,270
Referee	Bill Harrigan

The Bulldogs have moved into 3rd position and within one point of the competition lead after a 30-10 win over the Sharks at Toyota Park.

The win was the Bulldogs 5th in a row, with only a loss to the Wests Tigers in round 1 and a draw vs the Broncos at ANZ in Round 2 the only blemishes as they head into the bye next week. Neither side hit high gear throughout the match, but despite this the match was still of a fairly high quality with the forward battle reigning supreme over breathtaking attack.

The Sharks looked dangerous early with David Peachey looking in ominous form with two line breaks. However, the Bulldogs scrambling defence was at its very best, shutting down both opportunities immediately. The Bulldogs spent a good proportion of the opening of the match just defending but never looked like relenting, showing why they had not conceded a try in the first half of any of their previous 3-4 matches.

Eventually the Bulldogs managed to make the Sharks pay for their ineffectiveness with Braith Anasta kicking through a Sharks dropped ball twice to score besides the posts. Once again the Sharks had gifted the first try of the match to their opponents in what must have shattered coach Chris Anderson after their good start to the match.

The Sharks looked to have hit back minutes later when Peachey sliced through a yawning gap to score. However, in the lead up a Bulldog defender was taking out of play by a Sharks decoy runner and the video referee ruled no try.

Five minutes later the Bulldogs were over again when Anasta involved himself again to create an overlap out wide with some quick hands. Willie Talau showing his impressive return to form, powered his way over the line. El Masri's sideline conversion made it 12-0.

The Sharks had their opportunities once more before halftime and looked certain to score on at least one or more occasions only to be halted by desperate Bulldogs defence.

At halftime the Bulldogs had managed to hold their line and led 12-0.

A comeback looked on the cards when the Sharks finally crossed 8 minutes after the break through Luke MacDougall. All game the Sharks were failing to get around the up and in defence of the Bulldogs with the Bulldogs wingers coming up with the goods to snuffle out the play with at least one un-marked Sharks attacker on the outside. Eventually some desperate passing, and a touch of luck saw MacDougall come up with the ball and score in the corner. There were doubts over the try with the video referee called to check on whether MacDougall touched the sideline and to adjudicate on whether the pass which had deflected forward, had come off Hazem El Masri. Eventually try was ruled ok.

The Bulldogs managed to hit back within minutes when another doubtful try was scored - this time through front-rower Mark O'Meley. The big frontrower powered over the line to score, but had been pulled down short before taking a second effort to power over. There was doubts over whether the play was a double movement, but the benefit of the doubt went to the Bulldogs and the conversion put them back into the safety zone up 18-4.

When Willie Mason crossed in the 57th minute after some brilliant passing the match was surely over. Down 24-4 the Sharks were playing for pride, but they must have given themselves a faint chance when Matthew Johns followed up with a try six minutes later.

But they were never in the hunt with the Bulldogs powering home to win 30-10 with a late unlikely intercept try to 2nd rower Steve Reardon.

The Bulldogs flexed their muscle in fine style, particuarly in defence right throughout the match. They were able to thwart the Sharks in sustaining any momentum in key parts of the match. Admittedly when the Sharks lost Peachey in opening minutes of the 2nd half, then Stevens shortly afterwards through leg injuries they looked a shadow of their normal selves. Coach Chris Anderson, while disappointed with the result was upbeat about the improvement in his side after last weeks capitulation to Newcastle. Had his side not gifted another 2-3 tries, the result may have been a different story Anderson told ABC Radio.

Jason Stevens and David Peachey both look in doubt to be fit for Origin 1 and the next few Sharks game in a further blow to the club.

For the Bulldogs, Steve Folkes was impressed with the way the Bulldogs are currently travelling. While not stoked over every aspect of the players performance he said his players stuck tot he gameplan and did what was required to win enabling them to go into the bye with confidence high and no injuries.

Source: www.rleague.com

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