Match Details
Match Date	27th Jul, 2003
Opponent	North Queensland
Result	Win 42-22
Coach	Steven Folkes
Captain	Steve Price
Venue	Sydney Showground Homebush
Crowd	7,091
Referee	Steve Lyons

The Bulldogs have overcome some dogged North Queensland resistance in their NRL clash, notching two late tries to post a convincing 42-22 win.

The Dogs took the lead early with a simple try by captain Steve Price, converted by Hazem El Masri.

North Queensland struck back almost immediately, creating a three-on-one overlap attacking the Bulldogs' right edge.

El Masri found himself with three players running at him and was unable to stop Cowboys centre Josh Hannay from scoring. He converted his own try to level the scores at 6-6.

Shortly afterwards a clean break by Matt Bowen almost led to another Cowboys try, but his infield pass was knocked down and regathered by the the Dogs.

But halfway through the first half the Cowboys did cross through Jamie McDonald, running onto a Glenn Morrison flick pass. Hannay's conversion attempt hit the post and bounced back and the visitors led 10-6.

Their lead could have been greater, but Hannay was denied a second try when the video referee ruled El Masri had been held back by Cowboys second-rower Kevin Campion in the chase for a grubber.

The Bulldogs then drew level, creating a try from nothing and sending Matt Utai down the sideline on a 20-metre sprint from the sideline.

El Masri was converting from the sideline but it may as well have been from right in front, his straight-as-a-die kick giving the Dogs the lead.

The Bulldogs extended their lead thanks to an enterprising move by halfback Brent Sherwin. Attacking the Cowboys' line from about 15 metres, Sherwin put up the bomb, then took an AFL-style mark before grounding the ball under the posts.

El Masri added the extras, but then Josh Hannay grabbed two points back on the stroke of half-time, converting a penalty to take the scores to 12-18.

The match was closely fought in the opening phase of the second half, with post sides posting two tries.

The Bulldogs' Roy Asotasi opened the scoring in the second half, with El Masri converting to make it 12-24.

Sherwin set up the second try, kicking out wide, where Luke Patton picked it up for the try. El Masri extended the Bulldogs' lead to 12-30.

The Cowboys hit back with a length-of-field effort. Rauhihi was allowed to offload out of a tackle. The ball was spun outside to Matt Sing, who demonstrated his trademark pace, leaving his pursuers in his wake and scoring under the posts.

Hannay kicked the conversion to reduce the deficit to 30-18.

David Myles then put the Cowboys within striking distance of the lead. At the end of the set of six, the kick bounced over the tryline. In the ensuing scramble, Myles grounded the ball, and the video referee awarded the try.

Hannay, struggling with setting sun, missed the kick, leaving his side eight points behind on 22-30.

The Bulldogs made the most of the possession in the closing stages, with Adam Perry charging over the line from dummy half with 10 minutes to go.

Despite the suggestion Andrew Ryan was obstructing play after playing the ball, the video referee awarded the try.

El Masri made no mistake with the conversion, extending the Bulldogs' lead to 22-36.

On stroke of fulltime, Bulldogs' centre Nigel Vagana went over in the corner, sealing the win after a big sprint.

El Masri fired another conversion from the sideline, leaving the final score at 42-22.

Source: www.abc.net.au

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