Match Details
Match Date	9th May, 2004
Opponent	Newcastle
Result	Loss 6-32
Coach	Steven Folkes
Captain	Steve Price
Venue	Newcastle (EnergyAustralia Stadium)
Crowd	16,562
Referee	Sean Hampstead

 A depleted Newcastle outfit notched a courageous 32-6 victory over the Bulldogs today in the NRL clash at EnergyAustralia Stadium.

The Knights were heavy underdogs without top-shelf players Andrew Johns, Steve Simpson, Timana Tahu, Ben Kennedy, Robbie O'Davis and Daniel Abraham.

But instead they lifted in front of a parochial crowd of 16,562 to win their fifth game of a topsy-turvy season.

With six players backing up from Friday night's City-Country Origin game, the Bulldogs looked a flat and lacked the enthusiasm of the Novocastrians.

The Knights had Josh Perry and Kurt Gidley backing up, while Abraham broke his ankle in Gosford on Friday night.

The 'Dogs bombed several try-scoring opportunities, in particular Roy Asotasi hanging onto a pass for too long when Luke Patten was in support and later Mark O'Meley dropping the pill with a three-man overlap 10m out from Newcastle's line.

The Knights held a surprise 12-6 halftime lead following tries to centre George Carmont (7th minute), which came off the back of an Adam Woolnough bust, and second-rower Andrew Price, who toed through a Matthew Kennedy grubber in the 22nd minute to touch down.

The Bulldogs' only reply in the first half came via a soft try to Jamie Feeney, who burrowed over the line from dummy-half, with Hazem El Masri converting.

Knights halfback Gidley set up fullback Mark Hughes, who played superbly in place of O'Davis, three minutes after the break to give the home side a 20-6 advantage following the No.7's conversion.

That lead blew out to 20 points in the 69th minute when winger Anthony Quinn scored after his opposite number Matt Utai lost the ball 35m out from his own line.

The 'Dogs were demoralised when Woolnough crossed near the posts with four minutes remaining, the prop running on to soccer-type kicks from Steve Witt and Kurt Gidley.

Source: AAP

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