Match Details
Match Date	26th Jun, 2009
Opponent	North Queensland
Result	Win 30-18
Coach	Kevin Moore
Captain	Andrew Ryan
Venue	Homebush (ANZ Stadium)
Crowd	13,461
Referee	Jared Maxwell Bernard Sutton

The Bulldogs have put on a convincing all-round display to post a 30-18 win over the North Queensland Cowboys at ANZ Stadium on Friday.

The five-tries-to-three victory maintains the Dogs perfect 2009 home record and snaps a four game losing streak against the Cowboys.

The first sixty or sixty-five minutes was our best all year. Seventeen blokes really performed to their best and got the job done, said coach Kevin Moore.

Cowboys halfback Johnathan Thurston attempted to conjure up points for his side but without a Queensland backline for assistance he was often left running solo.

Bulldogs five-eighth Ben Roberts, on the other hand, didn't appear to have a problem finding players in support.

He wreaked havoc down the left-hand flank all night, pushing off the tackle of former Bulldog Ben Harris to unleash Josh Morris for the opening try in the 23rd minute.

Showing no ill-effects from his State of Origin debut on Wednesday night, Morris was again in the thick of the action as he sparked the Bulldogs' second try.

Taking the ball to the line from close-range, he managed to force an offload in a three-man tackle.

Andrew Ryan scooped up the loose ball and coolly returned it to the wing where Bryson Goodwin dived over for the score.

Hazem El Masri's curling sideline conversion gave the Dogs a 12-0 lead.

The Cowboys had a chance to open their account in the seconds before halftime but Steve Rapira's right arm lunge proved three inches too short according to referee Jared Maxwell.

Another masterful Roberts' break down the left touchline led to a Bulldogs try four minutes into the second half.

From the ensuing play prop Jarrad Hickey offloaded in the tackle to send fellow front-rower Greg Eastwood to the line and the score to 18-0.

A controversial benefit of the doubt' decision by video referee Bill Harrigan in the 49th minute gifted a try to Anthony Watts and kept the Cowboys in the contest.

But the Bulldogs attack was baring its teeth and the deft draw-and-pass of Roberts released Goodwin on a 35-metre sprint to the left hand corner for his 15th try of the season.

The game was all but over in the 67th minute when fullback Luke Patten sped down the middle, gathered a ball twice kicked through by Brett Kimmorley and crossed next to the posts.

The Cowboys claimed late consolation tries through Aaron Payne and John Williams to add some respectability to the score line, but the Bulldogs were cruising home.

Jarrad Hickey, a late replacement for the injured Ben Hannant, earned man-of-the-match honours for his 15 runs and 28 tackles while fellow starting prop Michael Hodgson also stepped up to fill the void.

Both those guys got the opportunity to stand up. Their club needed them to. And both of them came through with flying colours, said coach Moore.

Source: Evan Sieff

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