Match Details
Match Date	14th Aug, 2009
Opponent	North Queensland
Result	Win 22-12
Coach	Kevin Moore
Captain	Andrew Ryan
Venue	Townsville (Dairy Farmers Stadium)
Crowd	18,199
Referee	Shayne Hayne Jason Robinson

The Bulldogs have claimed another scalp on their way to the finals, scoring a 22-12 win in an error-marred clash with the North Queensland Cowboys at Dairy Farmers Stadium on Friday.

Despite going into the match without form fullback Luke Patten and gun prop Ben Hannant, and losing props Jarrad Hickey and Michael
Hodgson to injury during the physical encounter, the Bulldogs took advantage of 19 unforced errors from the Cowboys to run away with the win.

The reshuffled lineup saw Daryl Millard come onto the wing with Hazem El Masri shifting to fullback.

Further adjustments were required after hard-man Hickey was knocked out in an early head clash with Cowboys enforcer Carl Webb while Hodgson suffered a first-half calf injury.

The Cowboys opened the scoring through halfback Jonathan Thurston after an unusual crossfield kick was regathered and the Bulldogs defence failed to get back in sufficient numbers for the ensuing play.

A strong charge and offload from Webb unleashed Thurston to score beside the posts.

Against the run of play, Bryson Goodwin justified his midweek contract extension with a scinitillating midfield break in the 21st minute.

From the ensuing play, Goodwin got his hands on the ball on the receiving end of a killer two-man cutout from Ben Roberts.

As he was rounded up by Michael Bani he found an offload to centre Josh Morris who, through sheer willpower, found a way to the line.

After earlier being denied a try called back for obstruction, former Bulldog Willie Tonga wasn't to be refused again after he took a short ball from Anthony Watts and forced his way over seven minutes later.

Behind 12-6 at halftime, the Dogs had to strike first after the break and they did so in their first set of the second period.

A genius one-handed offload from Chris Armit found El Masri who fended off opposing fullback Matt Bowen to score and draw the Dogs level.

After Webb's head had got the better of Hickey in the first half, so Jamal Idris' got the better of Tonga in the second.

Moments after Tonga was led stumbling from the field, hooker Anthony Watts' crossfield kick on the last went horribly wrong as Roberts gathered the loose ball and broke free.

Charged down by speedster Bowen, Roberts looked outside and found Greg Eastwood in support, who in turn found Goodwin to cross for yet another try in his breakthrough season.

Behind by six points, the Cowboys' desperation materialised in cheap penalties to the Bulldogs.

After Watts spilled a high bomb, Thurston found himself offside and El Masri duly slotted the penalty from point-blank range.

Steve Rapira then took out Ennis' legs as he launched a kick, gifting El Masri another penalty opportunity, to which he obliged and wrapped up the match.

The Bulldogs' strong second half defence was characterised by David Stagg, who once again led the count with 44 tackles while also managing 16 hitups and three tackle-breaks.

Source: Evan Sieff

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