Match Details
Match Date	11th Aug, 2016
Opponent	Manly
Result	Win 20-16
Coach	Des Hasler
Captain	James Graham
Venue	Homebush (ANZ Stadium)
Crowd	10,290
Referee	Ashley Klein Adam Gee

Canterbury made a giant stride towards a top-four finish after claiming a nervy, ugly win over Manly, whose slim hopes of making the top eight were finally put to bed.

Josh Reynolds’ try in the second half of golden-point extra-time sealed the victory for Des Hasler’s side, putting the Bulldogs four points above fifth-place North Queensland with just three games to play. It was a frenetic finish to an error-riddled match that most would have been happy to call a draw and be done with, rather than endure another 10 minutes of golden point.

Six missed field-goal attempts punctuated a scrappy period before Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic let a grubber kick bobble between his legs for Reynolds to gather and scoot over, effectively ending his side’s chances of missing the finals.

It took just three minutes for Daly Cherry-Evans to leave the Bulldogs red-faced after scoring the first try of the night, on the back of his own kick. Canterbury fullback Will Hopoate always appeared too casual in taking down the high ball and was made to pay for that when Cherry-Evans pounced into the contest to make it 6-0.

It was a stroke of luck that brought Canterbury back into the contest delivered by the forehead of Josh Morris. A wayward pass ricocheted off the centre's head and into the path of his brother Brett, who grounded the loose ball before Moses Mbye converted from the sideline to draw level.

There was nothing fortuitous about the try that put them into the lead as Brett Morris embarked on a superb individual run, beating five tacklers on his way to the line.

It was far from disciplined defending that held out the Sea Eagles but consistent penalties that frustrated Manly into submission. It took stern words from coach Trent Barrett to help them turn that pressure into points after the restart when Matt Wright reduced the deficit to two points. Jamie Lyon broke free down the left before finding his winger in support who finished the move out wide.

Stern words from Hasler too elicited a more organised response from the Bulldogs and following a 12-pass move, Sam Perrett scored from the resulting play.

It was 16-all with as many minutes to play after Jorge Taufua scored from a Cherry-Evans kick, and the visitors almost stole the lead when Taufua crossed again, only to be found to have committed a double movement.

For the neutrals, it would have been better if that try was awarded, such were the poor field goal attempts from Lyon and Mbye that followed as desperation swept over both teams play. After a series of poor attempts, it was little surprise to see Reynolds take matters into his own hands, chipping and chasing for himself and when the ball spilled out of the hands of Cherry-Evans, Reynolds looked to have sealed the win. However, the video ref spotted a push in the back on the Manly halfback and ruled no-try.

Three more missed attempts followed before Reynolds finally had his moment. A calamitous error by Manly's Tom Trbojevic gave the Bulldogs five-eighth the match winner, fumbling his kick return to allow the ball to trickle into the in-goals where Reynolds sealed the vital win.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

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