Match Details
Match Date	9th Jul, 2017
Opponent	Newcastle
Result	Win 20-18
Coach	Des Hasler
Captain	Aiden Tolman
Venue	Belmore Sports Ground
Crowd	13,103
Referee	Ben Cummins Gavin Reynolds

A dramatic late rally allowed local hero Josh Reynolds to farewell the Dogs’ traditional home in winning style. Marcelo Montoya raced down the right flank to score in the 76th minute and Kerrod Holland calmly slotted the conversion from the sideline to cut the margin to 18-14.

Then, with a minute left and the Knights trying to close out their third win of the season, halfback Brock Lamb’s attempted kick into touch found the legs of Moses Mbye, who picked up the rebound and sprinted 70 metres to cross the line.

Holland again nailed the extras to put Canterbury back in front with just seconds left on the clock.

But it wasn’t over yet. That man Reynolds was penalised after the re-start for pushing centre Peter Mata’utia off the ball.

It gave Lamb the opportunity to level the scores after the siren – but from 32 metres out and five metres in from the left touchline, he shanked the shot at penalty goal.

A relieved Reynolds would have his dream send-off.

‘‘Honestly, it was like a movie,’’ he said. ‘‘Whatever happened at the As the jubilant masses rolled out of Belmore Sportsground on Sunday night and the Bulldogs celebrated a great escape, the Bon Jovi song Livin’ on a Prayer blared over the speakers in the dressing room.

That was all Canterbury seemed to have until an incredible final four minutes against Newcastle.

‘‘I swear to God, I will never forget this day,’’ said Josh Reynolds, surrounded by hundreds of supporters after his final match at the club’s spiritual home, a second siren having accidentally been let off after the final whistle which prompted many to jump the fence.

At 18-8 down with less than five minutes remaining, there had been no shortage of spectators filing out of the boutique ground, the semi finals hopes of Des Hasler’s side seemingly down the tube.

Then came the drama. First, end, you wouldn’t read about that. Was it fate? I don’t know, man. We were down in the dumps, the game was tough and then Moses does that. I love the game sometimes.’’

Of the penalty he conceded at the death, he said: ‘‘I could not believe that. You see them every weekend but I got penalised. That’s just how it is. Thank God he missed. Rugby league is all about teammates and camaraderie. I will never forget this and I appreciate everything everyone has done for me.’’

In a twist, Trent Hodkinson, Newcastle’s No.1 goalkicker, said afterwards that he had handed the ball to Lamb to kick the penalty goal because he thought he might not have the legs. When he saw the youngster tee it up he changed his mind and thought he could make the distance and should have taken it himself.

‘‘I thought the penalty was on the 40-metre line and obviously Lamby has the bigger boot,’’ Hodkinson said. ‘‘He slots them over at training all the time. When he lined it up it was on the 30 [metre line] and I didn’t want to take it off him. He was zoned in. I probably should have taken it. I’m filthy I didn’t.’’

It was a thrilling ending to a match that otherwise didn’t reach any great heights but Canterbury coach Hasler said the come-frombehind victory would be a ‘‘tremendous memory for’’ Reynolds.

The former NSW State of Origin five-eighth is, like the trains on the T3 Bankstown line rolling past the north end of Belmore, is moving on at season’s end, after signing with Wests Tigers from next season.

‘‘He’ll remember that for a long time to come,’’ Hasler said.

For Newcastle there was by contrast heartbreak, and not for the first time this season. A third win of the season appeared to be theirs but once again Nathan Brown’s spirited young side was left pondering what could have been.

‘‘As hard as it is to take, it’s just part of the journey all these kids are on,’’ Brown said.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

LINE UP