First off.....that final call may have been, technically correct but in the context of a football game, it should have been awarded.
Many of the referees are ex-policeman and they tend to have a very "black and white" way of looking at the game. This no doubt comes from the restraints of the current judicial system. Also though it is the way the rules are written. Downward pressure, control, separation and obstruction have taken on whole new meanings.
Anyway...... the Dragons were pretty much what I expected last night. After such a hectic schedule over the past eight days, I thought they'd be a bit fatigued. However as they've done all season.......stay in it and find a way to win, or if not go very close. Sure they got a bit lucky just as Manly did last week but, it's all part of the game.
I have to say though, that's the worst I've seen them play. Their three tries were all individual efforts and outside that, their overall attack looked very disjointed. Defensively however they scrambled well.
The Bulldogs on the other hand, always looked dangerous but they just kept either dropping the ball or giving away penalties. Defensively they were very good too and given a few more minutes in exrta time, would almost certainly have won. To my mind they were the better side and were obviously very unlucky to lose.
All in all, the Dragons did well to stay in the game considering how tired they must have been. The Bulldogs were fresh and let themselves down with poor handling. I'm content because I tipped the Dragons but after last night, I'll be tipping the Bulldogs with confidence from now on (except in round 17 of course!).
