Dogs remain on top with victory over storm

[Bulldog Force]

http://www.bulldogs.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=16781

DOGS REMAIN ON TOP WITH VICTORY OVER STORM

Evan Sieff


Saturday, May 23, 2009
The Bulldogs have put on an inspiring display, despite the early loss of playmaker Brett Kimmorley, to defeat the Melbourne Storm 26-10 at Bluetongue Stadium on Saturday.
The Dogs were forced to play the majority of the match without Kimmorley after the halfback limped from the field with a badly corked leg in the 12th minute.
A number of players, not least of all makeshift half Daniel Holdsworth, stepped up bravely to fill the breach against a star-studded Storm outfit.
Jamal Idris, who continues to build an immense reputation to go with his immense frame, had a hand in both first half tries. He made a 40m break after scooping up a Cameron Smith grubber one-handed which resulted in a penalty when the Storm finally rounded him up.
From the ensuing set captain Andrew Ryan hit the ball at pace and sliced through to open the scoring in the 18th minute.
Following a Hazem el Masri penalty goal in the 31st minute, the Bulldogs were in again.
Idris picked up the pill, running from the right wing to the left before unleashing Daryl Millard down the sideline. Flying winger Bryson Goodwin was taken out by Cooper Cronk in attempting to collect Millard’s inside ball and Melbourne’s halfback found himself in the sinbin.
Goodwin got his revenge from the next set – crossing in the corner for his eighth try of the season. El Masri sank a curling sideline conversion to extend the lead to 14-0.
The Storm could have opened their account in the shadows of halftime if not for some desperate Bulldogs defence. Goodwin turned from scorer to saviour – beating Greg Inglis in a footrace to ground the ball in the Dogs’ in-goal.
The Storm struck back in the opening moments of the second half. Some unusually soft defence on the right flank allowed Will Chambers to sneak through.
But some nifty hands from the Dogs ensured they were the next to score. Millard and Goodwin combined with a quick one-two and Millard dived over with 20 minutes left.
And they weren’t finished yet. An Ennis grubber bounced out of the desperate arms of Brett Finch into the grateful clutches of Gary Warburton for the second row to score.
A consolation try to Melbourne’s Chambers in the final ten minutes took little away from a stirring performance from the blue-and-whites.
“It was a great effort from the boys,” said man-of-the-match Ben Hannant, who finished with an impressive 16 hitups and 46 tackles.
“I think Daniel Holdsworth really stepped and led the boys around. It shows that even with players out we have the depth to get the job done.”

 

[Bulldog Force]

I wonder what LL3s excuse will be now. We've beaten Melbourne (a contender by everyone's standards) without our regular five-eighth Ben Roberts... and also without Brett Kimmorley for 68 minutes of the match. We have our regular lock forward David Stagg playing five-eighth and a five-eighth who's barely played any first grade this year playing halfback in Daniel Holdsworth and we still gave the Storm an assing.

 

[Bulldog Force]

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,25528747-5006066,00.html

BULLDOGS 26 STORM 10
By Samantha Broun | May 23, 2009 12:00am
THE Bulldogs have snapped a five-match losing streak against the Melbourne Storm and announced themselves as title contenders with an emphatic victory at Bluetongue Stadium in Gosford on Saturday night. The four-tries-to-two win for the 'Dogs was made all the more impressive by the fact they did it without star halfback Brett Kimmorley, who was forced from the field early with a cork.

The 'Dogs reaped the dividends from their willingness to chance their arm and scored tries though Andrew Ryan, Bryson Goodwin, Daryl Millard and Gary Warburton, while Will Chambers scored a double for the Storm in the second-half.

Hazem El Masri had another perfect night with the boot, landing five from five. Blues Origin hopeful Michael Ennis set up a try for Warburton in the 69th minute to push his claims for the Blues No.9 jersey in front of onlooking coach Craig Bellamy.

Daniel Holdsworth, who started ahead of Ben Roberts at five-eighth, led the Bulldogs around the park brilliantly as they bounced back with a vengeance from last week's controversial loss to St George Illawarra.

The Bulldogs went into half-time with a 14-0 advantage but the Storm came out from the break with more intensity and Chambers got them on the board in the 51st minute.

But the Bulldogs weren't going to lie down or let the Storm wrest the momentum from them and replied with a brilliant try through Daryl Millard, who scooped up the ball that was kept alive by Goodwin.

Ennis put through a grubber 10 metres out in the 69th minute which rebounded off Brett Finch into the waiting arms of Warburton. A second try to Storm centre Chambers in the 72nd minute proved too little too late.
Ben Hannant showed his versatility and skill when he put captain Ryan though a gap between Cooper Cronk and Will Chambers in the 18th minute to open the scoring.
Storm halfback Cronk was sin binned in the 33rd minute for taking down Goodwin before he received the ball as Daniel Holdsworth pounced on what appeared to be a legitimate play but was denied a try by the video referee for a knock on.
Goodwin made no mistake from the ensuing penalty when he crossed in the corner to make it 12-0.

Fulltime
BULLDOGS 26 (B Goodwin D Millard A Ryan G Warburton tries H El Masri 5 goals) bt MELBOURNE 10 (W Chambers 2 tries C Smith goal) at Bluetongue Stadium. Referee: Shayne Hayne, Gerard Sutton. Crowd: 10,923.

 

[Timmah]

Any doubt about our credentials can be put to rest if we put Newcastle to rest next week. FANTASTIC win, great night in Gosford. Loved every moment. The perfect birthday pressie

 

[Ridders]

Great stuff, i thought we were done when Kimmorley went down.

 

[Timmah]

Holdsworth... just... wow.

 

[Bulldog Force]

Our first win against the Storm since 2005 might I add. Excellent performance.

 

[dogz08]

I do hope Kimmorley will be back next week..

 

[bulldog]

I thought we were in trouble when Kimmorley left too, was good to see we didn't lose direction.

Happy birthday Timmah, Holdsworth really surprised me too.

 

[MattYg1]

Great f**king win Doggies....

Im still in shock that Daryl Millard scored a try :shock:

haha... nah good victory... im happy to see the Dragons and the Dogs up the top of the table...

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

You guys deserve to be on top. Great performance. I'm happy as the Dogs were last leg in my multi for the week.

First Saints drop the Sharks then your mob come home for me in a very complete performance. I think you guys deserve favoritism at the moment. So dangerous & still Josh Morris to come back.

Great Saturday for yours truly, all in all.

 

[kia ora storm]

Great win Dogs...Storm were not urgent enough and the likes of Ennis and Hannant dominated.

Well done..

 

[Timmah]

It's elevated us to equal favourites for the comp... remarkable.

Bulldogs, Storm, Saints and Broncos all 6.00 on Sportstab atm...

 

[jimmythehand]

I wonder what LL3s excuse will be now. We've beaten Melbourne (a contender by everyone's standards) without our regular five-eighth Ben Roberts... and also without Brett Kimmorley for 68 minutes of the match. We have our regular lock forward David Stagg playing five-eighth and a five-eighth who's barely played any first grade this year playing halfback in Daniel Holdsworth and we still gave the Storm an assing.

melbourne were without their marquee player Adam Blair.

 

[Shifty]

Melbourne were backing up from a Monday night game, that had to be a factor and they did look very flat.

Newcastle are also backing up next weekend with the short turn-around.

 

[Timmah]

And they'll be missing Gidley, possibly also Mullen and McManus...

 

[blakey792008]

Any doubt about our credentials can be put to rest if we put Newcastle to rest next week. FANTASTIC win, great night in Gosford. Loved every moment. The perfect birthday pressie

Newcastle would be a great gauge on how we are going its just a shame Gidley will not be playing and Possibly Mullen,aswell as most likely Hannant and maybe Stagg for us,really takes away from an absolute cracker of a game , i think Newcastle are the real Deal this year

 

[Bulldog Force]

melbourne were without their marquee player Adam Blair.

Yeah but you can't take it away from us - we were without Kimmorley for most of the match and Morris is still injured.

 

[Shifty]

Finally Holdsworth shows why the coaches (both Folkes and Moore) have held out hope for him. They really needed him to deliver in this game and thankfully he handled the pressure.

I was a lot slower to write him off than some, but I think it'll be a while before I'm totally convinced that he can be consistent in FG as well. He still has a lot more potential and it will be interesting to see what a bit of confidence does for him.

 

[blakey792008]

Finally Holdsworth shows why the coaches (both Folkes and Moore) have held out hope for him. They really needed him to deliver in this game and thankfully he handled the pressure.

I was a lot slower to write him off than some, but I think it'll be a while before I'm totally convinced that he can be consistent in FG as well. He still has a lot more potential and it will be interesting to see what a bit of confidence does for him.

Im the same Shifty but having Kimmorley around for 2 years helping with all our young halves cant be a bad thing ,it will give them all chance to learn off a consumate proffesional , roberts is proof in case already,always had potential but this year has taken his game to a new level