Melbourne Storm had their chances but Canterbury Bulldogs converted theirs, taking the points at AAMI Park on Monday night.
The Bulldogs made it six straight wins over the Storm and rookie Kerrod Holland's 62nd minute try turned out to be the match-winner as the visitors won 18-12 win in front of 11,037 supporters.
There was little that separated the two sides outside Holland's score but the Storm failed to convert more of their chances in the first half, with three potential tries going abegging due to either error or referee review.
The error count of 10-5 in the Bulldogs favour plus a 79 per cent completion rate hurt the Storm on a night when they had plenty of chances inside the Bulldogs' 20-metre line.
The home side dominated possession early but their attack came undone after nine minutes when Blake Green's grubber kick went into the shin of speedy Bulldogs halfback Moses Mbye. He took the ball and burst from deep inside his own defence all the way to the other end. The try was converted to make it 6-2 to the visitors.
The Bulldogs went further ahead after 20 minutes when Josh Reynolds made the perfect high kick to the right wing where Sam Perrett rose above Storm winger Marika Koroibete to score. Holland again converted to make it 12-2.
Green's chip kick looked to have put Cameron Munster in for a reply try after 28 minutes, with Munster catching the ball at the try line only to be held up by three Bulldogs defenders.
The Storm's constant possession saw Cooper Cronk also score after 34 minutes but it was ruled a no-try for obstruction, after Kevin Proctor collided with a Bulldogs defender in the vicinity of Cronk.
But the Storm didn't drop their heads, instead peppering the Bulldogs' line again with Tohu Harris barging over after 36 minutes. Smith's conversion made it 12-8.
Green almost had Koroibete in for a try on the half-time buzzer as his kick bounced within the winger's reach as he sprinted towards the line, only for the ball to bounce out of his hands.
Storm winger Young Tonumaipea took his chance to change the game in the second half when he scored a ripping try on 50 minutes.
It cost him his shirt, which was torn off in the process, but it was a fair price to pay as Tonumaipea ran onto Cronk's kick, was tackled and attempted a blind pass to Proctor only for the ball to bounce back into his hands.
With the ball in hand but tacklers on both sides Tonumaipea fell into the in-goal area and twisted around to touch down, Smith's conversion failed, leaving the scores tied at 12-12.
Despite having a lesser hold on possession the Bulldogs took the lead for good just after the hour when Will Hopoate extended a play, bouncing off several defenders while running across to the right and then finding Reynolds who drew in the defence before offloading to Holland who scored.
Holland kept his nerve with the conversion, making it 18-12 to the Bulldogs.
The Storm repeatedly tried to force an error from Hopoate under high balls in the second half but the fullback dragged in several bobbling kicks.
The Bulldogs also lost prop Aiden Tolman with nine minutes to go with the forward hobbling to the bench.
Melbourne looked to push the ball wide in the final minutes but the Bulldogs' defence held.
The Storm play Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval this Sunday at 4pm.
Canterbury Bulldogs 18 (M Mbye, S Perrett, K Holland tries; Holland 3-3 cons) d Melbourne Storm 12 (T Harris, Y Tonumaipea tries; Smith 1-1 pens, 1-2 cons). Crowd: 11,037.
0 comments
New User? Sign up