Game Summary
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs kept their faint finals hopes alive with a commanding 40-10 win over St George Illawarra Dragons, in Round 25 of The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup.
The Dragons eventually broke the deadlock when Brad Morkos busted through several missed tackles to score. The Bulldogs hit back through Joseph Teaupa, before a late Logan Spinks try handed the visitors a 10-4 lead at half-time in a match that had otherwise been a defensive stalemate.
Momentum swung back to the Dragons early in the second half when Morkos crossed for his second try to reduce the margin to two points, only for Jed Reardon, son of former Bulldogs stalwart Steve, to restore Canterbury-Bankstown's lead with a clinical finish out wide.
From there, the Bulldogs took total control. Halfback Alex Conti was the architect scoring himself with a dazzling solo effort, then setting up a string of tries as the Dragons' defense struggled.
Chelden Hayward also crossed for a hat-trick including an intercept try, while Kade Dykes added four points of his own as the Bulldogs cruised to a 40-10 win.
Talking Points
Alex Conti's put on a man-of-the-match display, headlined by a stunning individual try and a hand in several others.
Chelden Hayward's second-half hat-trick, capped by a spectacular intercept try, was another standout individual performance in the Bulldogs' team.
Key Moment
Logan Spinks' length-of-the-field try in the final minute of the first half, scored directly against the run of play from a goal-line drop-out, handed Canterbury-Bankstown a six-point buffer at half-time and set the platform for their second-half surge.
What's Next?
The Bulldogs face a daunting test against competition heavyweights the Penrith Panthers in Round 26, while the Dragons close out their season against the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.
