Canterbury Bulldogs beat South Sydney Rabbitohs 23-18 in round 13 clash

BULLDOGS recruit Krisnan Inu last night piloted his maiden top-grade field goal and then set up a crucial try in a thrilling win against South Sydney.

Bulldogs

ENIGMATIC and unwanted, Bulldogs recruit Krisnan Inu last night piloted his maiden top-grade field goal and then set up a crucial try in a thrilling win against South Sydney.

With the scores locked at 18-all, Inu took centre stage with five minutes remaining to boot a 32m field goal that set up the win.

Souths centre Dylan Farrell then looked to have scored a long-range match-winning try with three minutes left, only for his boot to be ruled in touch before he touched down.

The Bulldogs then sealed a memorable win with a late try to lock David Stagg in the final minute.

South Sydney blasted to a 12-0 lead, the Bulldogs then locked it up at 12-all before making it 18-12 leading into halftime.

Then the Rabbitohs came out and kicked again in the second half as it turned into an old-fashioned arm-wrestle.

English internationals Sam Burgess and James Graham went toe-to-toe, Ben Barba scored a brilliant try and Inu capped his new lease of life at Belmore.

The alarm bells were blaring for the Bulldogs when Souths breezed across in the third minute after a series of short passes from John Sutton, Sam Burgess and Dylan Farrell sent rookie winger Josh Hunt across down the left wing.

When the 122kg Dave Taylor busted through Canterbury forwards Sam Kasiano and David Stagg, before stepping past fullback Ben Barba, it looked like it could be a night to remember for the red and green.

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The Rabbitohs then set about dominating every facet of the contest on the back of a one-sided penalty count as the Bulldogs struggled to remain in the contest.

Souths edged further ahead in the 25th minute when Bulldogs back-rower Corey Payne was penalised for a high shot on Jason Clark, giving halfback Adam Reynolds an easy penalty conversion for a 12-0 scoreline.

Then all hell broke loose in the final 15 minutes of the opening half as the Bulldogs blasted in three tries.

The Rabbitohs bungled the kick-off in their own in-goal before Sam Burgess decided to run at fellow English international James Graham with a cocked elbow, sparking players to run in from everywhere.

Burgess stood toe-to-toe with Graham and engaged in a verbal battle with Payne before the Rabbitohs were penalised for sparking the melee.

The Bulldogs welcomed the invitation with both hands, seizing their first attacking opportunity for fullback Ben Barba to send winger Krisnan Inu over in the left corner.

Canterbury captain Michael Ennis then approached referee Ben Cummins, only to be told: "You've come at us three times about 50-50 calls. It doesn't work like that."

Inu nailed the sideline conversion to leave the Bulldogs trailing 12-6.

Souths co-captain Burgess then had another brain explosion in his running battle with Bulldogs forward Payne, giving Canterbury a penalty.

The Dogs again took full advantage, tipping the ball from one side of the field to the other and back for right winger Johnathan Wright to storm over.

When Inu nailed the conversion, the scores were deadlocked at 12-all.

Souths debutant George Burgess then gave away a penalty as the Rabbitohs were struggling on the back foot, allowing the Bulldogs to march down field for their third attacking raid.

Once again, success. This time fullback Barba showed freakish skill to be able to regather a chip kick from five-eighth Josh Reynolds and score under the posts for an 18-12 lead.

Souths hit back after the break courtesy of a silky touch from centre Dylan Farrell.

After Bulldogs forward Marty Tapau was penalised for a swinging arm on Souths five-eighth John Sutton, the Rabbitohs marched down field before the pivot rolled a grubber into the in-goal.

Farrell showed tremendous skill to outpace Barba and ground the ball one-handed.

Reynolds converted to level at 18-all.

BULLDOGS 23 (B Barba K Inu D Stagg J Wright tries K Inu 3 goals K Inu field goal) SOUTH SYDNEY 18 (D Farrell J Hunt D Taylor tries A Reynolds 3 goals) at ANZ Stadium. Referees: Gavin Morris, Ben Cummins. Crowd: 19,439