Despite leading 6-0 at the break, the Sydney Roosters failed to hold out the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in Round 14 of the NSW Cup, falling to a 20-6 defeat at Industree Group Stadium on Sunday.
Naufahu Whyte was dominant in attack and defence for the Tricolours, making 42 tackles and 234 run metres from 23 runs in an 80-minute performance at lock. The 21-year old offloaded the ball twice and made 77 post-contact metres, impressing in every performance aspect.
Match: Roosters v Bulldogs
Round 14 -
home Team
Roosters
13th Position
away Team
Bulldogs
1st Position
Venue: Industree Group Stadium, Gosford
A chip kick from five-eighth Joseph Taipari set up Ethan King for the opening try of the match, with the young fullback out-pacing the Bulldogs defence to ground the ball in-goal. Jaxson Paulo converted the try, giving the Roosters a six-point lead in the 12th minute.
The hosts traded blows with the Bulldogs in the 30 minutes that followed, with both sides struggling to hold onto the ball and generate attacking opportunity in miserable conditions.
Canterbury-Bankstown came out of the sheds firing to claim first points of the second half through Jeral Skelton who crossed to finish a right-edge play, with Kyle Flanagan converting the try to level the scores.
Six minutes later centre Declan Casey barrelled his way over King to ground the ball on the stripe, forcing the fullback from the field after 52 minutes. Flanagan failed to kick the conversion, leaving the score at 10-6.
The Bulldogs extended their lead when Fa’amanu Brown stepped through the line, crashing over for the visitors’ third try. Flanagan’s conversion carried the Bulldogs to a 10-point advantage with 16 minutes left of play.
A late infringement by the Roosters gave Canterbury-Bankstown another chance to claim points, with Skelton taking the opportunity to cross through a right edge play mirroring his first try.
The Roosters will now turn their sights to Round 15, where they’ll face the Penrith Panthers at Wentworth Park on Sunday afternoon.
Sydney Roosters 6 (Ethan King try, Jaxson Paulo goal) def by Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 20 (Jeral Skelton 2, Declan Casey, Fa’amanu Brown tries, Kyle Flanagan 2 goals)
