Dogs in savage form at kennel
THIS was something special. This was history. This was rugby league. And everything our great game stands for.
A thunderous crowd of 16,764 crammed Belmore Sports Ground last night to watch their beloved Bulldogs whack Melbourne Storm 20- 4.
With some spit and polish, grand old Belmore looked a treat last night.
This is no ordinary footy ground. This is Canterbury’s field of dreams.
This was where the club’s legends played. The Mortimer brothers, Hughes brothers, Les Johns, Kevin Ryan, Terry Lamb.
Lamb was there last night, so was Mortimer, as was Chris Anderson and Paul Langmack.
It doesn’t get much better when it comes to suburban rugby league.
This was the first premiership game at Belmore since 1998, when Canterbury, ironically, beat Melbourne.
Canterbury entered the field to rapturous applause. The Terry Lamb Hill was a sea of blue and white.
There were people everywhere. Fans were even perched on walls and trucks outside the ground just for a glimpse.
They were just glad to be back at their spiritual home.
The crowd was large, vocal and ready for a big Doggies win. It was intimidating and hostile – and Melbourne looked stage- struck early.
No doubt ANZ Stadium holds a special place in the hearts of Canterbury fans. But home is where history lies.
Belmore has seen some remarkable wins down through the decades. Last night wasn’t exactly a famous win – but everyone there will long remember what was a wonderful night.
Every time Canterbury excelled – and even when they didn’t – the crowd started the r chant of ‘ Bulldogs, Bulldogs, Bulldogs’. It was a fun night.
It was the biggest Monday night crowd of the season. The match was actually sold out four hours before kick- off.
Canterbury started in stunning style. Fullback Brett Morris sizzled over after just four minutes to give the Bulldogs a 6- 0 lead. And with their adrenalin pumping, the home side roared over again in the seventh minute through youngster Shaun Lane. Two Trent Hodkinson conversions gave Canterbury a 12- 0 lead.
And in the 14th minute, winger Sam Perrett scored for a 16- 0 lead.
Canterbury’s defence late in the first half was stirring.
They repelled raid after raid, their muscle reminiscent of some of the great Canterbury sides of the 1980s.
The Dogs led 16- 0 at halftime and were in complete control. A try to NSW centre Josh Morris early in the second half – which took the score to 20- 0 – all but ended the match as a contest. MANLY hit man Steve Matai apologised to South Sydney prop Dave Tyrrell after that tackle he made on him during Friday’s game at ANZ Stadium.
And the powerhouse back revealed he pulled off what has been described as the tackle of the year despite suffering a bad dose of the ‘ flu.
Matai launched himself at the unsuspecting Rabbitoh with a perfectly time bone- cruncher in the first half destined to etch a place in rugby league folklore.
“I wouldn’t read too much into it, he didn’t see me coming,” Matai said.
“I didn’t really think at all, it was more trying to change the momentum of the game. They were starting to get a roll on and we dropped a few balls. I was just trying to inspire.”
Matai caught up with his victim after the game.
“He’s a champion bloke. I apologised, I said ‘ sorry mate, I sort of caught you on your blindside’,” Matai said.