Dragons go down to Bulldogs in heart-breaker

A late Jethro Rinakama four-pointer proved the difference as the Dragons fell to the Bulldogs 20-18 at Accor Stadium on Saturday night.

The Dragons showed tremendous grit and determination to come back from a double-digit deficit mid-way through the second forty but ultimately fell short of the competition points.

The side lost Sione Finau who suffered a shoulder injury in the process of scoring a match-tying try.

Rinakama lost the ball on just the second carry of the night to hand the Dragons an early chance, but the hosts were able to withstand their first test.

The Dragons’ next foray into enemy territory looked to have produced a result with Tyrell Sloan going over off a wild sequence which consisted of a pair of kicks and some wobbly bounces only for the video officials to intervene at the final moment and instead award the Bulldogs a penalty for an illegal push in the back.

Boosted by a penalty and a set restart on top of the initial infringement, the hosts marched down the other end and found a response through Jacob Kiraz who tiptoed down the sideline to slam the ball down in the right-hand corner and make it 4-0.

Viliame Kikau looked to have crossed for the hosts shortly after only for a herculean Damien Cook cover effort to prevent the Fijian international from getting the ball to the turf.

A piece of Clint Gutherson brilliance sent the Dragons ahead with the veteran fullback slicing through into the backfield from his own side of half-way and finding Sloan who would not be denied streaking down the right flank and over to score.

Kyle Flanagan added the extras to make it a 6-4 Dragons edge a quarter of the way in.

The visitors’ attack ignited again the following set with Gutherson sending Sione Finau into space down the opposite flank only for Rinakama to clean-up a Flanagan grubber the following play.

Canterbury wrestled the lead back moments later with Stephen Crichton bursting into space and finding a supporting Lachlan Galvin to score and make it 10-6.

Emre Guler left the encounter a half-hour in for a HIA – which he passed – prompting Shane Flanagan to send Jacob Liddle into the action.

They were able to extend their lead on the other side of the half-hour mark through Reed Mahoney who found some space out of dummy-half to dive over between the posts.

The Bulldogs had another opportunity prior to the break to add to their lead only for Hamish Stewart to come up with a needed one-on-one steal to wrestle possession back the way of the Dragons.

Flanagan knocked over a gift penalty goal as the half-time siren sounded to cut the deficit back to 16-8 heading into the sheds.

Kiraz was placed on report 10 minutes into the second forty for a dangerous throw on Corey Allan giving the Dragons a key attacking chance.

A hard-running Moses Suli took in a Gutherson delivery and rolled his way to the chalk to grab the Dragons’ second try of the evening – and his first of the season – as the deficit dropped back to four.

Luciano Leilua left the field in the aftermath of the four-pointer for a HIA – which he passed – bringing Michael Molo back into the contest.

It was clear the next set that the Dragons had wrestled back the ascendancy with Finau staving off a trio of cover defenders to finish off a slick, left-side shift with Gutherson again throwing the final pass.

Flanagan nailed the conversion from the touchline to give the visiting side a 20-18 lead.

Finau was unfortunately assisted from the field following the try nursing a shoulder concern which saw Jaydn Su’A shift into the centres and Allan out to the wing.

Kikau went close to coming up with a hit-back for the hosts after Connor Tracey attempted to bat the ball back in an aerial contest only for video officials to rule a knock-on.

Max King was placed on report the following set for a crusher tackle on Gutherson.

A quartet of Dragons, led by Su’A, came up with a massive defensive play soon after working together to bundle Kiraz into touch as the Bulldogs made a move downfield.

Sloan went close to snagging a second with 11 minutes remaining after crafting a chip kick but was denied by a desperate Bailey Hayward effort.

Canterbury lodged a successful Captain’s Challenge with five-and-a-half minutes to play to overturn a knock-on call and earn another opportunity on the attack.

The Bulldogs found a way to snatch it late with Galvin sending a ball over the top to Rinakama who dove over in the left-hand corner to make it 20-18.