Dolphins defy atrocious conditions to smash Bulldogs in 36-point rout

That’ll do us, didn’t see that one coming. Big win for the Phins, even accounting for the Bulldogs who were missing.

Be sure to tune in again tomorrow and each and every match day until the end of the season, if the Steedens are flying we’ll be blogging it. 

Loading

Due to a technical mishap the Bulldogs press conference was not broadcast.

“I liked our intent right from the start and we carried that right through the game,” said Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf.

“They had a bit of fun at the end of the game as well.”

He praises Donoghoe for coming back on after the broken nose.

“He’s getting better and better, Kurt. He’s a tough bloke, he competes hard, we love having him in the team,” Woolf said.

“You could see it had been broken, but it’s back in place. Hooker has been a drama for us all year so it was important he came back on and young Harrison Graham did really well as well, he scored a good try.”

Says it’s an important win for a few reasons for the Phins.

“We’ve had a challenging first 12 weeks, we had some where we felt like we could have won where we didn’t get it done,” Woolf said.

“With the bye next week it’s a big win for us, a four-point win.”

Woolf reveals Herbie Farnworth spent the last two nights in hospital with a knee infection, he’s been on an intravenous drip.

Wow, another one for the Phins after another error from Tracey. Katoa drifts across field, Katoa hits it on the inside and the former Dog pulls through some soft defence and swan dives over to put the cap on a big night for the Dolphins. Isaako converts and it’s 38-8 Phins. 

The Dogs spread it desperately, knock it on and the Phins punch it in. Katoa goes short to Keeley, he offloads nicely to Molo and the prop runs it over to score. Well deserved, he’s been strong Molo. It’s turned into a big win for the Phins, Isaako converts and they’re up 32-8.

Lemuelu almost powers over only for Sexton to just drag him down but on the next play Farnworth bashes his way over from dummy half! Isaako converts and it’s a long way back now for the Dogs as the Phins lead 26-8.

Donoghoe hits Sexton as he’s kicking it and he’s penalised. Tough call though, Donoghoe ht him before he’d even kicked the ball, Sexton did tip above the horizontal though. Dogs on the attack but Kikau drops it.

Mahoney ducks out of dummy half close to the line, Turpin hits a hole and he’s over…..but referee Todd Smith calls it forward! Geez, dunno about that one. Phins hang on.

Tracey makes an error in the play-the-ball to give the Phins some field position, Kerr takes a great carry that absorbs three defenders and he pops a super offload to a trailing Graham and he dives over! That’s terrific from Kerr, he came onto that like a freight train.

Isaako converts and it’s 20-8 to the Phins, that’s a big lead now.

And we’re halfway home – the Dogs will get an attacking chance early with the Phins mucking up the kick on their first set.

Mahoney throws an awful pass to Burton and he knocks it on, the Phins are on the attack and they line up their left edge and show more excellent execution for Bostock to get over in the corner. Katoa and Nikorima combine beautifully to create the space, nice stuff in any conditions.

Isaako nails it from wide out and the Phins take a 14-8 lead into halftime. 

Burton goes for one of his curling bombs, they’re had to catch at the best of times and Averillo, a makeshift fullback, doesn’t have a prayer in these conditions. He knocks it on and the Dogs are on the attack again….until Mahoney knocks it on at the back of the scrum! Phins ball. Deary me.

Burton boots it downfield again and Isaako drops it a tackle later, the Dogs will go on the attack again. Feels  like the kick is their best chance at breaking the line.

Burton hoists one on the last, Bostock knocks it on, Hopoi ends up with it and claims the try. We go upstairs…Xerri knocked it back, Hopoi made a great take and he scores! Terrific hands from the young prop, that’s his first try in the top grade. Burton converts and it’s level at 8-all.

Wilson runs Farnworth off the ball as he chases a kick and it’s a Phins penalty. With points at a premium, they take the two and extend their lead to 8-2.

Molo takes out Sexton after a clearing kick and the Bulldogs go on the attack. They build some pressure with Taaffe and Mahoney both forcing drop outs.

But now the Dogs blunder a short one after Katoa drills it right at Mahoney, it bounces off his legs and Heyward picks it up in an offside position.

Katoa goes for a clearing kick into space around his own 40, it sits up centimetres from the dead ball line and Bostock flies through! It’s high speed, but the replay shows he just missed it as Tracey threw it dead. Great kick from Katoa, totally flipped field position.

They force another drop out but Graham drops it on tackle one.

Molo forces an error with a big shot on Hughes and from the ensuing set the Dolphins sweep left, Taaffe gets caught turning in and Isaako has enough space to dive into the corner! Great execution from the Phins considering the conditions and Isaako converts from touch for good measure. Phins lead 6-2.

The Dolphins get pinged for a ruck penalty and Donoghoe has gone off after suffering a broken nose in a head clash with Sexton. Graham will come on at nine as Burton knocks over the penalty. Dogs lead 2-0.

Could be a low-scoring one here tonight. The rain is bucketing down, both sides have found handling and yardage very difficult. But two early kicks from Burton and then Sexton puts the Dogs on top positionally and then Mahoney forces an error with a good shot on Donohuge. Dogs on the attack.

Phins kick us off, running right to left.