The Reserve Grade Newcastle Knights recorded three consecutive wins after defeating the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 24-4 at Belmore Sports ground on Sunday afternoon.
The Knights asserted their dominance in the first half with 18 unanswered points and continued their run in the second stanza, keeping the home side to just four points.
Despite the Bulldogs having the weight of possession, Knights winger Thomas Cronan was first to open the scoring account in the 12th minute. Bryce Donovan was successful with the conversion for the Knights to lead 6-0.
In the 21st minute, Tyler Randell took advantage of a lapse in concentration by the home side to weave his way to the line and stretch the lead 12-0.
In the final minute of the first half, Tom Starling forced his way over from dummy half to record the Knights third for the match. Newcastle went intp halftime leading 18-0.
After the break, it was centre Tom Carr to put down the first points for the Bulldogs in the 46th minute but the Knights remained in front 18-4.
In the 59th minute, a pin-point grubber from Starling landed in the hands of Bradie Smith to extend the Knights lead to the final score 24-4.
SUMMARY
Newcastle Knights 24 (T: Cronan, Randell, Starling, Smith, G: Donovan 4/4)
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 4 (T: Carr, G: Martin 0/1)
TEAMS
Knights
1. Nick Meaney, 2. Tom Hughes, 3. Jacob Gagan, 19. Bryce Donovan, 5. Thomas Cronan, 14. Will Pearsall, 7. Jack Cogger, 16. Pat Mata’utia, 9. Tyler Randell, 10. Pauli Pauli, 11. Bradie Smith, 12. Braden Robson, 13. Tyrone Amey. Interchange: 15. Pasami Saulo, 17. Sam Bernstrom, 18. Faitotoa Faitotoa, 23. Tom Starling.
Bulldogs
1. Brad Abbey, 2. Reimis Smith, 3. Richard Kennar, 17. Josh Bergamin, 5. Tyrone Phillips, 6. Josh Cleeland, 7. Lachlan Lewis, 8. Ray Moujalli, 9. Craig Garvey, 10. Renouf To’Omaga, 11. Bronson Garlick, 12. Rhyse Martin, 13. Rod Griffin. Interchange: 14. Zac Woolford, 15. Lachlan Lee, 16. Siaopo Tagaloa, 20. Tom Carr.
