FOOTSCRAY has produced a brilliant escape to roll Melbourne University 28-27 in a Dewar Shield thriller at Henry Turner Reserve on Saturday.
About 10 minutes into the game the Bulldogs were seemingly down
and out, trailing 24-8 and with playmaker Martin Naufahu sent off.
Down to 14, the Bulldogs came from behind for an unlikely bonus-point victory.
“We got a bit of a roll on at the end,” Bulldogs captain Allan Imo said. “It was a massive effort for the boys to get up.”
Naufahu’s absence for the Bulldogs was troubling – the fly-half is the one who normally dictates the play.
“Our whole game plan is built around him,” Imo said.
The Bulldogs, “demoralised” heading into the dressing sheds at
half-time a man down, reverted to their game simulation from training
for hope.
“Our drills at training are always with odd numbers,” Imo said. “We always defend one man down and attack one man up.
“In a game it’s a completely different situation, especially with a key player like Martin getting the red card – it was a tough ask.”
But the Bulldogs found a way.
Hooker Melbourne Lesa, No.8 Tuipine Apineru and flanker Tim Diack
rallied the troops for one last-gasp effort. Tries from Perenise
Nikolao, Keisuke Yamada, Mercy Lufe and Sonatane Tovia put the Bulldogs
within touching distance before Yamada landed the winning penalty late
in the second half.
Leon Tufuga took control of the game in Naufahu’s absence, marshalling the Dogs around the field.
The bonus-point win sees the Bulldogs consolidate their place in the top five.
“If we had’ve lost on Saturday, our season could well have been over,” Imo said.
“We got the win and the bonus point – something we could only dream of after the send-off in the first 10 minutes.
“The boys knew how important the game was and pulled together.”
