Match Report: NSW Cup Round 9 vs Bulldogs

Wests were no match for a Canterbury-Bankstown team that moves into second place on the competition table with this victory.

The Bulldogs struck early after a Magpies error, with Toby Sexton dummying his way through the line to cross after just one minute of action. 

The home side extended their lead to 12-0 after 20 minutes when a Jake Turpin short ball sent Kitione Kautoga crashing over from close range.

Poasa Faamausili chased a Sexton grubber to score a dubious third try for the Bulldogs, with the Canterbury front rower appearing to bounce the ball in the in-goal rather than ground it.

Wests grabbed their first try before half-time, with a powerful Starford To’a run leading to a Solomona Faataape try in the left corner on the next play.

After Eli Clark scored for the Bulldogs shortly after the break, Sione Vaihu backed up a powerful burst from Declan Casey to bring the Magpies to within two converted tries at 24-12.

However the Western Suburbs fightback was short-lived, with Sexton scoring a scrappy try off his own grubber kick, followed by Turpin diving over from dummy half, to make it a 36-12 scoreline after 68 minutes.

Bulldogs winger Jeral Skelton bagged the final try of the afternoon, with the big winger capping an outstanding performance with a late four-pointer.