Report: NSW Women's Premiership Round 2 vs Bulldogs

After building a 10-point lead by half-time thanks to two classy first-half tries, the Tigers were unable to hold off a second-half resurgence from the Bulldogs, who ran in three unanswered tries to steal the win.

The Tigers struck early in the 6th minute, with halfback Tallara Bamblett delivering a pinpoint cutout ball to the left wing for Claudia Nielsen, who stepped inside her defender to score the opening try. Bamblett nailed the sideline conversion to give the home side a 6-0 lead.

West Tigers extended their lead midway through the half in unorthodox fashion. A high kick from Bamblett was allowed to bounce by the Bulldogs and looked destined for touch, before winger Taylor Mapusua flung the ball back infield over her head. Aaliyah Bula was in the right place at the right time, grounding the ball to give the Tigers their second try. The conversion attempt narrowly missed, and the Tigers went into the sheds up 10-0.

The Bulldogs responded in the second half, narrowing the margin in the 47th minute when Sarahcen Oliver crashed over off a crisp cutout pass from Anneka Wilson.

Momentum swung further in Canterbury's favour shortly after, with fullback Ambryn Murphy-Haua slicing through to score a classy solo try. And in the 56th minute, a left-edge shift saw Summer van Gelder cross in the corner to put the visitors ahead for the first time.

Despite their best efforts in the final stages, the Tigers were unable to conjure a late match-winner.

While the result didn’t go their way, the Tigers showed plenty of resolve and discipline throughout, with strong efforts from Bamblett, Nielsen, Mapusua, and Bula. Coach Mitch Sargent will take plenty of positives from the first half and look to build consistency across the full 70 minutes moving into Round 3.

Bulldogs 12 (Oliver, Murphy-Haua, van Gelder tries; Uilou 0/2, van Gelder 0/1 goals) defeated Wests Tigers 10 (Nielsen, Bula tries; Bamblett 1/2 goals) at Lidcombe Oval.