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Bulldogs win feisty clash as frustrated Tigers finish with 11 men

Christian Nicolussi
Updated ,first published
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Match report: Bulldogs 22-14 Wests Tigers

By Christian Nicolussi

Accor Stadium: Bulldogs star Reed Mahoney was involved in an ugly melee for a second straight game as tensions boiled over in a spiteful clash with Wests Tigers on Saturday afternoon.

Canterbury fought back from an eight-point deficit at half-time to win 22-14 against the Tigers, who finished the game with two players in the sin bin.

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Mahoney was headbutted late in the game by Tigers forward Alex Seyfarth, who was engaged in a push and shove with Viliame Kikau. Kikau had taken issue with Seyfarth trying to put a shot on Jacob Kiraz, and Mahoney charged in moments later.

A fortnight ago, Mahoney was binned for niggling Newcastle’s Jack Hetherington, who later told News Corp papers: “I hate a little smart arse who runs in like he [Mahoney] does.”

Full-time: Dogs win 22-14

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79 min: Kurt Mann is denied his second try, because of an obstruction, and the full-time siren sounds soon after without further addition to the scoreboard. The Bulldogs climb into the top eight on the live ladder, while Wests Tigers slump to 2-6.

Tigers lose two to the bin

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Alex Seyfarth was sin-binned for this headbutt on Reed Mahoney.Nine

35 min: Tigers will finish the match with 11 men, with David Klemmer (dissent) and Alex Seyfarth (headbutt) sin-binned by referee Kasey Badger, who is fed up with the backchat from the Tigers in the second half.

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Close your eyes, Tigers fans!

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57 min: Burton cuts through from 60 metres out without a hand being laid on him, draws the fullback, and puts Bronson Xerri over. Burton makes no mistake with the kick to make it 16 unanswered points for his team. Bulldogs 22-14.

Sezer in trouble for a hip-drop

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54 min: Sezer on report for a hip-drop tackle on Curran. Can count himself very lucky to not be sin-binned. “A sin bin every day of the week,” said Fox commentator Michael Ennis. The resulting Burton penalty goal hands the Bulldogs back the lead. Bulldogs 16-14

Hail Hutcho!

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45 min: A section of Bulldogs fans booed Drew Hutchison in a recent match, but they would have had no complaints about his deft kick that Josh Curran chased through to score. A prop had no right to win that race to the ball; the Tigers needed to show more urgency. Burton converts the try and adds a penalty goal soon after to level the scores. Here comes the Dogs! 14-14

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Game back on

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41 min: The Tigers are 40 minutes away from their first win in five matches if they can hold on to their lead. Tigers fans will tell you, from bitter experience, that’s often a big “if”.

Tigers hang on to take a handy lead into half-time

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40 min: A desperate Justin Olam wins the race to an Addo-Carr kick to deny the Bulldogs their second try right on half-time. Big play right there! Tigers 14-6

Christian Nicolussi writes: The Tigers are up by eight, but had to survive a late scare from the Dogs right on half-time. Matt Burton put through a chip kick early in the count, Josh Addo-Carr did well to sprint through and scoop it up, before he kicked again, only for the Tigers to ground the ball.

This could go anyway. The Tigers are far from home. Both teams have been clunky in attack.
Meanwhile, Anthony Field, the Blue Wiggle and proud Tigers fan, is part of the half-time entertainment – at a Dogs game. Hopefully Field Toot Toot Chugga Chugga’s straight out of the venue once his commitments are done.

Tigers in front again by eight

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27 min: No Api, no worries. Fill-in hooker Jake Simpkin makes his mark on the game by putting Fonua Pole over for his first try of the season. Sezer turns four into six. Tigers 14-6

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Bulldogs bite back

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Kurt Mann opens the Bulldogs’ scoring.Getty

23 min: TRY to the Bulldogs. And it’s all too easy as hooker Reed Mahoney jumps out of dummy-half and puts Kurt Mann over. Burton converts. Tigers 8-6

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