Dragons fall to Bulldogs in front of Kogarah sell out

The visitors struck first through Matt Burton who intercepted a Ben Hunt pass and raced away nearly 80 metres before converting his own try to make it 6-0 less than five minutes in.

The Bulldogs added to their lead with Burton knocking over a penalty goal after the Dragons were whistled for a strip.

Tyrell Sloan was placed on report a quarter of the way in before the Dragons found a response through Zac Lomax who took in a pinpoint Hunt grubber and slid over the right corner.

The State of Origin star converted his own try from inches inside the chalk to cut the deficit down to two.

An error off the corresponding set paved the way for the visitors to nab their second with Bronson Xerri on the end of a Toby Sexton grubber to make it 14-6.

Xerri found a second off a fifth tackle Sexton face ball after the Bulldogs were awarded a piggyback penalty the following set.

The hosts went close to responding after forcing an error with Sloan pouring through to ground a Dragons drop which the side claimed had been stripped out only for video officials to agree with the on-field decision of knock-on.

The Dragons managed to notch a try prior to the break with Luciano Leilua sending Sloan into space with a crisp inside ball.

In trademark fashion, Sloan glided past his opposite to dive over in the left corner and bring his side back within 10 points.

A two-point field goal attempt off the boot of Burton came up short as the half-time siren sounded with Josh Addo-Carr going close to snaring the bouncing ball only for Sloan to bat it dead just in the nick of time.

Hame Sele was unable to return for the second half, with the front rower taken to hospital as a precaution after concern from the team medicos.

The Bulldogs fired in a challenge soon after in an attempt to overturn a strip call with video officials instead ruling that the ball had been raked out and knocked on with the visitors retaining their right to challenge despite possession remaining the way of the Dragons.

Harry Hayes was held up over the line for the Bulldogs soon after with an urgent display of Dragons scramble all that could prevent the interchange forward from getting the ball down.

The Dragons lodged a successful challenge moments later with replays showing that Ryan Couchman had forced the ball free of Stephen Crichton’s grip rather than stripping it.

Hunt nearly found one for the Red V off it after toeing forward a Couchman offload only for the ricocheting ball to end up in Bulldogs arms.

Kurt Mann bumped his way over for the visitors to extend their lead back beyond two converted tries entering the final quarter of the clash.

Jacob Kiraz went close to adding to the visitors’ lead off a right-side set play only for Moses Suli to come up with a tremendous try-saver.

Suli was assisted from the field with a knee issue as the situation worsened for the Red V before Burton added another penalty goal to the Bulldogs’ tally late.