The St George Illawarra Dragons were defeated 38-6 by the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium, Olympic Park on Sunday.
The Red-and-Whites were held scoreless for the majority of the encounter scoring only the one try late in the loss through winger Brett Morris.
Head Coach Steve Price stood-by the line-up he announced midweek which meant the services of second-rower Will Matthews were not required.
The Dragons were caught trailing early in the encounter after conceding two tries within the opening ten minutes.
The Bulldogs inflicted their initial blow through fullback Sam Perrett down the right flank four minutes in before second-rower Tony Williams did likewise six minutes later.
Bulldogs halfback Trent Hodkinson converted one of his two goals to make it 10-nil.
Momentum was now clearly in the visitors’ favour and they continued their attacking charge with a try to centre Tim Lafai in the 25th minute.
Hodkinson converted to make it 16-nil.
The Dragons had been denied any room to manoeuvre by the visitors throughout the first stanza and were later punished by Lafai’s second try of the match.
Hodkinson converted once more to make it 22-nil.
Unfortunately for the hosts, Lafai continued where he left off when play resumed and secured his hat-trick in the 45th minute.
The Bulldogs inflicted further misery on the hosts with a celebratory four-pointer to lock Greg Eastwood in his 150th first-grade match on the hourmark.
Hodkinson again converted to make it 32-nil.
A blistering 70-metre run by Bulldogs five-eighth Josh Reynolds eleven minutes from time all but dashed the hopes of the home side.
Hodkinson was again on target to make it 38-nil.
Yet the Dragons persevered and managed a consolatory try through winger Brett Morris three minutes from time.
Dragons five-eighth converted to make it 38-6.
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 38 defeated the St George Illawarra Dragons 6
St George Illawarra Dragons 6. Tries: Morris. Goals: Widdop (1/1).
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 38. Tries: Lafai (3), Perrett, Williams, Eastwood, Reynolds. Goals: Hodkinson (5/7).
