By Steve Greige
Former Bulldogs enforcer Mark O’Meley has helped Wyong score an upset 32-18 win over his old club Canterbury in their VB NSW Cup round four battle at Lidcombe Oval.
Wyong took an early 12-0 lead before Bulldogs young front-rower Makahesi Makatoa did it all himself in the 25th minute busting out of a tackle 30 metres out from the tryline to score next to the sticks.
Krisnan Inu, another international player returning from injury, converted to reduce the margin to 12-6.
Both sides traded tries as Wyong headed into the sheds leading 18-10.
The Bulldogs reduced the deficit to four points in the 55th minute when Kayne Brennan scored in the corner.
Wyong got some breathing space in the 61st minute when Roos playmaker Darren Nicholls threw a long cut-out pass to his right winger Dale Clacherty to touch down in the corner.
Five minutes later Cook Islands International Drury Low injected himself into the Bulldogs backline before throwing a lovely cut-out ball to replacement winger Levi Dodd and he raced around to improve the position for his goal-kicker.
A boilover looked on the cards in the 71st minute when Molan made a bust 40 metres out before finding his five-eighth Todd Lewis backing up on the inside and he raced away to score left of the posts and give them a handy eight point buffer.
Five minutes from full-time, O’Meley ducked under a tackle to dive over from close range for the match winner against the club he won a premiership with almost a decade ago. Nicholls converted the try to make the final score 32-18.
This weekend the Roos will head to Ringrose Park to take on the Magpies while the Bulldogs head to Henson Park on Saturday in what is looming as a must win match for both the Dogs and the Jets.
Wyong Roos 32 (T Vailea, M Williams, S Boss, D Clacherty, T Lewis, M O’Meley tries; D Nicholls 4 goals) def. Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs 18 (E Murphy, K Brennan, L Dodd, M Makatoa tries; K Inu goal) at Belmore Sports Ground
