BULLDOGS OVERWHELM BARBARIANS FOR DIVISION ONE TITLE

BULLDOGS OVERWHELM BARBARIANS FOR DIVISION ONE TITLE

Northern Bulldogs broke down Ashburton Barbarians’ impressive early resistance to run away with the CRL Division One grand final 40-20 at Ngā Puna Wai.

Experienced campaigners Nathaniel Tirikatene and Cameron Godfrey both scored two tries in a dominant Bulldogs display.

The bruising Barbarians made an outstanding start, with winger David Toala blazing away for a long-range try to complement his team’s goal-line steel without the ball.

But a classy solo effort from hooker Tirikatene put the Bulldogs on the board in the 18th minute, before Godfrey crossed twice in quick succession.

Rawiri Mansfield landed a hammer blow to the Barbarians when he reached out to score just before halftime creating a 20-4 scoreline.

Canterbury Rugby League Grand Final Day 2022 11/08/24
Photographer: Matthew Musson/MattyLouisPhotography

Two more unanswered tries and a penalty goal put the trophy out of reach at 34-4, but Ashburton finished with plenty of spirit to score three late tries.

Tirikatene capped a superb game by crossing for his second four-pointer in the dying minutes and landing the conversion for a 20-point haul.

2024 CRL DIVISION ONE GRAND FINAL

Northern Bulldogs 40 (Nathaniel Tirikatene 2, Cameron Godfrey 2, Rawiri Mansfield, Kurt Williams, Armstrong Beedles tries; Tirikatene 6 goals) defeated Ashburton Barbarians 20 (David Toala, Ofisa Taelega, Taulangi Daniel, Nathan Robinson tries; Pukenga Pukenga, Robinson goals) at Ngā Puna Wai. 

Canterbury Rugby League Grand Final Day 2022 11/08/24
Photographer: Matthew Musson/MattyLouisPhotography
Share this

Posted in