Bulldogs Battle Hard in Defeat

A heavy defeat might have been in prospect, but Brum’s youthful outfit made the hosts work hard to retain that record.

An early try by second rower Denham Samuels showed Birmingham what they could expect, and Bulldogs had a lot of defending to do for the next 20 minutes. Then, though, Brum posted a try that was as good as any in the match: Bernard fed Walker, he in turn went on a storming run down the right flank before passing inside to skipper and stand off Matt Dudley who touched down by the posts; Danny Bancroft added the goal to put the visitors ahead by two points.

The lead was all too brief however as Telford again went to the Birmingham line where hooker Stephen Taylor went over from acting half back; scrum half Ben Lewis added the conversion to restore Raiders’ lead.

Just before the break, Telford went ten points clear when Pom Tutt crossed for a try that Lewis goaled.

Bulldogs needed to score early to get back into contention and did so in spectacular fashion: with Raiders pressing the Brum line, they mishandled and the loose ball was scooped up by right winger Jermaine Bernard who broke clear and raced 90-odd metres to the posts to touch down; loose forward Sam Shepherd goaled.
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The big home pack was testing Birmingham’s defence. Bulldogs tackled valiantly but were unable to prevent further tries by Taylor (his second - goal Lewis) and left-winger Andy Young.

It was a commendable show in defeat by Bulldogs for whom Sam Shepherd was man-of-the match, with Adam Walker and Nic Evans in contention. Samuels took the award for Raiders

Next Saturday (June 22) Bulldogs are at home to Coventry Bears “A” (kick off 2:30)

Summary: Telford Raiders 26 Pts, Birmingham Bulldogs 12
Coventry: T. D.Samuels, S.Taylor 2, P.Tutt, A.Young
G. B.Lewis 3
Birmingham: T. M.Dudley, J.Bernard
G. D.Bancroft, S.Shepherd.