Sport

‘Dogs on back paw

BY MICK STEPHENSON

THE Bulldogs and Dragons are locked in a tight tussle in the Belvidere Cup match at Hurstville Oval.

The Bulldogs batted first in good conditions and openers Daniel Solway and Zeeshaan Ahmed looked comfortable until Ahmed was caught for 13 with score on 27.
Things took a turn for the worse when NSW Representative Solway was LBW to Nic Stapleton, with the Dogs looking vulnerable at 2-59. The reliable pair of Jake Cormack and Nick Carruthers steadied the ship with a 57-run, 3rd wicket partnership before Cormack was bowled by Evasio MacMillan for 27.
When Daniel Nicotra (0) and last week’s hero Ben Taylor (1) departed cheaply, the Bulldogs were in real strife at 5-122. Through the chaos one player stood tall in the form of Nick Carruthers whose innings of 72 off 96 balls gave the Bulldogs’ effort respectability.
Despite losing partners regularly, Carruthers persisted with his attacking style and his strike rate of 76 in such a challenging situation, speaks volumes for his talent.
Ben Le Bas (35) and Liam Marshall (21 not out) each contributed gutsy individual rear-guard efforts to steer the side to 220, a modest total by Bulldogs’ standards but at least it’s a target the bowlers and fieldsmen have a shot at defending.
Just before stumps Liam Marshall claimed the prize wicket of St George opener Simon Chu to leave the home side at 1-11 and setting up an intriguing finish next Saturday.