Milford Marlins 23 Blackbrook Bulldogs 26

THE Bulldogs bounced back from an early 10-point deficit to snatch victory with two late tries and end an 11-match losing streak.

Milford made an impressive start, centre Chris Smith going between the posts for a try converted by Dave Wray, quickly followed by an interception try by winger Micky Moran.

Bulldogs hit back when skipper Ian Callaghan dummied and jinked his way over from 40 metres out, before Mark Butterill dropped a goal for the home side to make it 11-4.

Again the visitors fought back with full-back Steve Woods scoring from a bomb by Callaghan who added the conversion. But Moran's second try for Milford made it 15-10 at the interval.

The Bulldogs grabbed the first score of the second period when substitute Jimmy Shuttleworth spotted a gap to score a solo try wide out, then Butterill and Callaghan swapped penalties to leave the score at 17-16 to the home side.

And Milford looked likely to secure the points when Smith scored his second try after good work by Moran, with Wray's conversion giving them a seven-point lead with time running out.

But the Bulldogs would not lie down and a try from Steve Molyneux, playing his first game of the season, superbly goaled by Chris Ratcliffe, gave them a scent of victory.

Then in a final dramatic act of a superb game Molyneux was on hand to take an Ian Buckley pass to score the winning try.

The Andrew Douglas Cars man-of-the-match for Bulldogs was Ian Callaghan, with Graeme Cox, Steve Molyneux and Craig Pickavance all playing well in a good team effort.