Souths appeared to have sealed victory with a field goal taking them to a 23-22 lead with 30 seconds to play.

But the Bulldogs chanced their arm with a short kick-off from the restart. They regained the ball and received penalty in the ensuing play.

“We were probably lucky to get the result, but the ability to keep turning up in the game with 30 seconds to go is what we’re proud of,” Bulldogs coach Ron Griffiths said.

“I thought we crucified a few opportunities and in the end they did as well.

“They went the field goal option. We went for a short kick-off and got the ball back and they ended up giving us a penalty.

“We made some errors at critical times. We switched off at times and didn’t stick to the process. We just need to make sure we tick all those little boxes along the. But I can see an improvement each week.

“To turn up and win at that time of the game in that fashion is a credit to the spirit we are building.

“We probably just gave them some cheap get outs of their end. Twice we kicked off to them and twice we gave them a penalty and they were able to go down the other end and score.

“One was a try and the other time was the field goal which got them in front.

“I think we were probably a bit off the mark last week against Maitland. No disrepect to them, I think they’d acknowledge that was their worst game of the season.

“It’s not always going to be diamonds. Some times you’ve got to get in the trenches and work hard for each other to get a win and we did that.”

The Bulldogs led at half-time but let Souths back into the game just before the break with a couple of tries.

“We challenged the boys at half-time and they responded,” he said.

“I thought Tyme Dow-Nikau was really good again. Mark Walker was good, Ryan Walsh was good. Kade Hardy and Kyle Smith, all our back were pretty strong.

“In the middle, I thought Brock Gilmour played good in patches, so did Mitch Cullen and Terence Seu Seu was pretty good.”

Bulldogs 24: Tries: Kyle Smith, Kade Hardy, Mark Walker, Tyrone Walsh. Goals: Ryan Walsh 4