Queanbeyan Kangaroos are one step closer to securing a top-four Canberra Raiders Cup berth after an early second half sin bin to Goulburn winger Steven Cummins opened the floodgates on Saturday at Freebody Oval.
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The dangerous tackle call allowed the Kangaroos to score three tries in 15 minutes, separating them from a battered and bruised Bulldogs outfit.
The 42-22 result means Queanbeyan only needs one more win from its final three games to secure a top-four spot.
Despite the win, Roos coach Adam Taylor couldn't see many positives.
"It was pretty ugly, I don't think we will take much out of that win except for the two points," Taylor said.
"Our completions all year have been our Achilles' heel. There was one game where we completed at 80 per cent and we were able to put 60 points on Gungahlin. If we can clean that up we will be right in it."
Kangaroos were challenged in the first half, conceding the first try of the game before hitting back with three of their own, including a full-lenght break from five-eighth Thomas Casey.
But Goulburn fought back with two tries to reduce Roos' lead to 18-16 at the break.
Then three tries in 15 minutes for the Kangaroos early in the second broke the game wide open.
The Bulldogs also sustained a handful of injuries, including winger Steve Cummings, who provided some quick runs early which led to several players playing out of position in the second half.
Bulldogs captain-coach Tyson Greenwood was pleased with his side's fight despite the loss.
"We came away with a loss but the effort was there. My boys are legends, they put in effort and never went away," Greenwood said.
"Having that player sent off early in the second half hurt us, but we also had three players injured in that game alone.
"So we had three or four blokes playing out of position. Although we lost you can't be too disheartened with the effort."
The loss means the Bulldogs will have to win all three of their remaining regular season matches to give them any chance of booking a top-four spot come September.
AT A GLANCE
QUEANBEYAN KANGAROOS 42 (K Pagura 2, T Casey 2, S Numambo, D Fale, R Robinson tries; L Ingram 7 goals) bt GOULBURN CITY BULLDOGS 22 (S Cummins, J Roberts, K Simon, A Trevilyan tries; I Walker 3 goals).
QUEANBEYAN BLUES 52 (G Morseu 3, M Parsons, U Asomua, T Campese, J Mitchell, J Baker, C Woolford tries; T Campese 8 goals) bt YASS MAGPIES 28 (W Peace 2, N Limoni, J Fattore, K Douvan tries; S Davis 4 goals).
WODEN VALLEY RAMS 28 (A Hopoate 2, S Burge 2, L Eveston, A Kawiri tries; B Robertson 2 goals) bt TUGGERANONG BUSHRANGERS 22 (A Mariota, M O'Malveney, J Billing, B Moeakiola tries; L Oakley 3 goals).
