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The Parramatta Eels have proven too strong for the Canterbury Bulldogs chalking up a 20-12 win.
It was two tries a piece at half-time but it was all Parramatta after the break with ten unanswered points handing the Eels victory.
The Bulldogs were the first on the scoresheet as Curtis Rona found his way over the line in the seventh minute. Moses Mbye passed wide to the left ten metres out, drawing in Clint Gutherson with Rona then left to stroll over in the left corner. Kerrod Holland converted well from the sideline to make it 6-0 to the Dogs early.
Canterbury thought they had crossed for a second in the 15th minute after Mbye streaked away to plant the ball under the posts. The bunker disagreed though calling play back for offside.
Parramatta took full advantage of the ruling crossing over a minute later. Beau Scott drawing in three Bulldog defenders five metres out from the line and offloading to make shift five-eigth Brad Takairangi who swivelled over the line untouched. Michael Gordon converting to tie the scores.
In what was a tug of war first half, it was Dogs that found the try-line next with Josh Morris crossing over in the 29th minute. David Klemmer finding Morris on the right, with the centre benefitting from an unsuccessful Semi Radradra tackle to barge his way over. Holland again successful with the conversion as the Dogs went up 12-6.
As the half looked to stumble to an end, the Eels were to grab a late and controversial try. Despite a clear forward pass from dummy-half, the Eels were allowed to play on with Takairangi tapping a ball on to Gutherson on halfway with the winger showing pace to beat Klemmer and determination to brush past Will Hopoate and cross over in the right corner. An injured Gordon couldn’t convert as the Dogs took a narrow lead into the break.
The two sides returned from the break depleted through injuries but it was the Eels, who were without captain Tim Mannah and fullback Gordon, that were able to recover quickest.
Corey Norman doing it all himself in the 48th minute as he dummied and shrugged off a Tony Williams tackle to cross over. Gutherson converted to give the Eels their first taste of the lead.
Just five minutes later a hungry Parramatta side grabbed another try after Rona couldn’t hold on to a Takairangi kick with Vai Toutai pouncing to plant the ball down. Gutherson couldn’t convert but the Eels now led 20-12.
And that’s how it would stay with the Bulldogs doing well to hold Parramatta out as they searched for more. Conversely, Canterbury were lacking in attack and couldn’t conjure any points of their own in the second half.
In a game hampered by injuries and the absence of Kieran Foran, it was the Eels who have proved the stronger of two sides for the second time this season.
Final Score:
Parramatta Eels 20
Canterbury Bulldogs 12
It’s fifth up against sixth when the Parramatta Eels and Canterbury Bulldogs do battle at ANZ Stadium. Join The Roar from 7:50pm (AEST) to follow all of the action.
As is their trademark, the Eels have been a tough team to predict so far this season.
After a first-round loss, Parramatta beat last year’s champions, their opponents tonight and the Tigers, before slipping up late against Penrith.
They then put in a very classy performance to dispatch the Raiders and were too strong for Manly, before falling to an in-form Cowboys side last week.
Still, Parramatta are a side to fear this year and have shown why in patches. Their left wing is a thing dreams are made of, with Semi Radradra and Michael Jennings both finding the try line with ease.
The Bulldogs, much like the Eels, are a difficult side to predict in 2016. From impressive wins over the Storm, Rabbitohs and Manly to a loss to the Warriors and very narrow wins over the Panthers and Titans, the Dogs have loads of potential, they just need to find some consistency.
In squad news, both teams have named unchanged line-ups from last week, although Kieran Foran has since been given indefinite leave by his club after a reported prescription drugs overdose. The Bulldogs have also added Lloyd Perret and Raymond Faitala-Mariner to an extended bench.
Will the Eels make it two from two over the Bulldogs this season, or can Canterbury bite back? Join The Roar from 7:50pm (AEST) as the Parramatta Eels and Canterbury Bulldogs face off.
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