The Pirtek Parramatta Eels have gone down to the Canterbury Bulldogs 32-24 in round two Holden Cup action at ANZ Stadium.
The Eels got off to a flying start thanks to James Tuitahi, who crossed with his first touch of the football, in just the third minute of play after being called into the side following Vai Toutai's elevation to the NRL team.
The Bulldogs replied not long after, following a number of handling errors from both sides. On the back of a strong kicking game from halves Zach Dockar-Clay and Mitchell Brasington, Parramatta looked in command when they shot out to an 18-4 lead courtesy of tries to John Folau and Isaiah Mosese.
But the tide turned very sharply after that with the Doggies piling on 32 unanswered points, including four tries to monster winger John Sila. It could've been worse for the Eels if Bulldogs fullback Patrick Templeman had brought his kicking boots, as he landed just two goals from seven attempts.
Tuitahi scored his second try of the match in the dying stages of the game to put some respectability back into the scoreline but the defensive lapses mid-way through this clash will give coach Andrew Webster plenty of headaches in the lead up to next Friday's game against the Wests Tigers at Leichhardht Oval.
Canterbury Bulldogs 32 (John Sila 4, Patrick Templeman, Dylan Rintoul, Ryan Wilson tries; Patrick Templeman 2 goals)
Parramatta Eels 24 (James Tuitahi 2, John Folau, Isaiah Mosese tries; Mitchell Brasington 4 goals)
The Eels got off to a flying start thanks to James Tuitahi, who crossed with his first touch of the football, in just the third minute of play after being called into the side following Vai Toutai's elevation to the NRL team.
The Bulldogs replied not long after, following a number of handling errors from both sides. On the back of a strong kicking game from halves Zach Dockar-Clay and Mitchell Brasington, Parramatta looked in command when they shot out to an 18-4 lead courtesy of tries to John Folau and Isaiah Mosese.
But the tide turned very sharply after that with the Doggies piling on 32 unanswered points, including four tries to monster winger John Sila. It could've been worse for the Eels if Bulldogs fullback Patrick Templeman had brought his kicking boots, as he landed just two goals from seven attempts.
Tuitahi scored his second try of the match in the dying stages of the game to put some respectability back into the scoreline but the defensive lapses mid-way through this clash will give coach Andrew Webster plenty of headaches in the lead up to next Friday's game against the Wests Tigers at Leichhardht Oval.
Canterbury Bulldogs 32 (John Sila 4, Patrick Templeman, Dylan Rintoul, Ryan Wilson tries; Patrick Templeman 2 goals)
Parramatta Eels 24 (James Tuitahi 2, John Folau, Isaiah Mosese tries; Mitchell Brasington 4 goals)
