The Dyldam Parramatta Eels NYC side has dodged a bullet to post a 28-26 win over the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
After a thrilling Round 13 win over the Cowboys, the young Eels were looking to put their stamp on the match early against the 16th placed Bulldogs, but the game opened with an arm-wrestle.
It took 13 minutes to break through for first points, with halfback Zach Dockar-Clay running through under the posts. The Blue and Gold backed it up with a strong try from Fred Junior Mauala, and continued to look dangerous through the first 40 minutes.
Unable to capitalise on a succession of line breaks, the Eels conceded two quick tries to the Bulldogs through big front-rower Herman Ese’ese and winger Tautalatasi Tasi, before answering back through Dockar-Clay with his second and Alec Bush just before the siren.
Despite five-eighth Mark Daoud scoring early to extend the Eels’ lead to 18 points, the young Bulldogs didn’t back down, threatening early in attack.
Ese’ese scored his second for the afternoon, while Robbie Kamoto ran in a double of his own to bring the final score within 2 points. But with less than a minute on the clock, the young Eels snuck away with the victory, the one extra successful conversion by Nathan Davis proving the difference.
Dyldam Parramatta Eels - 28 (Dockar-Clay 2, Mauala, Bush, Daoud. Davis: 4/5)
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs - 26 (Ese’ese 2, Kamoto 2, Tasi. Keighran: 3/5)
