The Parramatta Eels have suffered a 26-18 defeat to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium tonight in the Round 17 back and forth affair.
The Bulldogs NYC put the first points on the board in the 10th minute of the clash through winger Kiko Manu. A quick shift through the hands of their backline saw the winger with space to move and Manu, still with work to do, found his way to the line to put the opening points on the board.
It was just five minutes later when Bulldogs centre Adam Keighran scored the second, collecting an Eels kick, slicing through the line and running 70m to score a long range try.
It took an individual effort from centre Noel Aukafolau in the 24th minute to put the Blue & Gold first points on the board. The centre, close to the line, powered his way, shrugging off three defenders to score a converted try out wide.
A bit of desperation in the 34th minute of the clash saw fullback Anthony Layoun grubber for himself close to the line, regather, before the ball found it’s way to hooker Denzal Tonise. A long cut out ball found winger Greg Leleisiuao who won the race to the corner to dive over, levelling the scoreboard.
A try just on the strike of halftime to Layoun, diving over close to the line, put the Eels ahead as the Blue & Gold took a 14-10 lead into the sheds.
The Bulldogs struck first in the second stanza, when their left winger, Cameron Scott, was on the end of a simple catch and pass to run over out wide for a converted try in the 49th minute. The Bulldogs taking a 16-14 lead.
The Eels put themselves ahead in the 65th minute, when Emosi Alamoti crossed over out wide. The centre was on the end of an Eels backline movement that finished as he dove over out wide to score giving the Eels a two point lead.
The Bulldogs nudged ahead again in the 73rd minute, when after forcing a drop out, the ball spread through the hands and found their right winger Manu 20m out from the line. Stepping and ducking, the Bulldogs winger made his way to the line to score out wide giving the Bulldogs a 20-18 lead.
The Eels looked to have put themselves ahead with three minutes of play when hooker Denzal Tonise attempted to barge over close to the line. But the forward was ruled to be held up.
On the final play of the game, the Bulldogs put up a cross field kick that was claimed by Manu, offloaded back on the inside for centre Morgan Harper who found his way to the right of the posts. The try was converted securing a 26-18 victory to the Bulldogs.
Parramatta Eels 18 (Tries: Noel Aukafolau, Greg Leleisiuao, Anthony Layoun, Emosi Alamoti; Goals: Joseph Taipari 1/4)
Def by
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 26 (Tries: Kiko Manu (2), Adam Keighran, Cameron Scott, Morgan Harper; Goals: Adam Keighran 3/4)
