Match Details
Match Date	2nd Jul, 2000
Opponent	Northern Eagles
Result	Loss 22-30
Coach	Steven Folkes
Captain	Darren Britt
Venue	Brookvale Oval
Crowd	6,899
Referee	Mark Oaten

THE ground announcer summed up yesterday's clash between Northern Eagles and the Bulldogs as the clock wound down and the score teetered in the balance.

"Give it to Alby," he bellowed. He was referring to Eagles centre Albert Torrens, who had already scored all four of his side's tries and was the Eagle’s obvious go to man.

In the end, a grubber kick from half Matt Orford did the damage, with Steve Menzies scoring to clinch an Eagles victory over the hapless Bulldogs, who stretched their losing streak to five matches.

But the limelight belonged to Torrens, who capped his 25th birthday on Saturday with one of the finest performances of his career.

His dominance in attack and defence ensured opposing centre Willie Talau had an unhappy day, regularly seeing Torrens slip by and unable to get a single metre past the tenacious Eagle with the ball

Torrens' performance was particularly golden for Eagles officials, who recently fought off a lucrative offer from wealthy English club. Hull, to resign him for three years.

"I'm pretty happy with my game today." a shy Torrens said. "He-signing with the Eagles for three years was a relief and I was just happy that everything went well today and we won."

Torrens proposed deal with Hull was considerably better financially, but after discussions with family, he decided to stay in ihe warm climes of home: "I don't think I could have handled the cold weather in England."

Torrens shone in a game of mistakes and poor football that either side could have won.

Both teams were playing for pride and some players for their futures, but the game failed to reach great heights.

Despondent Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes criticised some of his players, who have been chasing more pay for next season.

"I'm terribly disappointed we self destructed in the end." he said. "There are a number of players who next time they come in asking for more money, will be turned away, put it that way.”

"We are playing with no confidence and it's a matter of a few blokes having a reality check and looking at themselves in the mirror.

"If you put your hand out at the end of the month for a pay cheque, then you have to put in throughout the month. There are some blokes that aren't doing that."

Folkes made it clear that a lot his team will be playing for their futures in the next few weeks.

"There are some we need to retain and some we don't." he said. "We have been in the market, with those that can negotiate, since 12 o'clock on Friday night."

In contrast, upbeat Eagles coach Peter Sharp was delighted with their performance or more importantly win.

Although only a distant mathematical chance to make the eight especially having to beat Brisbane away next week Sharp isn't concerned about what ifs and maybes.

"We are just playing it game by game." he said. "We set ourselves some goals and so far it has been okay. Mathematics don't come into it for us.”

Sharp praised the match winning Torrens. who he believes hasn't had the opportunnies to shine in his career. 'Alby just needs some quality ball and he got some today."

Supplying those opportunities were once again Adam Muir, Geoff Toovey and Matt Orford, who again showed his class but not enough to dissuade Sharp from continuing the great Brett Kimmorley chase.

My history with Brett goes back seven years and my history with Matt goes back seven weeks." he said. "Brett Kimmorley's leadership would be enormous for our footy team."

Source: The Australian

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