Match Details
Match Date	26th Apr, 2004
Opponent	South Sydney
Result	Win 34-8
Coach	Steven Folkes
Captain	Steve Price
Venue	Sydney Football Stadium
Crowd	12,276
Referee	Shayne Hayne

The Bulldogs remain on top of the National Rugby League ladder after a 34-8 victory over Souths at the Sydney Football Stadium.

The Dogs started and finished the game well but in between they were lamentable.

Their execution was excellent early, completing all of their first 10 sets to race to a 12-0 lead.

But they went to half-time under pressure 12-4 ahead after completing just one of their final 11 sets for the half.

Souths came into the match under enormous pressure having lost Adam MacDougall to injury and Bryan Fletcher to suspension.

Compounding matters was the loss of second rower Justin Smith who left the field in the first minute having suffered a knee injury.

Shane Walker, a replacement hooker after Jason Death was ruled out due to injury, was also hurt in the first half but he was forced back out onto the field late in the game with his hamstring heavily strapped.

The Bulldogs looked like racking up a cricket score with two quick tries.

But the Rabbitoh's soon lifted and were the better side for the rest of the half.

Souths winger Damon Alley-Tovio almost scored in the 53rd minute, beaten by a whisker to a Brett Kearney grubber by Bulldogs centre Willie Tonga.

Five minutes later Matt Utai crossed for Canterbury's third try and in the next 20 minutes they ran in three more.

Souths did cross late in the game for a deserved try to Luke MacDougall.

Bulldogs forward Andrew Ryan said coach Steve Folkes was not pleased with the Bulldogs' display in the first half.

"We spoke at half-time about coming back and putting back-to-back sets together," Ryan said.

"We probably didn't do that in the first 15 minutes but then after we did we put a few ponits on the board."

For Canterbury, Tonga scored twice and Utai, Andrew Ryan, Willie Mason and Hazem El Masri scored tries while El Masri kicked five goals from six attempts.

Lee Hookey and Alley-Tovio scored tries for Souths and Willie Peters and Alley-Tovio each missed kicks at goal.

Source: www.abc.net.au

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