Match Details
Match Date	26th Jun, 2005
Opponent	Manly
Result	Win 31-12
Coach	Steven Folkes
Captain	Andrew Ryan
Venue	Brookvale Oval
Crowd	14,429
Referee	Tim Mander

Manly have suffered their first home defeat of the season, going down to the Bulldogs 31-12 in their round 16 National Rugby League match at Brookvale Oval.

The Sea Eagles led 12-10 at half-time but could not manage a single point in the second half as the Bulldogs dominated their opponents with a clinical attacking performance.

The Bulldogs scored five tries through Jamaal Lolesi, Adam Brideson, Andrew Ryan, Dallas McIlwain and Luke Patten while Hazem El Masri kicked four conversions and a penalty goal.

Braith Anasta also kicked a field goal for the Bulldogs.

For the Sea Eagles, Chris Hicks and Anthony Watmough scored tries and Michael Witt kicked two conversions.

The win is the Bulldogs' sixth of the season and will move them to 10th on the NRL ladder.

Manly will remain in third place, having missed the chance to leapfrog Parramatta into second position.

The match began in surprising circumstances with the Bulldogs benching regular half-back Brent Sherwin.

Sherwin did not make an appearance until well into the second half.

The Sea Eagles enjoyed early scoring chances with Ben Kennedy coming close when he chased a grubber kick into the in-goal area in the opening minutes.

They were denied again soon after when El Masri fielded a cross-field chip while Manly were on the attack.

The home side's persistence finally paid off in the 10th minute of play when Hicks scored on the right side of the field after taking an overhead pass from Steve Menzies.

Witt added the extras to open up a 6-0 lead, but the Bulldogs struck back in the 17th minute when Lolesi crossed for his try.

Lolesi used a jinking run to find his way to the tryline before holding off a desperate Menzies tackle to touch down.

El Masri kicked the conversion to level the score at 6-6.

The fast pace of the match continued following Lolesi's try and the Sea Eagles were next to score when Watmough posted a four-pointer after fielding a kick into the in-goal area.

Witt managed a difficult conversion attempt to re-establish Manly's six-point lead but the Bulldogs again were able to provide a response when Brideson scored in the 32nd minute.

El Masri squandered the chance to equalise with his missed conversion attempt, meaning the Sea Eagles still led albeit by just two points.

Manly could have added to their lead in the shadows of half-time when Witt had a penalty goal attempt, but his kick went wide to end an enterprising stanza of rugby league.

The Bulldogs made a bright start to the second half when Ryan scored in the 45th minute following some excellent lead-up work from Anasta.

Ryan's try put the visitors into the lead for the first time in the match and with El Masri on target with his third conversion attempt, the margin was out to four points.

With rain pelting down, ball-handling became difficult and both sides incurred turnovers at crucial stages.

The Bulldogs' one-on-one defence also forced turnovers while the Sea Eagles let themselves down midway through the half when a series of penalties cost them vital field position.

El Masri capitalised on one such opportunity to kick a penalty goal giving his side an 18-12 lead.

The Bulldogs knew the match was still in the balance and they gave themselves a seven-point buffer when Anasta landed a field goal in the 73rd minute.

They confirmed their win with McIlwain's try, resulting from an excellent ball-and-all tackle made on Mongahan 10 metres out from Manly's tryline.

Monaghan spilt the ball which was pounced upon by McIlwain, who then made his way across to score the Bulldogs' fourth try.

El Masri kicked the conversion and he was called upon again in the final minute of play when Patten managed a runaway try, scored while a brawl took place down field.

Source: www.abc.net.au

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