Match Details
Match Date	13th Aug, 2006
Opponent	St George Illawarra
Result	Win 26-10
Coach	Steven Folkes
Captain	Andrew Ryan
Venue	Homebush (Telstra Stadium)
Crowd	31,256
Referee	Sean Hampstead

The Bulldogs have continued to build momentum towards the NRL semi-finals at the expense of St George Illawarra, handing the joint-venture club its fifth successive loss with a 26-10 win at Telstra Stadium.

The Bulldogs have now won six straight games to all but secure a top-two finish, while the Dragons have slumped to seventh spot after a disturbing late-season slump.

The home side vowed to "bash" the Dragons in the lead up to the match and it made good on the promise, with the visitors unable to stop the relentless go-forward of the Belmore pack.

Even Sonny Bill Williams' trademark shoulder charge was on show, with Dragons fullback Ben Hornby on the end of a bell-ringer in the second half.

The home side, which defeated the Dragons in a thriller just a month ago, skipped away to a 16-0 lead after 24 minutes.

Brent Sherwin was heavily involved early, scoring the opening try five minutes in after the Dragons' inside men failed to mark up.

Shortly afterwards the Bulldogs' halfback provided a clever ball to Willie Mason, who bulldozed past three defenders to score in his 200th appearance for the club.

And the home side extended its lead when interchange weapon Williams put a brutal fend on Mathew Head and then flickpassed to point-scoring machine Hazem El Masri out wide.

The Dragons finally posted points in the 28th minute through winger Brett Morris, who was the beneficiary of a slick backline movement involving Trent Barrett and Mark Gasnier.

But any hopes of a comeback were snuffed out soon after halftime, when Williams crashed over from close range.

Dragons skipper Barrett cancelled out Williams' try with one of his own, but it wasn't enough to lift the visitors.

In further bad news for the Dragons, back rower Justin Poore was placed on report for a shot on Chris Armit, while fellow forward Sam Isemonger suffered a jaw injury.

Source: AAP

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