Match Details
Match Date	22nd Jun, 2007
Opponent	Manly
Result	Win 27-8
Coach	Steven Folkes
Captain	Andrew Ryan
Venue	Brookvale Oval
Crowd	13,849
Referee	Tony Archer

The Bulldogs bounced back from a week of turmoil and a shocking start to crush high-flying Manly 27-8 in tonight's NRL match at Brookvale Oval.

Down 6-0 following a try to Anthony Watmough after just three minutes, the Bulldogs stormed back with four unanswered tries to end Manly's ten-game unbeaten run at 'Fortress Brookie'.

Former Test centre Willie Tonga scored a first half double with Corey Hughes and backrower Nick Kouparitsas the other tryscorers.

The only downer for the Bulldogs was front row enforcer Mark O'Meley being put on report, the NSW Origin hopeful catching winger Michael Robertson around the head with a swinging arm in the 19th minute.

The Bulldogs were always going to be fired up after being in the news for the wrong reasons during a week when Sonny Bill Williams and Ben Roberts were both in hot water over off-field incidents.

But an early penalty against O'Meley allowed Watmough to scythe through before the Bulldogs capitalised on some poor ball control by the Se Eagles in their own half.

Willie Mason was held up over the line but Corey Hughes punctuated a brilliant display as he darted over from dummy half with a soft effort on the very next play.

The home side went up by two courtesy of a Jamie Lyon penalty following O'Meley's indiscretion but the Sea Eagles five-eighth turned villain moments later when he coughed up the ball.

Willie Tonga went over on the ensuing set when the Manly defence rushed up and he had his second when another turnover - this time from Watmough - saw Daryl Millard do brilliantly to pass as he fell to the ground for his centre partner to score.

Neither side was able to gain an immediate advantage after the break but, on the back of an increasingly anxious home crowd, the Sea Eagles lifted.

Their momentum was boosted by three successive penalties against the Bulldogs, the visitors lucky to keep their full complement as Orford appealed for someone to be sin-binned.

Steve Bell was twice stopped just short of the line, as was Adam Cuthbertson, Menzies blowing their best chance when he missed unmarked winger Michael Robertson with a pass that floated over the sideline.

Tempers flared as Orford retaliated to a late tackle from Kane Cleal by throwing a punch at the Bulldogs forward, but again the Sea Eagles failed to turn possession and position into points.

Eventually the home side was put out of its misery when Kouparitsas scored ten minutes from time, the rangy backrower backing up following a nice interchange of passes between Tonga, Williams and Andrew Ryan.

Source: AAP

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