Match Details
Match Date	6th May, 2007
Opponent	Newcastle
Result	Win 30-16
Coach	Steven Folkes
Captain	Andrew Ryan
Venue	Homebush (Telstra Stadium)
Crowd	12,654
Referee	Steve Clark

The Mitsubishi Electric Bulldogs have defeated the Knights 30-16.

The Bulldogs put their NRL campaign back on track with a comfortable 30-16 victory over an injury-depleted Newcastle side at Telstra Stadium.

Labelled "brain dead" after last week's upset loss to the Wests Tigers, the Dogs rediscovered their bark with a five tries to two victory in front of 12,654 fans, claiming their fourth win of the season to keep pace with the top eight.

Bulldogs fullback Luke Patten scored two tries while winger Hazem El Masri crossed for his own four pointer and had five conversions to take his career points tally to 1910 - becoming just the sixth player in rugby league history to pass 1900 points.

Newcastle suffered a pre-game blow when halfback Jarrod Mullen - a possible NSW Origin bolter - withdrew with a calf strain while forward Clint Newton was rested after playing in the City-Country clash on Thursday.

While the Knights were hit by injury prior to kick off, it was Bulldogs prop Willie Mason who battled with pain throughout the match after twice being left on the ground in the first half.

Mason sent an early scare through the blue and whites with an apparent shoulder injury (eighth minute) and then a corked leg (33rd minute), but played on despite the obvious pain to lead the Dogs to a 12-0 lead at the break after tries to Reni Maitua and Patten.

Patten's try came just a few tackles after Knights forward Kade Snowden was harshly sin-binned for holding Matt Utai down for too long after the winger had made a break.

Second-rower Sonny Bill Williams provided the Dogs the perfect start to the second half when he threw a miracle pass infield as three defenders tried to drag him out of play, leading to El Masri's try in the 42nd minute and an 18-0 lead.

A superb backline move allowed Utai to score in the corner in the 48th minute and with a 24-0 lead the Dogs switched off, allowing Newcastle their first sniff of success.

Hooker Danny Buderus sparked a Knights revival with a try from dummy-half in the 53rd minute, before an Adam MacDougall strip on El Masri gave Newcastle some attacking field position which led to a James McManus try in the corner which cut the deficit to 24-10.

But the return of Mason immediately woke the Dogs from their mid-game slumber, the forward throwing a classy inside flick pass for Patten to bolt across and score the sealer in the 67th minute.

Knights back rower Cory Paterson scored a late consolation try with three minutes left on the clock.

The only negative for the Dogs was an apparent knee injury to Kiwi winger Utai who was playing just his first NRL game this season.

Source: AAP

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