Match Details
Match Date	25th Jul, 2009
Opponent	Parramatta
Result	Loss 8-27
Coach	Kevin Moore
Captain	Andrew Ryan
Venue	Homebush (ANZ Stadium)
Crowd	31,664
Referee	Steve Lyons Alan Shortall

The Bulldogs were held scoreless in the second half as they slipped to a 27-8 defeat to the Parramatta Eels at ANZ Stadium on Saturday.

In front of a bumper crowd of 31,664, points failed to materialise for a Dogs' attack that looked unusually stilted against a resolute Eels' defensive line.

We were off the pace for most of the game while Parramatta were outstanding. For the first time this year we didn't turn up to meet that battle head on, said coach Kevin Moore.

Jarryd Hayne showed why he is the form fullback of the competition with yet another commanding performance from the back.

The Dogs were under instructions to deny Hayne the ball but they appeared powerless as he broke the line at will, shrugged off tackles with ease and constantly put the Eels on the front foot.

With Hayne leading the way, Parramatta raced away to an early 10-0 lead.

Luke Burt showed a great set of hands to scoop up a deft Daniel Mortimer grubber on the fly and open the scoring in the 9th minute.

Hayne, proving his eye-catching red boots are built for speed, flew downfield on a 70m break six minutes later.

Fellow NSW representative Josh Morris displayed tremendous toe to mow him down, but to no avail.

From the next play the Eels spread right and wing Eric Grothe charged through to score.

As unforced errors began to take the sting out of Parramatta's attack, the Bulldogs hit back.

Given some space to wind-up, and with only two comparatively diminutive outside backs in his way, Jamal Idris powered through Krisnan Inu then dragged Burt to the line.

On the attack again, five-eighth Ben Roberts had the vision to punish Grothe for straying infield and leaving Bryson Goodwin alone on the left wing.

With a precision grubber in behind the line, Goodwin had enough time to calmly wait for the ball to sit up for him before scoring his 15th try of the season.

The post denied Hazem el Masri's conversion attempt and gave the Eels a 10-8 halftime lead.

The Dogs opened the second half with a spate of attacking opportunities but were unable to find the gaps that have proven so profitable this season.

On the back of another midfield break by Hayne, the Eels again spread right and again Grothe found the line.

The wheels began to fall off as Kevin Kingston caught the Dogs' markers napping and strolled over from dummy half untouched six minutes later.

As time ticked away, Burt slotted a field goal before Fuifui Moimoi finished proceedings with a typically bullocking charge to score.

We weathered the early storm but eventually they out-enthused us, every one of them, in all areas of the game, said captain Andrew Ryan.

Source: Evan Sieff

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