Match Details
Match Date	13th Apr, 2009
Opponent	South Sydney
Result	Win 14-12
Coach	Kevin Moore
Captain	Andrew Ryan
Venue	Homebush (ANZ Stadium)
Crowd	22,775
Referee	Ashley Klein Brett Suttor

The Bulldogs have held on to claim a tense 14-12 victory over Souths at ANZ Stadium on Monday.

Rabbitohs' Eddy Pettybourne crashed over on the end of a John Sutton grubber with 5 minutes to go to narrow the Dogs' lead to just two. However the blue-and-whites showed dogged determination defending their line to secure the win in front of a crowd of 22,775.

I'm really pleased with our defensive effort in that second half. When they threw plenty at us, we came up with the answers every time, said Bulldogs coach Kevin Moore.

The Dogs had earlier started on the back foot after Michael Ennis nailed the kickoff out on the full.

Souths' Beau Champion scored a converted try from the ensuing set and the Bulldogs found themselves down 6-0 after just 90 seconds.

The first ten minutes, it was our worst start all year. It's a real credit to have a setback like that, roll the sleeves up, work hard and get on with it like we did, said coach Moore.

Josh Morris indeed rolled his sleeves up as he hit back for the Bulldogs in the 21st minute. As an Ennis chip kick bounced towards touch-in-goal, Morris managed to drag it back and plant it within millimetres of the paint.

The Dogs were in again just three minutes later. Andrew Ryan, in his 100th appearance as Bulldogs captain, was put into a gaping hole by Ennis.

As Ryan barrelled over Isaac Luke to score, the diminutive hooker took exception to the contact. Punches were thrown in the ensuing scuffle and Luke found himself on report.

Hazem El Masri's conversion gave the Dogs a 12-6 lead at halftime.

In the 55th minute the Bulldogs extended their lead to eight points as Ennis, with El Masri sitting on the bench, kicked a penalty from 40m out.

Matt Utai found himself in the thick of the action having replaced El Masri on the right wing. He spilled a spiralling Sutton bomb with only minutes left on the clock an error which led to Pettybourne's try.

It was a pretty big shock to the system to find myself on the wing. All week I'd been training to play in tight and then suddenly I was out there under the high ball, Utai said.

However his teammates regrouped in defence and held out the Bunnies as they launched their final raids in vain.

The win promotes the Bulldogs to the top four as they look ahead to Sunday's clash with the Eels at ANZ Stadium.

Source: Evan Sieff

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