Match Details
Match Date	22nd Jul, 2011
Opponent	Parramatta
Result	Win 8-7
Coach	Jim Dymock
Captain	Andrew Ryan
Venue	Homebush (ANZ Stadium)
Crowd	15,126
Referee	Alan Shortall Gerard Sutton

An inspired defensive effort combined with a pair of Trent Hodkinson field goals have propelled the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs to a gripping 8-7 Bandaged Bear Cup victory over the Parramatta Eels in the wet at ANZ Stadium.

Played in at-times torrential conditions in front of what was under the circumstances a healthy crowd of 15,126, Hodkinson struck with little over two minutes to go after Jarryd Hayne had propelled the Eels into the lead for the first time in the match with a field goal of his own at the 75 minute mark.

Hayne scored five of his side's points after getting the Eels on level terms with an 85 metre intercept try soon after half time, which came just as the Bulldogs were looking to extend what had appeared up to that point a comfortable six point lead.

But in true cometh the hour, cometh the man style, Hodkinson's first strike sent a gritty western Sydney derby into golden point extra time, while the second finished it with a little over two minutes of time added on left on the clock.

The wobbly 35-metre effort scraped over the cross bar to earn the Bulldogs their first win in four weeks, and caretaker coach Jim Dymock his first in charge of the side, while for the Eels it was a case of de ja vu as they went down in golden point for the second time in as many weeks.

But while Hodkinson's double effort got the Bulldogs ahead on the scoreboard, it was his side's defence that won them the match.

Responding to a mid-week call from Dymock to get the mongrel back into their defence, the Bulldogs withstood a pair of 20 minute long barrages, the first coming to start the match and the second immediately after the Hayne try.

The home side started the match tackling at a rate of almost three to one as the Eels peppered their tryline time and time again.

When they got out of their own end they did it in style, with Ben Roberts kicking the Dogs first 40-20 of the season midway through the half to put his side right on the attack.

The breakthrough however would not come until the 30th minute mark of the half, with Josh Reynolds handling twice in a movement that started on half way and finished with the youngster touching down under the posts.

Having come on as a replacement for the equally busy Joel Romelo, Reynolds bounced back from a flattening Mitchell Allgood tackle just minutes earlier to put Hodkinson into a gap from midfield, before backing up the halfback to open the scoring.

Steve Turner's conversion resulted in a 6-nil half time lead to the home side.

The Bulldogs were hard on the attack ten minutes into the second after a Luke Burt spill seven metres out from his own line when Hayne swooped, claiming an intercept before sprinting 85 metres to score the try that would ultimately level things up at 6-all.

The try signalled the start of a second period of outstanding defence from the Bulldogs, with only the Hayne field goal able to break the deadlock five minutes from time.

On the very next set Hodkinson chipped the Bulldogs first field goal over the black dot, while in the first period of extra time both Roberts and the halfback put attempts to the left of the uprights.

In the end Hodkinson would need only one opportunity in the second term, kicking the Bulldogs onto 20 competition points and back to within reach of the top eight with six matches left to play in 2011.

The only downside of the night for the victors was an injury to David Stagg, with scans expected to rule out a fracture on Monday.

The win gives the Bulldogs momentum ahead of their round 21 clash against the Sydney Roosters next Saturday at the Sydney Football Stadium, kick off 5.30pm.

Source: AAP

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