Match Details
Match Date	14th Mar, 2013
Opponent	Parramatta
Result	Win 20-16
Coach	Des Hasler
Captain	Michael Ennis
Venue	Homebush (ANZ Stadium)
Crowd	25,068
Referee	Shayne Hayne Alan Shortall

This won’t go down as a missed opportunity for Parramatta, it will go down as many missed opportunities. The Eels had Canterbury where they wanted them for so long in the second half – on the back foot.

But the Bulldogs were on top where it counted, on the scoreboard, even if that were not quite so on the field.

The Bulldogs, still lacking that spark from the absence of Ben Barba as well as the muscle of James Graham and Sam Kasiano, still possessed enough of that typical desire and will to ward off every attack by the Eels in the second half.

It was an absorbing contest; free and apparently easy for both sides to cross the line in the first half, with Josh Reynolds and Chris Sandow dominating, but tightening up significantly in the second; 36 points in the first half, none in the second. Both were entertaining; the second as much for the pressure the Bulldogs absorbed as it was for the pressure the Eels applied.

The Eels just couldn’t find the killer blow. Coach Ricky Stuart has instilled many positive traits in the side already but they lacked composure and the confidence of round one when it counted.

The Bulldogs started full of confidence, scoring two tries within the first eight minutes. Second-rower Josh Jackson was the critical player in each of them, scoring after centre Josh Morris’ rushed grubber, then setting up winger Mitch Brown with quick hands under pressure.

That play followed a remarkable piece of agility by a front-rower, Martin Taupau, who did the splits as he took Jarryd Hayne’s kick-off to force a penalty back at halfway.

But the first half was all about momentum swings, which came swiftly and violently. Sandow’s kick bounced off Brown’s back, leaving Matt Ryan to accept a gift. Then the halfback’s long ball found winger Cheyse Blair, who contorted to score.

The playmakers were running riot and the points were coming as a result. Five-eighth Josh Reynolds turned the game again when he split Jacob Loko and Ben Roberts and then showed up Hayne, who was left with an impossible task in front of him in the form of a flying five-eighth and support runners.

Reynolds and Sandow were dominating the play. The Eels failed to take advantage of a Sandow 40-20 kick, but the Bulldogs didn’t miss when Reynolds put up another accurate kick for winger Sam Perrett.

By this stage, with a 20-10 scoreline to the Bulldogs, it was clear that defence was taking a back seat. But it was still useful on occasions, and when Sandow put his shoulder into a tackle on Morris, dislodging the ball and allowing Darcy Lussick to send Blair over for his second, the Eels had clambered back to within four points. Mercifully, video referee Bernard Sutton allowed the try, even though Sandow’s tackle had the look of a shoulder charge.

The Eels began the second half strongly, but not smartly enough. They pounded the Bulldogs and found themselves camped in the Bulldogs’ half, but could not take advantage. Neither side was playing the open, expansive and confident football of the first half. The Eels’ defence forced the Bulldogs into error, but the Bulldogs’ scramble prevented the Eels from taking the lead.

The Eels had the spark, but they clammed up close to their opponents’ line. But the Bulldogs were frustrated; the penalties were mounting and Ennis was expending energy talking to the officials.

But we all know he is best when he is barking, as the Bulldogs are when they are backed into a corner. Even without Barba, their bark remains intact.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

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