Match Details
Match Date	26th Jul, 2013
Opponent	Parramatta
Result	Win 40-12
Coach	Des Hasler
Captain	Michael Ennis
Venue	Homebush (ANZ Stadium)
Crowd	23,341
Referee	Matt Cecchin Gavin Reynolds

Only a high ankle sprain to Ben Barba marred an otherwise blue and white romp in Canterbury’s win over Parramatta in what was a lame start to the rivalry round at ANZ Stadium.

Barba left the ground in a moon boot, with the early prognosis at least a two-week lay-off, but Canterbury coach Des Hasler got what he has craved from his Bulldogs all season – a complete 80-minute performance. The Bulldogs received plenty of assistance, and little resistance, from a limp Eels team.

A comedy of errors in the first half gifted Canterbury easy ball and field position. A short kick-off to start the game by the Eels failed and put the Dogs on the attack early. It started the opening onslaught and resulted in 16 unanswered points before Parramatta finally received possession for the first time after 11 minutes. Ben Roberts’s second restart went out on the full.

Unfortunately for the Eels, they had no answer in attack or defence. The Eels went more than three hours of football without scoring a try, and conceded tries all across the field, leaving Ricky Stuart with a gigantic headache, as they head towards consecutive wooden spoons.

The opening three tries all came on Parramatta’s left-hand defensive edge with Sam Perrett, Josh Reynolds and Barba all crossing. It was Barba’s try in the ninth minute which saw him land awkwardly on his ankle, after picking up a loose ball and stepping around defenders to score. He limped from the field and will have scans on Saturday.

They could have scored more too, had a Trent Hodkinson pass not rocketed into the chest of an unmarked Josh Morris, who would have strolled over to score. The two did combine for Morris to score from a Hodkinson kick, which gave Canterbury a 20-0 lead at half-time in front of 23,341 people.

The Eels received the ball to start the second half, but again couldn’t complete their set.

James Graham scored his first try in the NRL. Dale Finucane also crossed for his first top-grade try to extend the Bulldogs’ lead to 34. Morris and skipper Michael Ennis exchanged passes on a short-side raid before Morris threw the final ball for Ennis to score.

Two ex-Bulldogs combined for Parramatta’s first try with some vintage footwork from Reni Maitua igniting the interest of Canterbury’s Reynolds to allow Roberts to race through a gap to score. Parramatta winger Semi Radradra bounced back from an unhappy night to also score his first NRL try on full-time.

The win keeps the Bulldogs within striking distance of the top four before their clash against St George Illawarra next Monday night.

It is hard to see where the Eels go from here. With Jarryd Hayne unlikely to play again this season and Chris Sandow languishing in the NSW Cup, they lack any imagination in attack while their outside backs are struggling to mark up against their opposites. They will play a revved-up Manly next Saturday.

The Eels could also be without a host of players. Darcy Lussick is in doubt to play his former club after leaving the field with a cork to his hip late in the first half. Willie Tonga was placed on report for a dangerous tackle. Halfback Luke Kelly was also assisted from the field with an ankle injury.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

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