NRL scores – Parramatta 22-12 Over Bulldogs
Last night it felt like a grand final in the NRL. We had the crowd, the drama and the on-field play that was fitting of a grand final. In front of 74,549 committed fans the Eels and Bulldogs turned it on as they fought for a grand final spot.
For both sides 2009 has been a remarkable season. The Bulldogs had come from last in 2008 to go within a match of making the grand final. The Eels were next to last before a scorching run to the finals, which still continues. They have won 10 from their last 11 matches and are now playing in the grand final. Back in June not many would have seen that coming.
The match started a full pace and after just over a minute the Bulldogs lost Luke Patten for a large part of the game. He was on rubber legs after an accidental knee to the head, he did return late in the match. This did not deter the Bulldogs as they were first to score after a Hazem El Masri grubber kick was chased down by Bryson Goodwin in the fourth minute.
After scoring the try Bryson was not feeling the best as he had been collected in the head by Jarryd Hayne’s knees as the Parramatta fullback raced across to attempt to get to the ball. He carelessly slid into Goodwin knees first and was placed on report. After a call from the video ref a possible 8 point try was awarded.
Hayne now awaits an anxious wait to see if he will take part in the grand final. The Eels will also be interested in the outcome of a review of a “chicken wing” tackle by Matthew Keating. He was placed on report for that.
It was an exciting match that swung from end to end and thanks to a dodgy call on a 40-20 kick by Hayne the Eels had field position to trouble the Bulldogs. His huge kick appeared to bounce out in the dead ball area however the touch judge called it went out just metres before the try line. Parramatta put the pressure on the Bulldogs but came up short.
On the next play for the Eels Michael Ennis gave away a penalty for taking out a player without the ball. From that the Eels scored. Joe Galuvao was on the end of some Hayne magic. Out of nothing he teased the opposition. He paused, took a step back and then took on the line. He managed to squeeze through before laying off a pass to Galuvao who went over under the posts without a hand being laid on him.
Another try to the Bulldogs through Josh Morris saw them go into the halftime break up 12-6. Morris also chased down a kick when he showed greater desire than the Eels players.
The second half saw the Eels defence frustrate the Bulldogs. They were time after time turned back and quite often ended their six tackles with an ineffective kick. Finally that took its toll on the brave Bulldogs team and in the end they could not hold out a surging Eels team. Tries to Luke Burt in the 50th minute and then Tim Mannah in the 55th saw the Eels take the upper hand. The match however was still there for the Bulldogs to claim if they could find something special.
It was not to be as the Eels rallied to find another great try to seal the game. Daniel Mortimer was on the end of a great movement to score a try in the 72nd minute. The Burt conversion took the Eels out to a 22-12 lead.
The Eels fans were starting to celebrate as it looked likely that their team was headed to their first grand final since a losing effort in 2001.
The Eels are there! They now have an interesting week ahead as the two reported incidents are played out. Hayne and Keating could miss the grand final as could the Eels captain Nathan Cayless. He limped off in the first half with a hamstring injury. He has been ruled out by medical staff however he is keen to prove them wrong.
For the Bulldogs it was a good season but one in which they fell just short of a fairytale ending. It also saw the end for El Masri as he now slips into retirement.
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