​Bulldogs find their bark against Parramatta

Canterbury have produced a 28-4 victory over a lacklustre Parramatta side in front of 17,082 fans at ANZ Stadium.

With Moses Mbye rested after impressing in recent weeks, Bulldogs halves Trent Hodkinson and Josh Reynolds produced polished performances to cement Canterbury's place within the top eight.

After being denied an early try through James Graham due to offside, the Bulldogs finally opened the scoring in the 20th minute when halfback Hodkinson dummied from halfway, before linking up with rampaging second-rower Frank Pritchard to touch down next to the posts.

Unable to add to their tally, Parramatt hit back shortly before the break when prolific try-scorer Semi Radradra burrowed his way over for his 17th four-pointer this season.

With Chris Sandow unable to convert from the sideline, the Bulldogs took a 6-4 lead into the halftime break.

Minutes after the resumption of play, Josh Reynolds produced a fantastic chip-bomb which allowed Frank Pritchard to score his second try, taking the visitors out to an eight point buffer.

With half an hour remaining, Josh Jackson tore through flimsy Eels defence to give the Bulldogs an unassailable lead.

Further tries to Brett Morris (62nd minute) and Curtis Rona (79th minute) saw Canterbury run out 28-4 winners in a game often punctuated by penalties.

While the scoreline will be troubling for Parramatta, Eels coach Brad Arthur faces a nervous wait on Corey Norman, after the fullback suffered a posterior cruciate ligament injury. Depending on the results of scans, Norman may face an extended stint on the sideline which would be a major blow to the Eels hopes of making the finals in 2015.

For the Bulldogs, their forward pack performed strongly once again, while Brett Morris also continued his development at fullback producing a dashing 80 metre try, running alongside his twin brother to score.

For Parramatta, after making a mistake from the kickoff things didn't improve. While they were able to remain in the contest throughout the first half, their inability to capitalise on their possession cost them dearly.

Next week the Bulldogs return to their spiritual home of Belmore Oval on Sunday afternoon to take on Cronulla, while Parramatta face the unenviable prospect of a Monday night encounter with North Queensland in Townsville.

Match Details

Parramatta Eels 4 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 28
Venue: ANZ Stadium
Crowd: 17082
Halftime Score: Parramatta Eels 4 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 6

PARRAMATTA EELS (4)
Tries: Semi Radradra
Conversions: Chris Sandow (0/1)

CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (28)
Tries: Frank Pritchard (2), Josh Jackson, Brett Morris, Curtis Rona
Conversions: Trent Hodkinson (4/5)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Josh Jackson
2 points - Josh Reynolds
1 point - Brett Morris

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Welcome to League Unlimited's coverage of Round 19 Friday Night Football between Parramatta Eels v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium.

Parramatta have been boosted by the return of Nathan Peats from injury. He replaces Isaac De Gois at hooker.

For Canterbury, Moses Mbye has been rested. Tim Browne will come onto the bench.

James Graham leads the Bulldogs onto ANZ Stadium.

Tim Mannah takes the Parramatta Eels onto the field.

Hodkinson kicks off for the Bulldogs.

Junior Paulo is forced into touch by some tremendous Bulldogs defenders.

1: Paulo was lucky to catch the ball from the kick-off and the Dogs were able to force the Eels prop out.

2: James Graham is claiming a try, but the referee will check for onside.

2: Graham ruled offside from Josh Reynolds' grubber kick which ricocheted off an Eels chaser.

2: No Try. Penalty.

2: Luke Kelly finds touch 30 metres out from the Eels line.

3: Curtis Rona trapped in-goal after a well-weighted grubber from Luke Kelly.

5: Ryan Morgan manages to get a last-tackle kick away, but it's a wasted opportunity for the Eels.

7: Penalty to Canterbury. Offside ruled against Junior Paulo.

8: Lafai almost gets through the Eels defence from 10 metres out.

8: Corey Norman is able to maintain control after catching a Bulldogs grubber.

8: Penalty to Parramatta coming out of their own end.

9: Awesome play from the Eels to put Corey Norman into space.

10: Eels get a penalty for a high shot on Junior Paulo close to the posts.

10: Another penalty for the Eels. James Graham takes the ball off Watmough after being held.

10: Darcy Lussick on for Paulo.

12: We've just witnessed one of the worst last plays from the Eels. Great work from Canterbury to tackle Sandow before he could make a choice in attack.

13: Trent Hodkinson draws a penalty for Parramatta.

15: Frank Pritchard knocks on close to the Eels line. Chance gone begging.

16: Watmough has made a great run from a scrum to put the Eels inside the Bulldogs half.

17: A cacophony of errors from Parramatta: a series of forward passes, players go into touch. Terrible from the Blue and Golds.

18: Reynolds bombs, but Corey Norman is able to take it without pressure from the Bulldogs.

19: Sandow bombs, Radradra catches but the big Fijian can't find any support.

20: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Frank Pritchard. Kick to come.
Hodkinson dummies, takes on the line and finds his second rower in support.

21: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson successful.
From adjacent to the posts, the future Newcastle #7 makes no mistake. 6-0 Bulldogs.

23: Hopoate takes the Eels up to the 40 metre line.

24: Luke Kelly somehow manages to grubber kick the ball out-on-the-full.

24: Kasiano and Klemmer on for the Dogs.

25: Rona loses control of a Hodkinson bomb.

25: David Gower and Danny Wicks on for the Eels.

26: Takairangi pushes a Bulldogs player in the back, but no penalty.

27: Reynolds bombs, but no pressure on Semi Radradra.

27: Penalty to Parramatta. 5-3 penalty count inside the first half hour.

28: Parramatta lose about 15 metres with an awful pass.

29: Peats bombs but Brett Morris has zero problems cleaning up.

29: Brett Morris down and clutching at his neck. Appears ok, but referee checking for a crusher tackle.

29: David Gower on report. Bulldogs penalty.

30: Reynolds takes on the line, but David Gower does well to tackle the Bulldogs #6.

30: Sam Kasiano loses the ball close to the line, as Pauli Pauli takes his first run of the night.

31: Corey Norman delivers a pass intended for Semi Radradra, but the winger was well in-front of the pass. Terrible, absolutely terrible play.

32: Josh Reynolds thinks he's Jarryd Hayne and passes the ball forward to Sam Kasiano.

34: Brad Takairnagi puts in a lovely kick for Semi Radradra, but Brett Morris runs the ball over the dead ball line. Line drop out. Great piece of play.

35: Manu Ma'u draws a penalty from close to the posts.

35: Pauli Pauli is cut down just short of the line.

36: Radradra is claiming a try. After a series of passes from the Eels, the winger finally crosses in the corner.

36: TRY PARRAMATTA EELS
Scored by Semi Radradra. Kick to come.
Parramatta get numbers on the board.

37: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PARRAMATTA EELS
Conversion attempt by Chris Sandow unsuccessful.
From the sideline, Sandow pushes the kick wide of the posts.

39: Kelly bombs on halfway and gets a good chase on Curtis Rona.

39: Pauli Pauli intercepts a Bulldogs pass.

40: Canterbury take a 6-4 lead to the break. It's been a scrappy game so far, but look for the big players to stand up and deliver in the second half.

40: Klemmer takes the first run of the second half.

41: Parramatta draw a penalty for a strip.

43: Sandow bombs, but Sam Perrett is able to beat Radradra to the ball.

43: Pritchard gets the Bulldogs a penalty, as Kasiano limps off the field.

44: Josh Jackson pulled up a metre short of the Eels goal line.

45: Canterbury have another chance 10 out from the line.

46: Pritchard's got a double. Great work from Reynolds to chip-bomb for Pritchard who reaches above the Eels to touch down.

46: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Frank Pritchard. Kick to come.
Pritchard takes the lead out to 10-4. KTC.

47: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson successful.
It's an 8-point break now. Canterbury will look to run away with the game now.

49: Radradra makes a nice bust inside the Bulldogs half.

49: Manu Ma'u is down. Hit after passing the ball during the Radrarda attacking raid.

52: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Josh Jackson. Kick to come.
Supreme work from Canterbury. Great display of catch and pass footy, before the second rower runs up the Eels guts to touch down.

53: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson successful.
It's 18-4 now. That should be enough, but there's still plenty of time left.

55: Parramatta try a chip and manage to come up with the ball.

56: Josh Morris kicks back in-field, but Corey Norman is on the spot to defuse the situation.

58: Reynolds kicks the ball dead. Eels will have a 7-tackle set.

59: Corey Norman is down injured, but the Eels keep on attacking.

60: Norman is clutching at a lower leg. It'll be a huge blow if Parramatta lose him.

60: Watmough about to come on for Norman.

60: Hopoate will shift to fullback, with either Gower or Ma'u moving to centre.

60: We've just witnessed one of the most bizarre passages of play! Reynolds makes a break, Norman bats the ball down, Lafai ignores his support! It's all happening.

62: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Brett Morris. Kick to come.
From 80 metres out, the fullback sprints down field alongside his brother to score.

64: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson successful.
That's the game. Bulldogs too good tonight.

65: A fifth tackle penalty has given the Bulldogs a chance to add to their tally.

65: Sam Perrett knocks on 10 metres out.

67: Early diagnosis on Corey Norman: posterior ligament injury. Scans will determine the extent.

67: David Gower is clutching at his knee, this could be devastating for the Eels.

67: Shaun Lane on for Canterbury.

68: Josh Morris loses the ball close to the line.

69: Chris Sandow has moved to fullback for the Eels.

71: Reynolds gives the Eels another 7-tackle set with a kick over the dead ball line.

72: It's just not happening for Parramatta tonight. Canterbury have been dominant tonight.

74: Josh Morris knocks on after receiving a gift pass from his brother.

74: Sandow puts in a woeful kick. At 20 behind, he came up with a kick befitting of a side leading by 20!

76: Bulldogs try a kick on the last, but they knock on.

78: Sandow loses the ball. That was dreadful. If Brad Arthur was defiant that Sandow was needed for the rest of the season, he might want to reconsider.

79: As he does every week, Curtis Rona is calming a try.

79: Tremendous work from Rona. This will equal him on 17 with Semi Radrarda.

79: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Curtis Rona. Kick to come.
28-4. KTC.

79: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson unsuccessful.
The kick goes wide and the Bulldogs run out 28-4 victors.

80: Great work from Canterbury at times. Parramatta unable to make an impact, Brad Arthur will be disappointed after their improved showings in recent weeks.