Bulldogs v Dragons: 2005 NRL season
kicks off in style

Fulltime score: Round 1 Bulldogs 46 v Dragons 28

Match summary: There may have been a slight delay to the start of the first game in the 2005 NRL season but both the Bulldogs and the Dragons were pumped up and ready for action right from kick-off. A spirited fight back by the Dragons in the second spell after being down 28-0 at the break, wasn't enough to stop the rampaging Bulldogs hellbent on total annihilation as they ran out the winners tonight at Telstra Stadium in a high scoring match by 46-28.

A record crowd for a Bulldogs club match of 33,105 were treated to a real classy show of rugby league by two sides capable of playing totally entertaining football.

The game was fast and furious right from the start and although the Dragons certainly were outstanding in defence against a Bulldogs team that could almost do no wrong, the weight of possession and the destruction caused by the whole Bulldogs side had to take it's toll, and did. The damaging offloads by Williams in particular until he left the field 30 minutes into the match, proved to be the undoing of the visitors moreso in the first half.

28-0 down at the break, the Dragons hit back straight away with two quick tries.

However, the Bulldogs with complete composure and a total team game, held their own in what turned out to be a very high scoring match, the Dragons coincidentially scoring 28 second half points. The defending premiers replied with 18 points to post a comprehensive first-up victory.

Score details: BULLDOGS 46 Tries: Ryan 2, Anasta, Utai, Lolesi, Grimaldi, Perry, Hughes Goals: El Masri 7/9 DRAGONS 28 Tries: Cooper 2, Head 2, Sims, Payne Goals: Gorrell 2/5, Head 0/1

Telstra Stadium, Crowd: 33,105 Referee: Paul Simpkins

By the clock: A fire by Telstra Stadium holding up traffic has delayed kick off by approx 15 minutes, however the first round and first game of the NRL 2005 is upon us, and what a better way to start than with the Bulldogs up against the Dragons. Great atmosphere at Telstra, it's Game On in 2005!

0 min: Kick off for the first time in the new season!

3rd min: NEWS - A fired up start by both sides aided by the rather vocal crowd. Thompson (Dragons) penalised for being inside the 10 metres on the Bulldogs 4th tackle. El Masri has no trouble collecting 2 points from 35 metres out, almost right in front. Bulldogs 2-0

6th min: NEWS - The Bulldogs stunning so far tonight as they offload and throw the ball around with style, Williams amongst it all. Excellent scrambling defence by the Dragons stopped certain points.

12th min: TRY BULLDOGS. Anasta scores after some stunning work by his team mates, a helpful charge down and an offload by Williams allowing Anasta through the gap. El Masri has no trouble adding the extra points. Bulldogs 8-0

17th min: TRY BULLDOGS. Utai scores following a deft little kick by Sherwin, a favourable bounce for Ryan, and Utai in support to score out wide. El Masri one metre in from touch, 21 metres out, nabs a beautiful conversion. Bulldogs 14-0

21st min: NEWS - The Bulldogs hot on attack yet again, has a pass intercepted by Head only to be called up for an offside player. The resulting penalty to the Bulldogs is snuffed out by a wrong play of the ball. The Bulldogs not relenting at all out on the field with continuous attack on the Dragons defence.

28th min: TRY BULLDOGS. The new Bulldogs captain Andrew Ryan touches down after another little kick by Sherwin. The Dragons a little guilty of falling off tackles. El Masri converts another. Bulldogs 20-0

31st min: NEWS - Williams (Bulldogs) looks to have an ankle injury caught wrong in a tackle. Outstanding so far, he has gone to the sideline

32nd min: NEWS - A break by Cooper gives the Dragons their best scoring opportunity so far in the match. Unfortunately Innes could not control the ball enough to score. Bulldogs 20-0

35th min: NO TRY BULLDOGS. Patten crosses the line to score, but O'Meley is in the way of Patten, and the ref. Penalty to the Dragons

37th min: TRY BULLDOGS. Lolesi scores out wide following a little chip out to his winger by El Masri that actually goes backwards. An excellent build up yet again by the Bulldogs to set up the try. El Masri from the sideline misses his first kick of the evening. Bulldogs 24-0

39th min: NEWS - O'Meley off the field with an achillies injury

40th min: TRY BULLDOGS. A penalty on halfway to the Bulldogs following a mistake at the kick off by the Dragons and Grimaldi makes them pay right on halftime. El Masri from 7 metres in from touch, misses another just as the hooter sounds. Bulldogs 28-0

HALFTIME: Try as they might, the Dragons team just have no answers for a Bulldogs side on fire. Halftime score 28-0 to the Bulldogs

Halftime stats: In his time on the field, Sonny Bill had notched up 4 superb offloads, with the Bulldogs leading that stat 16-4. Penalty count by ref Simpkins currently 5 a piece. Completion rate by the Bulldogs outstanding at 18/24 while the Dragons only managing 8 complete sets of 14. Possession favouring the Bulldogs by 67% compared with only 33% for the Dragon. And almost double the number of tackles made by the Dragons players. This may come to haunt them later in the match

41st min: TRY DRAGONS. Sims reaches out close to the line to net the Dragons first points of the season. A fiery start for the Dragons in the second half with Utai left in a heap on the first tackle connecting with a shoulder. The conversion is successful by Gorrell. Bulldogs 28-6

46th min: TRY DRAGONS. Payne scores the second try for the Dragons who look impressive since the break, completing their sets, and full of confidence. Gorrell just misses the conversion. Bulldogs 28-10

53rd min: TRY DRAGONS. Cooper snatches a great little offload by Best following a nice kick out to the Dragons winger. Gorrell from out wide just misses the conversion. Bulldogs 28-14

57th min: TRY BULLDOGS. Perry just manages to sneak the ball over the try line to kick start the scoring action for the Bulldogs in the second half following a spirited comeback by the Dragons. El Masri from almost in front, adds 2 more points. Bulldogs 34-14

63rd min: NEWS - The Dragons hot on attack, just can't seem to break through the desperate defence by the Bulldogs.

64th min: TRY DRAGONS. Relentless attack finally pays off for the Red and Whites, as Heads grabs a deserved try. Unfortunately Head misses a relatively easy conversion. Bulldogs 34-18

68th min: TRY BULLDOGS. Captain Ryan scores his second try of the match as he takes on his man close to the line and comes out trumps. El Masri converts another. Bulldogs 40-18

71st min: TRY DRAGONS. Head score the try of the match as he takes an intercept almost on the Bulldogs try line. The chasers by the Bulldogs looked to be gaining, but Head's stamina sees him the winner. Gorrell converts the try. Bulldogs 40-24

75th min: TRY BULLDOGS. Running the angle perfectly, Corey Hughes breaks through the defence to score. El Masri adds 2 more points. Bulldogs 46-24

80th min: TRY DRAGONS. Cooper and his side finish with a classy try, with quick hands following a penalty close to their line. Gorrell with a tough conversion to finish the match, misses the conversion. Bulldogs 46-28

FULLTIME: If this is the standard of rugby league set for 2005, then the fans are in for a real treat. The Bulldogs the victors by 46-28.

----------------------------------------- Leagueunlimited.com players of the match: 3 - A Ryan (Bulldogs) 2 - T Grimaldi (Bulldogs) 1 - W Tonga (Bulldogs) -----------------------------------------