El Masri hits the record books

Fulltime score: Round 15 Canterbury Bulldogs 28 Canberra Raiders 10 Match summary:

Milestones aplenty were the order of the day at the Sydney Showgrounds as the Bulldogs comfortably defeated the Canberra Raiders by 28-10.

200 games for Raider's fullback Clinton Schifcofske, and 100 games for Bulldogs lock Braith Anasta saw both players put in top performances for their respective sides.

Bulldogs winger Hazem El Masri has now become the highest ever Bulldogs scorer after equalling and then going past Darryl Halligan's record. He finished the game on 1494 points.

Today's game was an even contest right throughout the first half with penalties and unforced errors at time directing the play. The score at the break of 10 apiece indicative of just how tight the game was panning out to be.

The second half saw a distinctive turn around by the home side. And once they had the roll going, the Raiders defence was shredded apart on many occasions. Keeping the Raiders scoreless in the 2nd spell obviously a pleasing end to a hard game for coach Steve Folkes.

Mark O'Meley returning for his first match since late April dead on his feet, kept going until the final whistle. Stand out performances for the Bulldogs by Anasta and Asotasi helping set the platform for the likes of Utai and Sherwin.

The Raiders now have lost five games in a row and will need to find answers in the latter part of the season if they are to stay in contention for a Top 8 finish.

Scorers: CANTERBURY BULLDOGS 28 Tries: Utai, Hughes, Patten, Ryan, Anasta Goals: El Masri 3/5 CON, 1/1 PG CANBERRA RAIDERS 10 Tries: Withers Goals: Schifcofske 2/2 PG, 1/1 CON

Sydney Showground Crowd: 8496 Referee: Stephen Clark Half time: 10 all

Live commentary: The game set at the Sydney Showgrounds. Schifcofske for the Raiders playing his 200th 1st grade game today. O'Meley returns for the Bulldogs, his 1st game since the test against the Kiwis on April 22nd

0 min: Kick off, the Bulldogs running from right to left

1st min: NEWS - Adamson (Raiders) the victim of O'Meley's first tackle, an accidental injury in the tackle, he leaves the field with a rib injury

3rd min: NEWS - Back to back penalties against the Raiders and the Bulldogs have an easy run down the field, a soft finish has the Raiders with possession

7th min: NEWS - Perry (Bulldogs) leaves the field, with a hip injury, he walks off gingerly. The penalty count 4-0 against the Raiders

9th min: TRY - BULLDOGS After the 4th penalty against the Raiders, the Bulldogs with good hands has Utai unmarked out wide. He easily steps to draw 2 defenders to score. El Masri from the sideline, misses the conversion. Bulldogs 4-0

13th min: NEWS - Thompson (Raiders) also leaves the field injured. Both Adamson and Perry will not return to this game

14th min: PENALTY GOAL - RAIDERS Schifcofske gets his side on the board with a penalty awarded to the Raiders almost dead in front of the posts. Bulldogs 4-2

17th min: PENALTY GOAL - RAIDERS Schifcofske has another easy kick after another penalty is awarded by Clark. The players on both sides a little frustrated. 4-4

23rd min: TRY - BULLDOGS After an initial loss of 12 metres on the 5th tackle, the Bulldogs looked in disarray. Running it, the speculator pass hits its target and Hughes is over. El Masri gets the conversion and creeps closer to his record. Bulldogs 10-4

29th min: NO TRY - BULLDOGS End to end stuff for the Bulldogs. Anasta once again amongst anything and everything in his 100th game, but unfortunately loses the ball forward over the line. Bulldogs lead 10-4

33rd min: TRY - RAIDERS Using the middle of the field, the Raiders make ground. Hindmarsh offloads to Withers who sets sail for the line with Patten in pursuit. Schifcofske adds 2 points. 10 all

36th min: NEWS - A long range field goal attempt by Schifcofske (Raiders) misses the mark. 10 all the score remains

HALFTIME: Scrappy game at times by both teams, with neither side gaining the upperhand. 10 all at the break

Second half in this tight match is underway...

44th min: NEWS - Front rower Miller (Raiders) decides to take on O'Meley both at full pace and comes off second best, the trainers lead him from the field a little groggy

47th min: TRY - BULLDOGS A break by El Masri up the centre of the field. Fifth tackle options are plentiful for the Bulldogs. Hughes plants a sprinting Patten into the gap to score. El Masri equals Darryl Halligan's point scoring record for the Bulldogs. They lead 16-10

55th min: NEWS - Errors by both sides keeping the scoreline close. The Raiders starting to spread the ball out to the fringes. Bulldogs hold their lead 16-10

58th min: PENALTY GOAL - BULLDOGS El Masri becomes the highest scoring Bulldogs player with 1492 points after he slots a penalty goal from right in front. Bulldogs 18-10

61st min: NEWS - Miller (Raiders) hit hard once again in a tackle but refuses to leave the field with the trainer

65th min: TRY = BULLDOGS A knock on by the Raiders close to the Bulldogs line allows great field position for the Bulldogs. Patience wins through as Ryan finds the gap to score. El Masri's conversion 15 metres in from touch, hits the post and misses. Bulldogs 22-10

71st min: NEWS - Brideson (Bulldogs) leaving the field with blood from the nose allows the playmaker Sherwin back into the game 1 minute after he was rested. The Bulldogs lead 22-10

78th min: TRY - BULLDOGS Anasta crosses the line for a well deserved try. A simple kick through by Sherwin bounces kindly and Anasta pounces on it unopposed. El Masri converts. Bulldogs 28-10

FULL TIME: A strong second half by the Bulldogs has them winning comfortably in the end by 28-10

----------------------------------------- Leagueunlimited.com players of the match: 3 - R Asotasi(Bulldogs) 2 - B Anasta(Bulldogs) 1 - M Utai(Bulldogs) -----------------------------------------