El Masri shatters
records in Dogs victory

Round 2
Canterbury Bulldogs 47 def. Wests Tigers 12

Match summary:

Hazem El Masri scored 34 points in the form of four tries and nine goals in the Bulldogs 47-12 runaway win over the Wests Tigers at Telstra Stadium tonight.

The Bulldogs dominated the lacklustre Tigers in the first half as they raced away to a 24-0 lead with tries to Willie Mason, and El Masri?s first two. This was accompanied by El Masri?s three first half penalty goals. With just under ten minutes in the first half remaining, Mark O?Meley and Bryce Gibbs were sin binned for fighting.

The Tigers got a quick start to the second half, scoring care of Daniel Fitzhenry and Brett Hodgson. Mark O?Meley settled the mini-feud he had going with Bryce Gibbs when he utterly smashed Gibbs in a hit up, knocking him out cold. Sherwin kicked a long range field goal, and then the floodgates opened, with El Masri scoring in the 63rd minute, Maitua scoring in the 66th and El Masri crossing for his fourth try in the 70th minute. The rout was topped off by a Patten try with two minutes to go, however El Masri missed the conversion and was forced to settle with only 34 points in the match.

Scorers:

Canterbury Bulldogs: 47
Tries: Hazem El Masri(4), Reni Maitua, Willie Mason, Luke Patten
Goals: Hazem El Masri 9/10
Field Goals: Brent Sherwin
Wests Tigers: 12
Tries: Daniel Fitzhenry, Brett Hodgson
Goals: Brett Hodgson 2/2

Venue: Telstra Stadium
Crowd: 32,587
Referee: Steve Clark
Half time: Bulldogs 24-0

Live commentary:

1 min: NEWS The Bulldogs kick off!

2 min: NEWS Both teams have received early penalties, the Tigers with the better of field position early.

5 min: PENALTY GOAL Canterbury Bulldogs
The Tigers are penalised for holding down, El Masri slots the goal from right in front.
Bulldogs 2-0

10 min: NEWS The Tigers play some expansive football, but manage to cross the line on a forward pass.

13 min: TRY Canterbury Bulldogs
Mason barges across on the last tackle, try awarded by the video referee. El Masri converts from an easy angle.
Bulldogs 8-0

17 min: NEWS The Tigers get a chance to have a whole set inside the Bulldogs 10, but a wild pass squanders the chance.

18 min: NEWS Mason is placed on report for a high tackle on Lolesi, that making his third high tackle in the match.

19 min: NEWS Bulldogs giving away a string of penalties, count already 6-2 in the Tigers favour. The Tigers are unable to take any advantage of the count with plenty of sloppy play.

25 min: PENALTY GOAL Canterbury Bulldogs
The Tigers give away another penalty and El Masri converts the goal from 25 metres out.
Bulldogs 10-0

28 min: TRY Canterbury Bulldogs
El Masri somehow gets through several tacklers and gets the ball down on the last tackle. He converts his own try for a commanding lead.
Bulldogs 16-0

30 min: NEWS O'Meley and Gibbs get into a punch up, Gibbs gets a spell in the sin bin, and so does O'Meley.

34 min: NEWS Bulldogs play some top notch football and get a penalty 10 out from the Tigers line, to create real pressure on the Tigers.

36 min: PENALTY GOAL Canterbury Bulldogs
As the penalty count goes to 8-6 in the Bulldogs favour, El Masri hits another penalty goal from right in front.
Bulldogs 18-0

38 min: TRY Canterbury Bulldogs
Sherwin intercepts the pass from the scrum base, he races away and El Masri finishes next to the posts. He adds the conversion and already has 20 points tonight!
Bulldogs 24-0

40 min: NEWS Todd Payten is placed on report for a high tackle.

Half time in a very scrappy match. The match is filled with numerous needless penalties. The Tigers were very average, while the Bulldogs were quite impressive in the first half.

40 min: NEWS The second half kicks off!

42 min: NEWS O'Meley and Gibbs return to action.

46 min: TRY Wests Tigers
Fitzhenry finds a gap and scores easily from 10 out. Hodgson converts.
Bulldogs 24-6

50 min: NEWS A great kick and chase by the Bulldogs trap Hodgson resulting in a goal line drop out.

50 min: NEWS O'Meley wins his battle with Gibbs as he runs right over him, knocking him out cold. Gibbs is in a neck brace and taken off the field on the golf cart.

52 min: TRY Wests Tigers
The Tigers run the ball on the last tackle, they break down the right and Hodgson scores next to the posts. Patten also placed on report for a late charge on Collis.
Bulldogs 24-12

59 min: FIELD GOAL Canterbury Bulldogs
Sherwin kicks a long range field goal to make something out of a nothing situation.
Bulldogs 25-12

63 min: TRY Canterbury Bulldogs
A kick to the corner sees the ball come to El Masri who gets the third Friday night hat-trick of 2006. From the sideline, El Masri converts. 26 points so far!
Bulldogs 31-12

66 min: TRY Canterbury Bulldogs
Tries in two successive sets to the Bulldogs, as slick passing has Reni Maitua scoring beside the posts. El Masris conversion equals the Bulldogs club record for points in a match.
Bulldogs 37-12

70 min: TRY Canterbury Bulldogs
A break up the middle sees El Masri score his fourth! He converts. 34 points!
Bulldogs 43-12

72 min: NEWS 32,578 Crowd

78 min: TRY Canterbury Bulldogs
Patten scores in the left corner. El Masri misses the conversion!
Bulldogs 47-12

80 min: NEWS Full time in a very one sided match. The Tigers pulled back to 24-12 before the Bulldogs ran away laughing.

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Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - Hazem El Masri (Bulldogs)
2 - Mark O'Meley (Bulldogs)
1 - Brent Sherwin (Bulldogs)
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