CANTERBURY BULLDOGS 14 PARRAMATTA EELS 12
STEPHEN IBBETSON, Accor Stadium, Monday
STEPHEN CRICHTON landed a 40-metre penalty-goal four minutes from time to finally get Canterbury past Parramatta.
The Bulldogs dominated much of the King’s Birthday match but, following a scoreless first half, were pegged back from twelve points ahead.
A high tackle by Tallyn Da Silva on Matt Burton gave Crichton his shot from distance but straight in line with the posts, and the centre delivered.
This scrappy contest between the sides 15th and 16th in the table brought the NRL’s first scoreless opening 40 minutes in almost five years.
Eels stand-off Joash Papalii thought he’d scored in the last of them after picking up off the ground, only for the ball to be ruled dead already.
Sitili Tupouniua was also denied a try two minutes into the second half, but successfully grounded shortly after when crashing onto a Lachlan Galvin pass.
Crichton then followed up by rising highest to a Connor Tracey bomb, with his two conversions putting Canterbury 12-0 up.
Parramatta rallied with a one-two combination of their own, Josh Addo-Carr kicking for Da Silva before Papalii supported Teancum Brown’s burst through the middle as Da Silva landed both goals to level.
A wayward Bronson Xerri flick butchered the best Bulldogs chance for a winning try, but they had Crichton to clinch it instead.
BULLDOGS: 22 Connor Tracey, 1 Jacob Kiraz, 3 Bronson Xerri, 4 Stephen Crichton, 5 Enari Tuala, 6 Matt Burton, 7 Lachlan Galvin, 8 Max King, 14 Bailey Hayward, 10 Leo Thompson, 11 Sitili Tupouniua, 12 Jaeman Salmon, 13 Harry Hayes. Subs: 2 Jethro Rinakama (not used), 15 Jed Reardon (not used), 16 Jack Underhill, 17 Josh Curran, 19 Sean O’Sullivan, 21 Lipoi Hopoi
Tries: Tupouniua (48), Crichton (51); Goals: Crichton 3/3
EELS: 1 Isaiah Iongi, 2 Brian Kelly, 3 Jordan Samrani, 4 Sean Russell, 5 Josh Addo-Carr, 6 Joash Papalii, 7 Ronald Volkan, 8 Luca Morretti, 17 Harrison Edwards, 10 Jack Williams, 11 Kelma Tuilagi, 12 Kitione Kautoga, 13 Jack De Belin. Subs: 9 Tallyn De Silva, 14 Dylan Walker, 15 Sam Tuivaiti, 18 Apa Twidle (not used), 19 Teancum Brown, 20 Charlie Guymer (not used)
Tries: Da Silva (60), Papalii (62); Goals: Da Silva 2/2
SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-0; 6-0, 12-0, 12-6, 12-12, 14-12
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Bulldogs: Stephen Crichton; Eels: Jack Williams
Penalty count: 3-1; Half-time: 0-0; Referee: Todd Smith, Attendance: 37,638