23 Jul 2011

Bulldogs pip Eels at soggy ANZ Stadium

6:23 am on 23 July 2011

Canterbury produced a superb defensive performance to edge Parramatta 8-7 in extra time on Friday night, handing caretaker coach Jim Dymock his first NRL victory.

A 41-metre field goal from Trent Hodkinson two minutes into the second extra period at ANZ Stadium consigned the Eels to a second successive golden point defeat in front of 15,126 hardy souls who braved the wet and cold.

The Bulldogs, who went into the game with just two wins in their past ten outings, spent large spells of the game desperately defending their line, but showed great character to punish the Eels' inability to turn possession into points.

Jarryd Hayne looked to have won the game for the Eels four minutes from the end of normal time with a close-range field-goal, only for Hodkinson to do likewise for the Bulldogs with less than two minutes on the clock to tie the scores at 7-7.

The field goal looked to have finally broke the Bulldogs' resistance, but sloppy play in wet conditions let Dymock's side back into the game and Hodkinson sealed the win.

The Bulldogs are now tenth on the ladder level with three other teams on 20 points while the Eels are languishing in 13th on 15 points.