Rugby League

Waqa Blake try not enough as Bulldogs edge Eels

August 23, 2019 7:30 am

[Source: NRL]

Fijian born Waqa Blake scored a try for Paramatta Eels but it was not enough as Canterbury Bulldogs edged the Eels 12-6 at Bankwest Stadium.

A sensational defensive display from Canterbury, led by inspirational skipper Josh Jackson earned a thrilling win.

It was a brilliant pair of offloads from Nathan Brown and Manu Ma’u that set up Blake in the sixth minute, the mid-season recruit beating the last few defenders to plant the ball down.

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The other real highlight for the home side in the opening 40 was a monstrous hit from winger Maika Sivo, the tackle-of-the-year contender forcing an error from Watene-Zelezniak that allowed the Eels to race downfield in the 15th minute.

The Bulldogs held firm and pressed the Eels’ left edge of Dylan Brown, Shaun Lane and Michael Jennings when they did get in range.

The Eels had a golden opportunity to take the lead on the hour mark but Maika Sivo failed to ground the ball properly with a one-handed putdown.

The deadlock was eventually broken by a penalty try – a Kerrod Holland line break and kick ahead forced a repeat set before Holland backed it up to send Nick Meaney over for a try.

Moses kicked the ball loose in the act of grounding resulting in a penalty try and an easy conversion for a 12-6 win.

The loss, just the second all year at their new home ground, dents Parramatta’s hopes of a top-four finish but a home final in three weeks still beckons.

The result also keeps Canterbury’s tiny final hopes flickering, needing two more wins and several other results to go their way.

[Source: nrl]