1st Elimination Semi Final: PAR v BUL – By the clock

ELIMINATION FINAL ONE
Saturday 7:45pm AEST, 15th September 2007, @ Telstra Stadium, Homebush.
V
PARRAMATTA EELS
1-13: J Hayne, K Inu, D Wagon, T Tahu, E Grothe, B Finch, T Smith, N Cayless (c), M Riddell, FF MoiMoi, N Hindmarsh, I Hindmarsh, C Robinson.
Bench: PJ Marsh, J Cordoba, F Mateo, J Reddy.
Coach: Michael Hagan.

BULLDOGS
1-13: L Patten, H El Masri, D Millard, W Tonga, M Utai, B Roberts, B Sherwin, M O’Meley, C Hughes, W Mason, SB Williams, A Ryan (c), R Maitua.
Bench: A Perry, C Armit, N Kouparitsas, J Hickey.
Coach: Steven Folkes.

FIRST HALF

1^st Minute PAR – FuiFui MoiMoi runs back the first hit up. Tim Smith puts in a clearing kick from halfway to end an okay set. Patten returns cops a suspect tackle by Timana Tahu and comes out of the tackle with what looks to be a dislocated finger.

2^nd Minute BUL – Dogs set takes them into Parra’s half but Sherwin’s kick doesn’t ask to many questions of Inu on the kick return about 10m out from his line. Dogs give away a piggy back – just what Folkes would have stressed to avoid all week – for inside the 10m.

3^rd Minute PAR – Eels get first attacking set starting at the 30m line. Finch touches the ball on almost every tackle and only a desperate dive by El Masri foils Inu from scoring in the left corner. Finch at first receiver looks to be the plan. Dogs Dropout.

5^th Minute PAR – Cayless knocks-on on the second tackle.

5^th Minute BULLDOGS TRY – From the follow up run by SB Williams he offloads to Patten who splits the defence hits Ryan who finds Tonga – who despite falling manages to put Utai in to score on the left side. Dogs first opportunity comes from a Parramatta error and they score.

BULLDOGS TRY – M Utai (1); C Hughes 2A D/Half Short Pass to – SB Williams 2A Offload to – L Patten 1A Line Break and Pass to – A Ryan 2A Run and Offload to – W Tonga 2A Run and pass to – M Utai to score in the left corner.
H El Masri CONVERSION from touchline successful.

6-0 BULLDOGS after 7 minutes.