Parramatta have continued their late season surge with an upset NRL win over the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium last night.
The Eels, despite making far more tackles than the Bulldogs, ran out 27-8 victors in front of 31,664 fans with a brilliant display against the competition's second-placed team.
The five-tries-to-two victory keeps the Eels' slim finals hopes alive while ending the Bulldogs' perfect record at home this season and denting their hopes of a minor premiership.
Parramatta begun brightly and jumped out to a 10-0 lead after wingers Luke Burt and Eric Grothe scored inside the first 15 minutes.
Burt smartly retrieved a grubber from young Eels' five-eighth Daniel Mortimer while Grothe's try came after in-form fullback Jarryd Hayne had run nearly the length of the field in an electric break.
But the Bulldogs struck back in the 26th minute through teen sensation Jamal Idris and reduced the margin to two seven minutes later when a clever Ben Roberts' grubber gave Bryson Goodwin the easiest of opportunities with Grothe and Joel Reddy caught in-field.
After repelling a Bulldogs' charge in the opening minutes of the second half, the Eels had Hayne to thank again when Grothe scored his second of the night in the 48th minute.
The fleet-footed NSW star had opened up the Bulldogs defence with a run through the middle, giving Grothe the chance to muscle over in the corner from the next play.
And the lead was extended to 12 just six minutes later when Kevin Kingston ran past Roberts from dummy-half to dive over.
The Eels were then almost camped on their goal line for the next ten minutes as the Bulldogs aimed to get back into the match.
But Parramatta held firm and a field goal by Burt with 12 minutes to go, and a deserved try to rampaging prop Fuifui Moimoi in the 75th minute, sealed the win.
- AAP
NRL: Eels upset Bulldogs
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