Bulldogs fall short to Eels

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have suffered a two-point defeat to the Parramatta Eels, 18-16 at ANZ Stadium.

After trailing the Eels 18-nil, the Bulldogs fought their way back into the game against their arch-rivals but came up short on Sunday afternoon in Indigenous round.

Parramatta got off to fast start, scoring three tries in the opening 30 minutes through a double for Clint Gutherson and one for half Mitchell Moses.

Kieran Foran and Raymond Faitala-Mariner combined to reduce the margin to 12 points when the second-rower claimed his fourth try in five games five minutes before the break.

Second half tries to Jake Averillo and Marcelo Montoya reduce the margin to two points with 28 minutes remaining.

Averillo’s try in the 43rd minute was the highlight of the day and a contender for try of the year after the centre took the aerial route to the try line and plant the ball down millimetres inside the corner post with his left hand.

Despite the loss and unable to find another four-pointer in the final quarter of the match, the boys in blue and white can hold their head high and take plenty away from the performance.