The Pirtek Parramatta Eels have retained the Bandaged Bear Cup for a second year, overcoming a committed Bulldogs outfit 26 points to 12 in game two of the NRL Double Header at ANZ Stadium.

Luke Burt starred with 14 points in his comeback game from a rib injury as the Eels shrugged off a lethargic first half performance to record their third straight win.

The victory keeps the Eels in the hunt for the Finals, moving them onto 26 competition points with two rounds left to play.

For the second straight week Taulima Tautai opened the scoring for the Eels, latching onto a Brett Finch long ball before palming off Tim Winitana on his way to the tryline ten minutes in.

Burt resumed the kicking duties and immediately showed he’d lost none of his touch, calmly slotting the conversion from the sideline for a 6-nil lead.

The Bulldogs had enough possession in Eels territory to cross for four tries by the time they got their first, Heka Nani scoring down the short side for Hazem El Masri to level the scores at 6-all 25 minutes in.

And while they may have considered themselves unlucky not to have taken the lead five minutes before the break, video referee Russell Smith disallowing a try to Andrew Ryan, there was no luck about the try that took the Bulldogs into the lead with Winitana scoring off some quick hands through the backline in the 38th minute.

An uneventful opening to the second half gave way to 14 points in seven minutes for the Eels, who had turned a 12-6 deficit into a 20-12 lead by the 60 minute mark.

Burt leveled it up for the Eels with a converted try 12 minutes after the break, and then added a 40 metre penalty goal to put the Eels back into the lead.

From the kick off Daniel Holdsworth put it out on the full and less than a set later Chad Robinson steamed over for the Eels third try and an eight point lead.

With errors becoming an ever increasing feature of the match as it lurched towards full time, it seemed neither side would be able to add to their tally.

However a 60 metre movement on the cusp of full time allowed the Eels to have the final say, Kris Keating scoring his debut try in the top grade to lead the visitors to a 26-12 victory.

The win keeps the Eels alive in the race for the finals, with games against fellow contenders St George Illawarra (ANZ Stadium, Saturday 30 August, 7.30pm) and the New Zealand Warriors (Parramatta Stadium, Saturday 6 September, 7.30pm) still to come.

TELSTRA PREMIERSHIP

PIRTEK PARRAMATTA EELS 26

Tries: Taulima Tautai, Luke Burt, Chad Robinson, Kris Keating

Goals: Luke Burt 5/5

BULLDOGS 12

Tries: Heka Nani, Tim Winitana

Goals: Hazem El Masri 2/2

At ANZ Stadium

Half Time: Bulldogs 12-6

Referee: Steve Lyons

EELS V BULLDOGS – AS IT HAPPENED

10th Minute: Taulima Tautai opens the scoring for the second straight week. Luke Burt converts from the sideline. Eels 6-nil.

24th Minute: Heka Nani crosses down the short side for the Bulldogs. Hazem El Masri converts from the sideline. 6-all.

38th Minute: Tim Winitana scores for the Bulldogs. El Masri converts again from an acute angle. Bulldogs 12-6.

Half Time: Bulldogs 12, Eels 6.

53rd Minute: Burt goes over in the corner. He converts his own try. 12-all.

60th Minute: Burt adds a penalty goal to put the Eels back into the lead. Eels 14-12.

61st Minute: Chad Robinson charges over for the Eels third try. Burt converts. Eels 20-12.

80th Minute: Kris Keating finishes off a 60 metre movement by scoring midway between the posts and the sideline. Burt converts. Eels 24-12.

Full Time: Eels 24, Bulldogs 12.

Eels Jump Up Toyota Cup Ladder

The Pirtek Parramatta Eels have jumped up the Toyota Cup ladder thanks to a 24-20 victory over the Bulldogs at the Crest Stadium.

The win sees the Eels move one point ahead of the Dogs on the competition standings two rounds out from the Finals, and they could finish the round as high as second on the ladder depending on other results.

It took 20 minutes for first points to be scored, Bulldogs winger Mason Pure strolling over off a Ben Barba cut out ball for a 4-nil lead.

Anthony Mitchell then got the Eels on the board, running 20 metres out of dummy half to touch down under the posts.

Nathan Gardner’s conversion put the Eels into the lead, and when Jonathon Mannah barged over from close range soon after it was extended out to 12-4.

Another Eels try, scored by Taniela Lasalo, saw the Eels sitting pretty at 16-4 on the run into half time, however a second to Pure got the Bulldogs back to a converted try behind at the break.

A Barba intercept try after the resumption leveled it up, which is where it stayed for much of the second half despite the home side enjoying the bulk of possession and field position.

An infringement in front of the posts allowed Gardner to kick the Eels back into the lead, before a jinking Albert Kelly put Daniel Mortimer over to seal the win just under 10 minutes out from full time.

Bulldogs replacement Pakisonasi Afu scored a try after the bell to reduce the final margin to four points, however the Eels had the win, 24 points to 20.

TOYOTA CUP

PIRTEK PARRAMATTA EELS 24

Tries: Anthony Mitchell, Jonathon Mannah, Taniela Lasalo, Daniel Mortimer

Goals: Nathan Gardner 4/5

BULLDOGS 20

Tries: Mason Pure 2, Ben Barba, Pakisonasi Afu

Goals: Ben Barba 2/4

At the Crest Stadium

Referee: Gavin Reynolds

EELS V BULLDOGS - ROUND 24 2008 Taulima Tautai scores the Eels first try for the second straight week.  26 Aug 2008 1 of

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