1. A method for comparing dimension match data of a rule with corresponding data in a packet, the method comprising: in a rule match engine (RME) provided with dimension match data divided into a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the dimension match data provided in a first cycle of the RME and the second portion provided in a second cycle of the RME: in the first cycle of the RME, comparing the first portion of the dimension match data with a corresponding first portion of data in a packet; in the first cycle of the RME, setting a first condition code to equal to, greater than, or less than based on the comparison of the first portion of the dimension match data with the corresponding first portion of data in the packet; in the second cycle of the RME, comparing the second portion of the dimension match data with a corresponding second portion of data in the packet; in the second cycle of the RME, setting a second condition code to equal to, greater than, or less than based on the comparison of the second portion of the dimension match data with the corresponding second portion of data in the packet; determining whether the dimension match data is equal to, greater than, or less than the corresponding data in the packet based on the first and second condition codes, the determination being a combined result of the RME partially comparing the dimension match data with the packet as each portion of the dimension match data is provided to the RME over multiple cycles; and returning a response indicating whether the dimension match data and the corresponding data in the packet match based on the determination, and the response causing an action to be taken on the packet by a network service.