Parramatta Eels Holden Cup side

1. Michael Doolan

2. Kelepi Manu

3. Tyrell Fuimaono

4. Dane Aukafolau

5. Jermaine Mati-Leifi

6. Dean Matterson

7. Troy Dargan

8. Jamie Stowers

9. Matt Price

10. Tom Amone

11. Jack Morris

19. Mason Cerruto

13. Craig Field

Interchange:

12. Thomas Field

14. Tui Oloapu

15. Kurt De Luis

16. Jonathan Mose

 

In a massive game day twist Mason Cerruto is named in the starting backrow which defies all selection logic to date. It seems likely that Tyrell Fuimaono will swap places with him on the field, allowing Cerruto to play in the far more familiar centre role. Tom Field is the player to make way for Cerruto but I missed the exact composition of the bench so we will have to wait until the club belatedly releases the Late Mail to confirm who was dropped.

 

The Eels ill receive the footy to start the game as Manu and Amone get the Eels on the front foot. Field and Stowers cart it further up before Matt Price jumps out of dummy half and perhaps gets a fortuitous strip call. Big chance for the Eels as a result though.

 

Fuimaono has a good carry from the tap restart. Field follows before Cerruto nearly goes over from a money ball via Dargan – only some desperate last ditch defence keeps him out. The Eels then swing to their left where a sweeping play goes to Doolan who cuts out to Maiti-Leifi who is tackled short of the line. Dargan kicks back to the right where it looks like Fuimaono has soared over the defenders to score but he has just knocked it on! Oh no, chance gone begging there!

 

With the benefit of the seven tackle set the Raiders march down the field and open up our left edge. A diving Dane Auckafolau saves a near certain try but an astute kick on the next play nets a line drop out as Cerruto has to bat it dead down the right edge.

 

Gee that was soft…the Raiders just play a very simple short side movement mid tackle count and our left-edge defence get caught on the backfoot on the goal line and their Canberra #3 just powers over Dargan and Auckafolau. Very weak stuff.

 

Try scored by #3 for Canberra. Conversion unsuccessful by Woolford.

Raiders lead 4-0

6min gone

 

A rattling shot by Fuimaono has forced an error! Parra need to make something of this. Fuimaono ends up with the ball on the second tackle and has a run down the right and on the back of that the Eels execute a lightning fast shift down their left edge. That was executed perfectly. Dargan plays out the back to Doolan who cuts out to Maiti-Leifi…really it was a similar movement to the earlier set where Jermaine was denied, just it was executed that much quicker this time. Gorgeous ball work and a great reply from the Eels.

 

Try scored by Maiti-Leifi. Conversion unsuccessful by Dargan.

Parra tie it up at 4-all.

9min gone.

 

Amone, Manu and Morris the first three men used this set. Field carts it up next before Dargan takes it down the left to kick it early. He tries to stab it in behind but it gets a touch and pulls up shallow. Maiti-Leifi races through to try and regather and flick it inside but he is bundled into touch.

 

Better defensive set from the Eels here as they keep the Raiders inside their own half. Doolan fields their kick in the left corner and gets out past the 20m mark with his return. The Parra outside backs truck it up for their forwards with Dane Auckafolau making a superb 30m from his effort. A run from Fuimaono brings up the last and Dean Matterson rolls it in behind nicely. Cerruto and Manu give chase and pin the Canberra custodian on his 1m line but alas an overly willing effort from Fuimaono on the second tackle results in a penalty for Canberra. A second penalty follows midcount in the next set when the ball is stripped. Bad discipline on display here.

 

The back-to-back penalties hurt badly as our right-edge is beaten by the Raiders. Simply hands movement there. Cerruto half wraps up the opposite centre and Manu races in, perhaps unnecessarily, to complete the tackle allowing for an offload to the winger who beats Fuimaono to the corner.

 

Try scored by the Raiders. Conversion successful by Woolford.

Raiders lead 10-4

16min gone

 

Up tempo footy from the Raiders here as some second phase play behind the ruck sticks. Parra actually defend it solidly. Manu fields the kick and brings the ball back. Cerruto and Amone follow before Dargan plays down the left edge to Auckafolau who makes a half break and offloads to Doolan who makes a second half bust. Matterson centres it to bring up the last but a poor grubber kick from Dargan results in a 20m restart.

 

As with nearly every seven tackle set, big metres are available for the Raiders here but a late error from the Raiders takes the pressure off. Effort play from Auckafolau there as he comes back for a tackle from behind to jolt the ball loose.

 

Fuimaono gets the ball from the scrum win. Decent carry. The Eels work the ball down their right before going back to the left where Auckafolau proves to be a handful again, beating the initial defender but he is quickly wrapped up afterwards. Dargan bombs towards the posts where the ball is taken just inside the field of play by the fullback before he is pulled down.

 

Parra defend another set from the Raiders solidly before a very handy penalty comes their way as the Canberra defenders get over eager from the onside mark.

 

Morris takes the run from the tap restart. Parra then spin the ball to their right where Cerruto gets a run. Big shift back to the left where Amone gets the ball. Dargan kicks early and with improved range as he forces a line drop out. Good chase from Jack Morris to apply the pressure there!

 

Amone is HAMMERED from the drop out return and getting up he loses the ball. Gee that one hurts. Terrific shot and all but the loss of possession had nothing to do with it. Luke Burt will be pretty dirty on the wasted opportunity there.

 

Oh wow, that is very questionable. Field’s arm was clearly locked up inside the arm of the ball carrier and he points it out to the ref. Instead of the usual milking call against the attacking team we get pinged with a penalty. Very dubious call there.

 

Karma quickly leaps into action as the Raiders make an unforced error.

 

Auckafolau and Doolan make the first two runs. Maiti-Leifi and De Luis are uo next before Price and Amone makes massive metres as they work together up the middle. Matterson’s stab kick looks too heavy from the boot and seems to be taken in goals but the ref calls play on and a committed chase traps him in goals! For all the other issues with the team the kick chase has been superb today.

 

Take two for Amone and he gets some vengeance as he bowls over a defender AND holds onto the ball. Nice inside line from Morris on the ntext tackle there. Parra come back to their right for a couple of tackles which results in Doolan nearly barging over but on the last a perfect kick from Dargan earns a second line drop out.

 

Amone gets the drop out carry again. Solid run. De Luis follows before Dargan turns Morris back inside on the third. Fuimaono gets the ball down the right and throws off the first defender but is wrapped up by the supporting cast. Dargan runs it down the left short side on the last and nearly fights his way over but he is JUST held up!

 

Hang on second! An error from the Raiders on their 1m line. Never change NYC! Huge chance now for the Eels.

 

Parra look for a set piece from the scrum move and create the space out wide but the ref has no hesitation in blowing an obstruction there. Looked like the correct call from the eye as well. Inside shoulder for the sweeper.

 

A second penalty follows so now the pressure swings in the complete opposite direction.

 

Urgh, so soft. That was embarrassing. There should not have been space there but a short ball up the middle catches us out massively and the Raiders just stroll through next to the posts. No excuses will fly there as our ruck defence is caught with its pants down.

 

Try scored by the Raiders. Conversion successful by Woolford.

Canberra lead 16-4

33min gone

 

Canberra kick early on the set after points and confusion reigns as the Eels play at the ball. Not sure why Manu did that? It wasn’t a 40/20 from my eye. Parra come up with the scrum feed as I am not entirely sure the officials knew what was happening either.

 

Error from Morris now as he has the ball forced loose in a strong tackle. Eels in all sorts here. Wow, another unforced error from the Raiders save the home team any more blushes though. Phew!

 

Good run and offload from Fuimaono there. He gets the ball on the following tackle for another carry. The ball then comes to Cerruto down the right where he is easily taken. A run from De Luis brings up the last where Dargan tries to bomb it for his chasers but the bomb is far too shallow and is easily taken by the Raiders.

 

Yet another penalty goes the way of the visitors now. 6-2 the count against the Eels if I am not mistaken. Make that 7-2 as the Eels are pinged for a second effort in the tackle as they try to drive the Raiders into touch.

 

Another short side raid down our right edge and another try. Soft attempted tackle from Maiti-Leifi there. He had a chance to kill the play abut his weak grab allowed the #3 for the Raiders to get an offload away to his winger who dives over in the corner.

 

Try scored by the Raiders. Conversion unsuccessful by Woolford.

Raiders lead 20-4

 

Half Time

Canberra Raiders 20 LEAD Parramatta Eels 4

 

Second Half

 

Parra kick off in the second half. Bright start here as the Raiders make a mistake in the play the ball from the first tackle. Here we go. Did Burty’s chat at half time make a difference? Let’s find out.

 

Good run and offload from Fuimaono on tackle 1 there. Balls ends up down our left edge so we come back to our right and use Cerruto. We centre the ball on the third tackle and then look to use Auckafolau on a crash line but he loses the ball. Yet another squandered chance.

 

Messy start to the half as the Raiders make another error! Parra HAS to make something of this. Manu nearly ends up over the sideline on the first tackle before the Eels get the ball to Auckafolau on the next tackle. He holds onto the ball! Huzzah. Clever play from Doolan earns a penalty on the next tackle as he catches a marker out. Morris and Amone run straight and hard on the first two tackles before Fuiamono gets a run. We go down our left but lack good shape to be honest. Morris gets another carry and on the last we roll it in goals but the kick chase is not as vigorous as it was in the first half and the visitors get back inside the field of play. Poor set.

 

Great, simple set from the Raiders in reply, that is until they get to their kick which is too heavy and results in a 20m restart.

 

Probably should be a penalty coming to the Eels there as Field is slowed down massively despite the release calls.

 

Nice little short side play form Dargan as he uses Morris on the crash line. Dargan gets his hands on the ball on the last and bombs it back to the right edge. Fuimaono is right there for the contest but the ball comes down between Tyrell and Nic Cotric and Mason Cerruto dives on the loose ball! It wasn’t all that pretty if truth be told but we needed to get on the board.

 

Try scored by Cerruto. Conversion successful by Dargan.

Parra trail 10-20

48min gone

 

Very good carry from Tome Amone there. Manu follows him up and De Luis trucks it up on the third. Morris gets early ball on the fourth and makes good metres to set up Doolan for a bomb on the last. Great take from the Canberra fullback there as he is hit just as he takes it under extreme pressure from Craig Field.

 

Time off as there is blood spewing out of the forehead of a Canberra player. Their fullback I think.

 

Chance for a big defensive set here. And as I type that the Raiders make a half break. Deary me. Canberra reply with a rushed pass due to pressure from Matterson so the result is a wash I guess.

 

Doolan takes the long kick well and runs the ball back to the defensive line. We play it down our right edge where Fuimaono stands through contact to offload once again, this time to Tom Field who pinches a few metres. The work down our right has opened up a huge overlap down the opposite edge as we play out a good backline movement that sees Dane Auckafolau stroll through out wide. The Eels are finally riding with the momentum here.

 

Try scored by Auckafolau. Conversion unsuccessful by Dargan.

Parra trail 14-20

53min gone

 

Good set in terms of metreage there for the Eels as they drive the ball right into the redzone but a poor finish to the set lets the Raiders get a jump on them as Fuimaono’s kick is eaten up by a few metres are stolen.

 

Canberra get to their kick in return and a great kick is laced in behind but some excellent work from Doolan and Maiti-Leifi gets the Eels past their 20m mark! Big metres are there for the Eels once again as they roll the ball upfield. Dargan’s bomb on the last is a touch too heavy which means Fuimaono can not get to it in time and it is defused. Close stuff there.

 

Another tough set for the Raiders as they struggle to ruck it out and then a penalty comes to the Eels now. Parra need to keep riding the momentum here.

 

Sloppy start to the set with a slow pick up from dummy half and some slow passes. Craig Field gets the set back on track as he nearly storms over under the posts! Great effort and some solid defence. We take it to Auckafolu on the fourth and he is tackled. Doolan jumps into dummy half on the last. He dummies to Dargan down the left short side and then goes himself! He has beaten some exhausted defenders with ease to score!

 

Try scored by Doolan. Conversion unsuccessful by Dargan.

Parra trail 18-20

60min gone

 

Morris is the first man up here. De Luis follows. One of the Field boys is used on the third before De Luis gets his second run of the set. Nice little step and flick ball from Fuimaono to Cerruto on the fourth but the Raiders shift well to trap Cerruto near the sideline. The fifth tackle kick is pretty poor and the Raiders clean it up easily.

 

Parra do lift in defence here as they pin the Raiders to their 40m line on the last tackle. The Raiders run it on the last but they are dead on their feet here and an error comes as they try to string quick passes together. Tyrell Fuimaono scoops up the ball and makes a few metres on the zero tackle.

 

Bad call from Dargan there. The Eels are pouring on the pressure in this set as they raid the Raider’s redzone (heh). He kicks early here, rolling a grubber in behind down our left edge but it is well to heavy and a 20m restart is the result.

 

Canberra ruck it down field in reply and then look to slow the tempo of the game down as they roll it over the sideline inside Parra’s redzone.

 

Poor discipline from the Raiders now as a penalty comes from the first run as they try to slow the play down. Easy call there for the refs.

 

Field gets the first run before Morris streaks into the backfield! Lovely line from the backrower there! He gets run down but the Eels have all the running here. They take it down their right edge where they get a size again call from a Canberra hand and thus they can slow it down. The ball comes back to Morris on the third tackle but he is well tackled. Oloapu centres it and then in what looked to be another terrible early kick call, this one from Matterson, gets us a try! Matterson deadset blasted a grubber at the Canberra winger and it rockets out of his hands and right into the welcoming hands of Tyrell Fuimaono who scores!

 

Try scored by Fuimaono. Conversion unsuccessful by Maiti-Leifi.

Parra lead 22-20

68min gone

 

Good run from Auckafolau early in this set. Price scoots out of dummy half in his wake before Tom Amone drags defenders down field! HOLY TOLDEO! Tui Oloapu has come from nowhere! Scorches in behind the ruck and swerves his way through several defenders before stepping the fullback with a monster left foot step! What was that! SIX POINTS FOR THE EELS IS WHAT IS IS!

 

Try scored by Oloapu. Conversion successful by Maiti-Leifi. WOOOO A CONVERSION.

Parra lead 28-20

70min gone

 

Another good set after points here as the Eels continue to run the exhausted Raiders off their feet. A cute kick from Matt Price nearly puts the Raiders over the sidelines on the last. That was a damn close call.

 

Oof, timely penalty for the Raiders there. Messy ruck work from the Eels there but scratch that a good shot from the Eels have knocked the ball loose on the first tackle! The Field twins the architect of that error!

 

Morris and Amone chalking up carries early in this set. Craig Field centres the ball fore Matterson make a half break and then offloads to Cerruto who is barely shot and then on the fifth tackle Jack Morris looks to have scored from a terrific kick chase but Dane Auckafolau was offside! Oh no. That was such as shame. Morris deserved the reward there!

 

Much better set from Canverra here as the drive the ball upfield and finally find some energy. The Eels have to keep coming in cover defence here but Dane Auckafolau gets the interception on the last! Great commitment there from the young Eels.

 

Lovely footwork from Matt Price in behind the ruck there as he beats several defenders before trying to pass to Dargan in support. It catches a Canberra hand and the Eels will pack down for a scrum.

 

Morris gets the first run of the set. De Luis charges towards the posts on the second before Price scoots from dummy half and gets a penalty due to offside markers. Jamie Stowers storms over the goal line but he is held up on the first. De Luis gets the second carry before the Eels spin it out to their right where Dargan finds Doolan on the sweep. Doolan holds the ball up as he looks to his right before taking on the line and he fights his way over to ice the game!

 

Try scored by Doolan. Conversion successful by Maiti-Leifi.

Parra lead 34-20

 

Full Time

Parramatta Eels 34 DEF Canberra Raiders 20

 

As much as this game encapsulated that classic sporting cliche of a game of two halves…it also served to prove just what a weird grade the NYC is!