Harold Matthews

Two change for the Eels as Braith Aspin and Sam Hughes comes into the team. Aspin replaces Jandamurra Stewart while Sam Hughes makes his long awaited return from injury to replace an injured comrade in Christian Wihongi. Hughes is a massive inclusion for the 16s and alleviates the unfortunate loss of standout bookend Wihongi.

First Half

The Eels are fielding the ball to start the game as they run towards the Cabra Leagues Club. Sam Hughes doesn’t have to wait long for his first touch in is return as he gets the opening charge. Steams into the line and adds a terrific late offload as well. Good start. The Eels drive the ball over halfway and then run it down their right on the last where they are barely repelled by the Tigers. That came down to an over the head pass right at the goal line. Good set.

First points to the Eels today as Peni Tohi steps his way over down our right. Comes off the back of a good set of sustained pressure. The Tigers defended well but the Eels diliginently worked the ball down their left edge before a rapid shift to their right gives Tohi the one-on-one opportunity.

Try scored by P.Tohi. Conversion unsuccessful by Pasitoa.

Eels lead 4-0

6min gone

A great hit from Braith Aspin jolts the ball free for a turnover and the Eels capitalise as they march downfield to post their second score of the game. A good charge and lightning quick play the ball from Sam Hughes paves a silvered path for Jed Edwards to dive over from short range. Too easy.

Try scored by Edwards. Conversion successful by Biondi-Odo.

Eels lead 10-0

10min gone

Three on the trot now for the Eels. Hughes and Hollis are impossible to contain as they roll the Tigers up the guts. The backline passes are crisp and catch the flat-footed Tigers short as the cutout pass from Campbell Byrd finds the chest of Viliami Penisini in stride as he goes over in the corner.

Try scored by Penisini. Conversion unsuccessful by Biondi-Odo.

Eels lead 14-0

13min gone

One way traffic here as the Eels dominate possession and turn it consistently into points. Peni Tohi is the benefactor on the scorer’s sheet once again. The try this time comes around as a result of a grubber kick from Tevita Masima. He angles the ball along the ground towards the right edge and the outside back from the Tigers can’t handle the skid off the turf. Tohi is Johnny Onthespot to clean up the scraps for an easy four-pointer.

Try scored by P.Tohi. Conversion successful by Biondi-Odo.

Eels lead 20-0

17min gone

The Eels lose focus in the next 10min period as they fail to complete a string of sets. The gifted possession to the Tigers eventually proves to be too much for the Eels as the Tigers barge their way over with a short pass from dummy half. The visitors had plenty of ball in the red zone but never really threatened, sheer weight of possession secured those points.

Try scored by the Tigers. Conversion successful.

Tigers trail 6-20

25min gone

Uneventful end to the half as neither team troubles the scorer one final time. Parramatta with nearly all the running in the first half before a sustained lapse in concentration let the Tigers in.

Half Time

Parramatta Eels 20 lead Balmain Tigers 6

Second Half

The Eels start the second half just as they did in the first as Jayden Skinner storms over down the left edge. Parramatta had the field position advantage due to a big break from Braith Aspin down the left edge. Once in the red zone the Eels just piled on the pressure which culminates in Skinner scoring.

Try scored by Skinner. Conversion unsuccessful by Biondi-Odo.

Eels lead 24-6

34min gone

Oooh, bit of fortune there for the Tigers – still a good kick mind you. The Tigers roll the ball towards the in-goals on the last tackle. Campbell Byrd is right there for the clean up job but it catches the pads on the uprights and the Tigers scoop up the deflection in a flash to score.

Try scored by the Tigers. Conversion successful.

Tigers trail 12-24

38min gone

Now there are some lovely hands! Bailey Biondi-Odo looks to knife his grubber kick into the in-goals but it catches a front-line defender and plops down in the defensive line. Bailey flashes through to pick it up and then hits Peni Tohi with a quick pass who then links up with Viliami Penisini who dives over expertly in the corner.

Try scored by Penisini. Conversion unsuccessful by Biondi-Odo.

Eels lead 28-12

45min gone

Incisive dart by Field now as he cuts through to score. He shapes up to his outside men on his right before holding the pass up and running to the line. Smooth stuff there and the Tigers haven’t got the make up lateral speed to stop him.

Try scored by Field. Conversion unsuccessful by Biondi-Odo.

Eels lead 32-12

48min gone

The vertebrae looks fractured here for the Tigers as the Eels pour on the points. Jayden Skinner scores his second of the day and it comes in the same way as his first as he crashes over from short range. That was buttery soft defence from the Tigers.

Try scored by Skinner. Conversion successful by Tyler Field.

Eels lead 38-12

52min gone

The ref looks to have lost control of the game here. A string of penalties and poor discipline from both teams results in the Tigers scoring down their right edge. Much like their first try it was on the back of a hefty swing in possession. Tempers flaring up on both sides with 6min left in the game.

Try scored by the Tigers. Conversion successful.

Tigers trail 18-38

54min gone

What a way to close out the game! Biondi-Odo kicks cross field to Penisini with a flat kick, Cooper Cronk style, Penisini flies up to take it and immediately flicks it back to Peni Tohi on the loop around. Penisini is dumped on his head for his effort while Tohi races to the corner and beats two defenders to score. Penisini stays down afterwards and it attended to by the trainer. Eventually he gets up. Glad to see he is ok after that piece of brilliance.

Try scored by P. Tohi. Conversion unsuccessful by Field.

Full Time

Parramatta Eels 42 DEF Balmain Tigers 18

SG Ball

First Half

Whew, that was a decidedly un-District Reps like start to the game. Both teams trade set with high completion rates and astute kicks. Great standard of footy.

The Tigers are the first to score though as they secure a repeat run of possession in our red zone following an error from halfback Dylan Brown as he worked the ball over our 20m line. The Eels defend resolutely for the most part but they are caught out down their right edge when Ethan Parry is punished for pushing up into the line. Good passes circumvents his positioning and the Tigers score in the corner.

Try scored by the Tigers. Conversion successful.

Tigers lead 6-0

17min gone

Bit of redemption here for Parry now as he brute forces his way over from short range. Good, clean ball gives him the mono-et-mono look with his opposite and he brushes him aside to score.

Try scored by Parry. Conversion successful by Schneider.

Eels lock the scores up at 6-all

33min gone

Ooph that hurts as the Tigers score in the dying minute of the first half. Looked like Dylan Brown was caught in two minds there as to whether to jam on the unders runner or push out for the sweeper. It was the sweeper who did the damage as he bursts through the front line of defence and passes to support before he meets Nohra. That one hurts.

Try scored by the Tigers. Conversion successful.

Tigers lead 12-6

Half Time

Balmain Tigers 12 lead Parramatta Eels 6

Second Half

Oh dear, errors are killing the Eels here. They are keeping themselves in the arm wrestle up the middle but their inability to complete sets proves costly as the Tigers eventually win field position. They have a world of time on the last to send up a monstrous torpedo bomb that Nohra spills and from the resultant scrum a simple but well executed set piece down their left edge catches the Eels out. I wouldn’t be shocked if we are completing at sub-50% today and it is starting to really show on the scoreboard.

Try scored by the Tigers. Conversion unsuccessful.

Tigers lead 16-6

45min gone

There you go! The Eels explode to life when Cronin backs up Parry down the right edge. He calls loud and clear for the offload and his centre provides. Cronin strides into the backfield and begins to slow up as he approaches the fullback, waiting for support to reach him. The Tigers arrive at the same time as the supporting Eels so Cronin throws the dummy that no one expects and slides past the fullback! Great try.

Try scored by Cronin. Conversion unsuccessful by Schneider.

Eels trail 10-16

53min gone

Charbel Tasipale looks to rev his team mates up right after securing a repeat set with an incredibly nifty grubber kick. The Eels work the ball down their right edge before setting up for a big left edge shift. Nohra chimes in as the sweeping option before using Kei who in turn hits Taufa Afu with minimal space as he navigates his way down a narrow sideline to score.

Try scored by Afu. Conversion successful by Schneider.

Eels lock the scores up at 16-all

60min gone

Great heads up footy! The Eels bomb from midfield on the last and Parry soars up to take it. He comes down in traffic and somehow gets an offload away to Seve who then looks for support to his right. He tries to pass to Tasipale who is shoulder charged as the ball arrives but he somehow kicks it ahead! Cliff Lea’Aetoa races after it to score! The Eels are back baby.

Try scored by Lea’Aetoa. Conversion successful by Schneider.

Eels lead 22-16

62min gone

 

Phew. Frenetic finish to the game as the Tigers look to force one final go-ahead score. The Eels defend desperately and Jesse Cronin in particular is outstanding as he works himself to a standstill. The Tigers end up securing a line drop out but the Eels only have to defend one last tackle to secure the two points and they do just that. Gutsy finish and a terrific second half after a slow start to the game.

 

Full Time

Parramatta Eels 22 DEF Balmain Tigers 20