Parramatta Eels Holden Cup side

Parramatta Eels NYC side

1. Anthony Layoun

2. Greg Leleisiuao

3. Tuimavave Afualo

4. Dane Aukafolau

5. John Fonua

6. Dean Matterson (c)

7. Kamren Cryer

8. Sean Keppie

9. Denzal Tonise

14. Reed Mahoney

11. Filia Utoikamanu

12. Salesi Faingaa

13. Tangi Hokai

Interchange

10. Oregon Kafusi

15. Mitch Butfield

16. Beni Valu

18. Dom Murphy

 

The team list will be updated once the late mail confirms the final seventeen. Kickoff is at 1645/4:45PM so stay tuned for updates!

 

The late mail is in and our final roster is confirmed. There is a shuffle in the front row as Denzal Tonise pushes out from hooker to prop, Reed Mahoney moves into the hooking position and Oregon Kafusi drops back to the bench.

 

First Half

 

The Eels are kicking off and get off to a terrible start as the kick sails deep and loooooonnng over the dead ball line.

 

Cronulla tap from the the centre point of the field and work the ball up the guys. The first edge they venture down is their right edge but the Eels jam nicely to close down the play. Coming into the red zone the Sharks then look to crash the ball over from dummy half where they are repelled in a strong group effort. Finally the visitors come to the opposite edge but our right side defenders do a good job of pressuring a loose pass that rolls into touch.

 

The Eels keep it simple in reply as they drive the ball down their right edge. Matterson looks to centre the ball to Tonise late in the count but the versatile veteran of the NYC squad drops an easy pass on halfway.

 

Cronulla work the ball through the ruck from the error before building to a left edge movement. Tui Afualo looks to jam up to prevent a 3-on-2 but he misses the runner. Greg Leleisiuao follows on the jam and hits the runner with a brutal shot but there wasn’t enough arms involved so a penalty follows for a shoulder charge.

 

Parramatta hold out again on their goal line as the Sharks make an error trying to turn the ball back towards the posts. We spring to life in the following set as a diligent Anthony Layoun is rewarded for backing up through the middle with a line break. He hasn’t got the legs to go the distance and is pulled down deep into Cronulla’s half. Kamren Cryer wants the ball down the left edge and he gets it as he pushes forwards before rifling off a long cut out pass to John Fonua on the left flank. Fonua tries to step his way back through the sliding defence to score but is held out by a convergence of desperate defenders. Cryer then looks to kick towards the opposite edge, hoping to catch the Sharks short after perhaps overcompensating to the scramble defence but they have the numbers and it is a moot point in any event – the kick is too deep.

 

We are made to pay for that sloppy end to the set as we concede a penalty early in the next set which then sees the Sharks resume play near halfway. They play the ball down their left edge where a sharp cut out pass bypasses both Afualo and Leleisiuao to put a man into the backfield. The Eels look to have him wrapped up from behind but Layoun over commits as he pushes up from fullback, allowing the winger to kick back in field where only his centre is there for an easy chase and score.

 

Try scored by Cronulla #4. Conversion successful.

Sharks lead 6-0

9min gone

 

The Eels are quick to reply after conceding first points. Following their first penalty of the game they find touch near halfway and muster their forwards to take the ball deep into the Cronulla red zone. Reed Mahoney is the beneficiary of a nice little play around the ruck as the Eels work the Cronulla goal line and Mahoney finds space between two flat footed defenders to dive over to the right of the posts.

 

Try scored by Reed Mahoney. Conversion successful by Cryer.

Eels lock the score up at 6-all

13min gone

 

Parramatta follow up points with a terrific set. Tonise and Faingaa provide powerful carries to take the Eels into their opponent’s half before a see-sawing bomb from Matterson elude the grasp of the Cronulla winger for a knock on. Big chance here.

 

The Eels go right from the scrum win to Tui Afualo who barrels into the line. He is tackled just short of the goal line and the ball is reefed out for a first tackle penalty. Alas, that is as good as it gets for the Eels. Two tackles later there is a loose pass down that same right edge. Leleisiuao tries to scoop the bobbling ball up by knocks on in his attempt to do so.

 

Trigger happy officials so far in the first half. The Sharks are the beneficiaries now, as it looks like the left edge of the Eels has been found to be offside. They resume play on the Eels 30m line following a truly monstrous touch finder. Early attack focuses on their right edge this set. The Eels meet the simplistic attack solidly and drag the set out to the final tackle. The Sharks spy and an usual attacking opportunity from dummy half as they fire a cutout pass to their centre from the play-the-ball but a brilliant piece of athleticism from Dane Aukafolau sees him cover a good 5m in a flash to make a try saving tackle.

 

The Eels pick up the next penalty of the game as John Fonua is rewarded for getting in behind the ruck. The defence holds him down to prevent a quick play the ball and are pinged accordingly. Not much doing in the subsequent set though. The Eels get to their kick but the grubber from Matterson, I believe, is taken in the field of play.

 

Good defence from the Eels in the following set. The Sharks are forced to kick from their own 40m line which sees Greg Leleisiuao get a chance to unleash a powerful kick return. The Eels slip into the grind now as they simply work the ball through the ruck and get to their kick. Good – if simple – footy.

 

Layoun and Keppie gives the Eels are solid base for their next set. Afualo is turned back torwards the ruck before Tonise frees his arm for a great offload to Tangi Hokai who is quickly wrapped up. Another bomb from the Eels now. This one is well taken but a willing kick chase pins the Sharks in their red zone.

 

Cronulla piece together a better set this time around. They play either side of the ruck nicely to work the Eels’ defence over and a neat kick hits the carpet inside the Eels’ 20m mark. Greg Leleisiuao is quickly onto to it though and provides another brutish return. At least one defender was trampled over there!

 

The Eels and Sharks go on to trade completed sets before the next penalty of the game falls to Parramatta as Anthony Layoun is taken in the air as he defuses a Cronulla kick.

 

Filia Utoikamanu careens into the defensive line down the left edge from the resumption of play before the Eels go right. We have nice shape here and there could be something on as Matterson plays to the line but there is a miscommunication between the five-eighth and his centre Tui Afualo as Tui cuts back in just as Matterson passes flat to the line. Tui nearly reels the back in as he goes to the ground but it barely touches a defender for the change over.

 

The game opens up a bit now as the Sharks work the ball back into Parra’s red zone but another terrific goal line stand sees the Sharks held out as they run the ball on the last.

 

More sets are traded between both teams before Anthony Layoun gets his second line break of the game – again backing up the middle. He slices through the Cronulla defence from 20m off his own line and weaves through the scrambling cover defence for 40m before he is tackled 10m into Cronulla’s half. The ball is raked out before he can get up. A penalty follows and then a fracas comes too. Not the slightest clue what sparked it but the ref calls players in for a length chat before going back to the original offence.

 

Parramatta go on the attack now and focus play down their right. Afualo is used by Matterson to plow into the line before the Eels try a sneaky short side play to Leleisiuao on the next tackle. Greg tries to crash over in the corner. He goes close to scoring but the touchy signal that he was out before grounding the ball.

 

The stellar goal line defence of the Eels is finally breached after the Sharks find space down our left edge. We executed a text book winger jam and interior slide to carouse the Cronulla #2 but he stepped back off his right foot several times to find a gap back towards the posts. Disappointing result there after some really committed defence.

 

Try scored by Cronulla #2. Conversion successful.

Sharks lead 12-6

35min gone

 

Oh dear. Ill discipline from Parra gifts the Sharks a late chance to go the attack again as their kicker is hit late on an attacking bomb from midfield. A second penalty follows when our right edge is found offside two tackles later. One minute to go now. Cronulla go their rick in a biiiiig set piece move. Good defence meets them and jams their backrower on the crash line. Parramatta double down on the commitment on the next tackle as they drive the Sharks into touch. Good hustle to finish the half.

 

Second Half

 

The Eels are in possession to start the second half. Utoikamanu and Kafusi provide good carries first up. The Eels end the their set in the Shark’s half and look to the bomb. Matterson sends up a towering kick that is extremely well taken by the Cronulla custodian.

 

Cronulla roll up their sleeves in return now as they punch the ball up the guts and get to their own kick – also a bomb. Layoun calmly defuses it and works it back to the kick chase. The Eels and Sharks have both made a positive start to the second half as they get through consecutive sets a piece but it the Eels that strike first! Salesi Faingaa serves as the fulcrum for a right-edge movement as he gets early ball and fires a cut out pass to Greg Leleisiuao who shows both deftness and power as he steps back across the defensive line to score. Great finishing from Greg and lovely hands from the big backrower Faingaa.

 

Try scored by Greg Leleisiuao. Conversion successful by Kryer.

Eels lock the scores up at 12-all

46min gone

 

Beni Valu, John Fonua and Dane Aukafolau get the Eels rolling in this set. Kafusi and Mahoney take the Eels over halfway before we run the ball down our right via Afualo. Faced with a two on two, Tui rolls the ball ahead nicely and a good kick chase traps the Cronulla fullback 10m off his line but a second effort to drive him into touch yields a penalty. Not necessary there.

 

The Eels defend well through the set after the penalty and Layoun remains spotless at the back as he cleans up another bomb and beats a couple of chasers for some useful metres. Unfortunately, Mahoney gets ahead of himself as he tries to bullet a pass off the ground to his left and it gets all caught up.

 

Some fantastic hustle from our left edge defence alleviates the error as they in turn pressure the Sharks into a mistake. I think it was Dane Aukafolau who lead the way there. A penalty to the Eels quickly follows and all of a sudden the Eels are on the attack.

 

Aukafolau and Butfield are first up now. Kafusi takes the ball to the right of the posts but Butfield loses the ball on the next tackle when we turn play back to the posts. Soft error.

 

The Sharks get a 7-tackle set as Butfield’s knock on rolled dead and take the ball deep into Cronulla’s half before looking for a repeat set by way of a grubber. The Eels are vigilant to the kick though and clean the pill up in the field of play.

 

No-frills stuff follows for the Blue & Gold as they work the ball off their line and kick deep. The Sharks complete an equally simplistic set but in defence are caught out by a good carry from Utoikamanu that nets the Eels a penalty. Parramatta get another chance to break the deadlock as a result.

 

Our first raid down our right edge ends up with the Sharks barely keeping Leleisiuao out. There is a length delay in play for an unknown reason but eventually we get back to the game as the Eels centre the ball via Tonise. Matterson wants to go back to the right on the last tackle and gets a little slice of luck when his stabbed grubber catches a hand in the front line for a knock on.

 

The Eels work a set piece from the scrum as they go right to left but Fonua grasses the ball without any pressure in his face. Squandered chance.

 

A penalty to the Sharks now. It takes them into Parra’s half but the Eels prove to be resilient on their goal line once again as the Sharks are held out.

 

The game has entered something of a lull with both teams just getting through their sets. Matterson breaks that calmness with a brilliant piece of individual play as he grubbers into the ingoals and gives a bustling chase to smash the Cronulla fullback and force a line drop out. He gets little to show for it though as the Eels fail to execute a set move down their left edge in the next set. Cryer was looking to work the ball wide to his winger as the Eels execute a double block but the pass pings forwards off the shoulder of Aukafolau.

 

Cronulla drive the ball into Parramatta’a half in reply before a great hit from Leleisiuao jolts the ball free. The bullish right edge winger is having a great game.

 

Again the Eels muff the play up down their right. The ball finally gets to Fonua without error but when Fonua tries to turn play back inside to Mahoney in support the pass flies forwards. The call is quickly made by the officials.

 

Hello? Try of the year? What the heck was that? The Eels don’t have much doing on the last tackle in the Cronulla red zone. We kick awkwardly to our left to Aukafolau who sorties back infield before linking up with Mahoney who bombs towards our right edge. It looks to be sailing into touch but an industrious Greg Leleisiuao leaps up and bats it back into play before Layoun scoops it up and does his best Bevan French impression as he kicks ahead down the right sideline with absolutely no space to work in and races through to score. That was otherworldly stuff.

 

Try scored by Anthony Layoun. Conversion unsuccessful by Cryer.

Eels lead 16-12

68min gone

 

Another good shot in defence from the Eels now as they force the error on halfway. Chance to potentially ice the game perhaps?

 

Not this set. The Eels play within themselves and keep the ball in the field of play as they run it down the right via Afualo on the last. Sensible option I guess when you consider the pressure of a 7-tackle set.

 

The Sharks don’t threaten in the following set as the Eels come away with the ball following the kick. Time is blown off as Leleisiuao cramps up. Again the Eels work a set from the no-nonsense school of though as they roll the ball through their forward working to the right edge before Matterson rolls the ball itself into touch 20m out from Cronulla’s line.

 

Now Afualo gets on his bike to show some hustle. The Sharks bomb his edge and the ball is allowed to bounce which allows the Sharks to get to a second kick – this time a grubber – but Afualo races back and dives on the ball in traffic. Putting the body on the line.

 

Under 6min to play now as the Eels pack down for a scrum following an error from the Sharks. The scrum is set 28m off the Parra goal line and the Eels go to their left with Utoikamanu. Hokai and Keppie follow. Again the Eels look to drive the ball into touch but the Sharks are desperate to keep it alive and do just that. The Eels swarm up in the kick chase as the Sharks spin the ball from edge to edge and Fonua looks to have made a great jam before falling off his man, #11 for the Sharks, which allows him to bust the line where only a last ditch effort from Layoun saves the say. The Sharks look to ride the crest of momentum as they pour pressure on our left edge but an error turns the ball over cheaply. Phew.

 

Ah momentum, such a fickle thing. It quickly swings back to the Eels as a kick from the backrower Salesi Faingaa pulls up ingoals, allowing Leleisiuao to push through in chase and make the tackle for the line drop out but the Sharks get to their kick in lightning quick fashion and kick low and flat towards the sideline. Filia Utoikamanu tries to race across to get there but can’t make up the ground.

 

My goodness, now the Sharks make an error working the ball out of the half! Under 2min to play now as Afualo takes the first tackle settler. Faingaa carts the ball back towards the posts before we quickly go back to Afualo as he ducks and weaves his way through the defensive line from short range to score! That one ices the game!

 

Try scored by Tui Afualo. Conversion successful by Cryer.

Eels lead 22-12

 

Full Time

Parramatta Eels 22 DEF Cronulla Sharks 12

 

The Final Word

 

The Eels have prevailed in a relatively entertaining match to make it two wins on the trot. It was a victory in which standout players were hard to name – speaking towards the holistic nature of the win. Greg Leleisiuao was a constant handful on the right flank. His powerful kick returns often set the tone for following set and his commitment to the kick chase repeatedly reaped dividends for the team. Dean Matterson and Kamryn Cryer were solid without overplaying their hands. Red zone options could be tidied up somewhat but they proved quite capable in steering the team around the park in the absence of Troy Dargan.

 

Filia Utoikamanu and Salesi Faingaa flashed some moments of quality on the left and right edges respectively while Anthony Layoun was probably the best on field. Layoun played a textbook fullback’s game and was spot on in his positioning in both attack and defence. He maintained a clean sheet under the high ball and regularly chipped away at the kick chase with his nifty returns.

 

All in all it was a solid win for the Eels. There is still plenty to improve upon, set pieces especially, but such is the nature of the opening month of rugby league. They have some momentum and can look to build upon their existing combinations.