Team List

1  John-Paul NOHRA

2  Uikilifi LEA’AETOA

3  Haze DUNSTER

4  Noel AUKAFOLAU*

5  Ethan PARRY

6  Joseph TAIPARI

7  Dylan BROWN

8  Valance HARRIS

9  Kyle SCHNEIDER (c)

10 Mark TEPU-SMITH

11 Matthew DOOREY

12 Charbel TASIPALE

13 Jesse CRONIN

 

14 L. TAPAATOUTAI

15 Kyle CASSEL

16 Harry DUGGAN

17 Dallas KING

18 Alex SEVE

19 Dennis MATAIA

20 W. KEI

21 Rico ALIVA

22 Aitasi MATAUTU

23 Sione TUPOU

 

*Please note that the above team list has been recycled from the SG Ball Grand Final last week as no official team lists have been given this week. Noel Aukafolau has also been named in the Holden Cup team list to face the Roosters on Sunday so it is quite possible that William Kei will come into the line up in his place.

 

After vanquishing the Cronulla Sharks 30-22 in the SG Ball Grand Final and thereby extracting revenge for their loss to the same squad in the 2015 Harold Matthews Grand Final, the Eels now turn their attention to the Western Mustangs and a bid to secure the National Championship.

 

TCT will be live from Belmore Park to bring you all the action from 10:30AM but you can also watch a live stream courtesy of NSWRL via this link!

 

Final Team List

 

1  John-Paul NOHRA

2  Uikilifi LEA’AETOA

3  Haze DUNSTER

19  William KEI

5  Ethan PARRY

6  Joseph TAIPARI

7  Dylan BROWN

8  Valance HARRIS

9  Kyle SCHNEIDER (c)

10 Mark TEPU-SMITH

11 Matthew DOOREY

12 Charbel TASIPALE

13 Jesse CRONIN

14 L. TAPAATOUTAI

15 Kyle CASSEL

16 Harry DUGGAN

17 Dallas KING

18 Alex SEVE

19 Dennis MATAIA

21 Rico ALIVA

22 Aitasi MATAUTU

23 Sione TUPOU

 

First Half

 

The Eels receive the ball in the first half.

 

Valance Harris continues from where he left off last week with a big carry from the kick off. The Eels work down their right edge through the opening set and cruise past halfway. Harris plays to Cronin on the fourth and he wears a hefty shot. A great kick from Taipari on the last pins the Mustangs just off their goal line.

 

The Western Mustangs grind the ball out to their 40m line in reply before hoofing a kick down to JP Nohra. The Eels’ fullback slips as he gathers the ball in but holds onto the ball. Parramatta’s outside backs get involved through the middle in this set before the first penalty of the game goes to Parramatta for a dangerous throw on Cronin.

 

A well worked switch play through the backline sees Haze Dunster cross down the right! The Eels initially go left to Dylan Brown but he immediately reverses play to the right as Taipari and Nohra sweep to the far right and put Dunster into open space to cross from short range.

 

Try scored by Haze Dunster. Conversion unsuccessful by Kyle Schneider.

Eels lead 4-0

5min gone

 

Valance Harris is eventually thrown down from this kickoff…but not before he makes is byond the 20m line. An early shift to Ethan Parry down the left edge proves fruitful as he breaks free of half a dozen tackle attempts and offloads to Nohra who surges forwards for more handy metres. Dunster and Lea’Aetoa make a nice half break down the right edge before Cronin centres the ball with intent. Dylan Brown glides down the left edge and sums up his options before bombing towards Ethan Parry. The athletic winger uses his go-go-gadget arms to reach far above his opposite and comes down with it to score! Parry is in sensational form.

 

Try scored by Ethan Parry. Conversion unsuccessful by Kyle Schneider.

Eels lead 8-0

9min gone

 

And now  break from the kickoff! Mark Tepu-Smith finally gets a carry and he screams onto the ball before throwing a cutout pass to Parry! Set play! Parry flies down the left flank and skittles the fullback before he is caught by cover defenders. Tepu-Smith has another run and passes at the line to Cronin who then offloads to support but the ball has traveled forwards. Dang nabbit!

 

The game finally settles down to an extent as both teams trade sets but the Mustangs make an error in the play-the-ball to pile the tension on to themselves.

 

Great run from Charbel Tasipale down the right from the scrum win. Mark Tepu-Smith gets the ball three passes wide in front on the posts and carries defenders to the line where he is just stopped. He loses the ball fighting to get to his feet and the Mustangs dodge a bullet.

 

The Western Mustangs are still yet to infringe on Parramatta’s half this game as they are forced to kick from their 40m line once again. Lea’Aetoa cleans the kick up on the first bounce and the Eels go from there. Simple set from the Eels. The set is completed with a very useful kick that forces the Mustangs to work it off their line. They finally cross halfway, if only for one play, before Turnbull sends up a torpedo bomb from halfway. The ball falls in no-man’s land before taking a turn back to the Mustangs where it is intercepted by Taipari. The livewire half bursts into action and steps past the first defenders before offloading to Nohra who tries to stride out to the goal line from 45m out. He is met with defenders from behind twice but manages to swat them off twice to score!

 

Try scored by John Paul Nohra. Conversion unsuccessful from Kyle Schneider.

Eels lead 12-0

18min gone

 

All Parramatta here in the first half. Dylan Brown slices through down the left edge and just glides his way past the fullback Denzel Burns. Brown is such a smooth runner and is rarely caught from behind. The remains true here today. Lovely individual play.

 

Try scored by Dylan Brown. Conversion successful by Kyle Schneider.

Eels lead 18-0

19min gone

 

I can’t keep up with the scoring! Joe Taipari crosses now after some amazing sideline work from Cliff Lea’Aetoa! Lea’Aetoa flirts with the sideline shy of halfway and ends up pirouetting down the white line before racing down the flank. He probably could have taken on the fullback in a pure battle of pace but threads an inch perfect pass to Taipari to centres the ball to the right of the posts.

 

Try scored by Joe Taipari. Conversion successful by Kyle Schneider.

Eels lead 24-0

22min gone

 

The first real sign of sloppiness from the Eels today as no one is at marker following a carry from Dunster. The Mustangs pounce on the ball and get their first real set in Parramatta’s half. It doesn’t amount to much though as the Eels defend resolutely throughout the set and trap the Mustangs’ fullback Burns on the last.

 

Great play from the Mustangs now! The Eels roll a grubber in behind the line as they cross halfway and the winger Richard Murry attacks the ball with real intent. It flies forwards off his shoulders but he flies through to clean it up on the full! What a hustle play.

 

Alas the Mustangs can’t convert it into anything as the Eels come up with a hustle play in reply when Vea Tapa charges down Travis Turnbull on the last and recovers the ball. A penalty immediately follows as he is held down.

 

The Eels go on the attack down the left as a set piece sees Doorey free his arms and offload to Brown in support. The offload doesn’t quite find the mark and Brown grasses the ball however.

 

Well there you go! That came from nothing. The Eels run it left on the last as Brown links up with Doorey. The rangy backrower dummies to his left before sizing up his options and rolling the ball in behind. It takes a wicked bounce as it comes to the fullback and shoots over his head allowing Parry to race through and claim his second try.

 

Try scored by Ethan Parry. Conversion unsuccessful by Kyle Schneider.

Eels lead 28-0

33min gone

 

Massive metres for the Eels in another set. The finish isn’t as clinical this time around as Taipari’s kick is charged down and pops up to a supporting Mustang who secures possession. The will just about do us in the first half as the Mustangs work the ball to halfway before the siren sounds out.

 

Amazing first half from the Eels. The small but vocal crowd are on their feet in appreciation as the boys head into the sheds.

 

Half Time

Parramatta Eels 28 lead Western Mustangs 0

 

Second Half

 

Parramatta kicking off in the second half. Mustangs work it up to halfway on the fourth and make a half break on the penultimate tackle before they are charged down again on the last. Parramatta dive on the ball.

 

A bit of right edge short side stuff for the Eels in their first set of the second half. The eventually come back to the left where Nohra slides back inside and offloads to support back inside. Brown scoops it up on the half volley and rolls the ball ahead for Ethan Parry who beats his opposite to the pill and makes it back-to-back hat-tricks! Three last week against Cronulla and three today (and counting).

 

Try scored by Ethan Parry. Conversion unsuccessful by Kyle Schneider.

Eels lead 32-0

39min gone

 

Massive metres for the Eels again but a poor end to the set. Vea Tapa runs from dummy half and grubbers ahead for himself. Easily cleaned up by the Mustangs.

 

A late penalty for the visitors takes them deep into the Eels’ half and they go on the attack for what I think is the second time this game. Some second phase ball takes them from the posts and to our right where they finally find a gap and surge to the line. They look to have scored for all money but Nohra has freed the ball at the last second and forced it for a line drop out! Stellar defensive play from the fullback.

The Mustangs work the ball right from the drop out but an errant cutout pass to the winger rolls over the sideline.

Lovely outside-inside play from Taipari to Nohra to put the fullback into half a gap. Nohra has hands placed on him from behind and offloads to his right but finds a Mustangs’ defender. Turnover.

The Mustangs fail to make an impression on the Blue & Gold Wall in front of them and dab a kick in behind that Nohra cleans up with ease.

Sensational vision and execution now. In what was clearly an opportunity identified by the Parra brainstrust, Dylan Brown kicks ahead midcount for young gun William Kei from halfway. Kei picks up it up on the first bounce and slices inside two chasing cover defenders to score first points in the second half.

 

Try scored by William Kei. Conversion successful by Kyle Schneider.

Eels lead 38-0

48min gone

 

Ooph! Just missed out on another scoring chance. Last tackle and Brown and Taipari look to link together as Brown looks to grubber for his five-eighth but the ball is trapped in the line.

The Mustangs pick a repeat set when a pass down their right edge catches a Parra hand on halfway and a scrum is set.

From there the Mustangs take a leaf from Parramatta’s book as they execute a kick set piece. They kick from the scrum win and Cliff Lea’Aetoa slips as he turns around gifting the Mustangs chasers free passage to the ball. Nohra tries to make up ground from the lock posting in the scrum but falls a few metres short. Good try for the visitors.

 

Try scored by the Western Mustangs. Conversion successful.

Mustangs trail 6-38

52min gone

 

Bit of momentum for the Mustangs as they pick up a penalty to help them out of their half. However, an early error in the following sees the opportunity blow up.

The Mustangs are pulling out all stops to try and mount some sort of comeback as they push in the scrum but some tidy work from Vea Tapa at lock secures possession for the Eels.

William Kei injects himself into the game with an electric run that features a number of sweet left foot steps. He goes from 40m out to just short of the try line and the chasers finally catch up to him. The ball is fired to Taipari down the right and he steps back to his left to beat a shooting defender before kicking flat right where Dunster leads the chase for his second!

 

Try scored by Haze Dunster. Conversion unsuccessful by Dylan Brown.

Eels lead 42-6

57min gone

 

Another massive attacking set from the Eels as they forge deep into the Mustangs’ half and pick up a six-again call when the fullback Denzel Burns grasses a grubber and is then flattened by Mark Tepu-Smith. Alas nothing amounts from it all as Ethan Parry is unlucky to cop a contentious obstruction call as he comes back infield from the wing. You see that every week in the NRL and it is never called.

A second penalty follows for a messy ruck so the Mustangs leap frog a good 60-70m downfield.

They venture from right to left and end up held over the line as their halfback, Cory Paix, I believe is rolled up over the white stripe by Valance Harris. They try to catch Nohra out of position by kicking back against the grain but the recovers well and tracks the ball over the dead-ball line.

Tough call there. Ethan Parry was away for his fourth try of the day following a well executed short side play by the Eels but the touchy has found a forward pass. I really don’t know about the call.

Possession quickly comes back to the Eels as William Kei puts on a terrific read and shot on his opposite to force the error.

Parry and Harris make strong carries through the middle for the Eels this set. Parra go right to Dunster who is well tackled and the Mustangs hold out on the last when they clean up the kick from Taipari inside the field of play.

Great 40/20 attempt from the Mustangs there. Parry tries to race back to defuse it but it takes a favourable bounce for the visitors and they get a terrific chance to peg back the score a little.

And sure enough they do as their hooker Zac Stevens reaches out from short range and scores under the crossbar. The defence looked a bit flat for the first time today and the Mustangs took advantage of the lapse.

 

Try scored by the Western Mustangs. Conversion successful.

Mustangs trail 12-42

65min gone

 

Parra finally back on the scorer’s sheet as Dylan Brown gets his second of the day. It comes off the back of a gorgeous outside-inside play from Taipari to Alex Seve who slices through the ruck and then passes to Brown to beat the fullback. The far winger for the Mustangs makes a valiant effort to stop Brown but the halfback has too much juice.

 

Try scored by Dylan Brown. Conversion successful by Joe Taipari.

Eels lead 48-12

69min gone

 

Ethan Parry has the ball raked out as he tries to offload with seconds on the clock. The referee rules play on but the Mustangs drop the ball a few passes later. That will do us folks.

 

Full Time

Parramatta Eels 48 DEF Western Mustangs 12

 

The Parramatta Eels are your 2017 Under 18s National Champions!

 

TCT Best On Field

3. Dylan Brown

2. Ethan Parry

1. Valance Harris

Honourable Mentions – The rest of the team. Seriously. Terrific team performance.