Usual team details to come once I’m set up at ANZ – caught in a black out at home, sorry!

 

Parramatta Eels NYC side

1. Anthony Layoun

2. Greg Leleisiuao

3. Noel Aukafolau

4. Dane Aukafolau

5. John Fonua

6. Dean Matterson (c)

7. Reed Mahoney

8. Sean Keppie

9. Denzel Tonise (c)

10. Frank Salu

11. Filia Utoikamanu

12. Salesi Faingaa

13. Tangi Hokai

Interchange

14. Matt Price

15. Mitch Butfield

16. Beni Valu

17. Oregon Kaufusi

 

First Half

 

Parramatta kick off. The Rabbitohs go three up the guts before taking the ball down their right edge. The Eels defend solidly in the first set and the Rabbitohs will play the ball on the last 5m short of half way. They stab a kick in behind our right edge that is cleaned up Anthony Layoun. Greg Leleisiuao and Dane Aukafolau come in for early work before the Eels spin the ball down their left edge. The first set of the day is completed with a bomb from Reed Mahoney.

 

The Bunnies clean Reed’s bomb up neatly and begin to work out of their red zone. Simple stuff again and once more the Eels defend it well. A late snipe from their dummy half is contained by Denzal Tonise I believe. They too resort to a mid-field bomb and Layoun is up to the task.

 

Oooh. lovely interchange of passes down our right edge between centre and winger. Noel Aukafolau puts Leleisiuao into half a gap but the bullish winger can’t make a clean break, he offloads back inside to Noel who is pulled down from behind after a nice gain. The Eels quickly go to the opposite edge – the left – where the look to roll the ball in behind but South Sydney spot it early and clean it up.

 

Parramatta look to apply the blowtorch in defence this set but they get over eager midway through the tackle count, jumping the gun and getting pinged.

 

The Bunnies go downfield with an excellent touch finder and get the first real attacking opportunity of the game. A nice run from their fullback catches some defenders down our left edge arm grabbing but he is pulled down before he can do too much damage. The Rabbitohs eventually come back to the posts where they try to roll the ball in-goals but Layoun is on the spot and gets back into the field of play.

 

Parramatta work the ball back to half way in reply but bizarrely try a shallow grubber on the last tackle and the Bunnies jump on it to flip the territorial table. Unfortunately I missed the first points due to a phone call. My sincere apologies. I know the Bunnies secured a line drop out after the Eels batted a grubber kick dead and from the resultant set they ran the ball in through our right edge. They also managed to centre the ball for their kicker.

 

Try scored by the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Conversion successful.

Rabbitohs lead 6-0

10min gone

 

Solid set after points for the Rabbtiohs. Hang on, scratch that! They ruck their way out to half way but knock-on on the last tackle.

 

Parra go on the attack via a nice run and offload from Sean Keppie down the left. The Eels centre the ball via Filia Utoikamanu and go one play to their right before swinging back left. They set-up for a big left edge movement and end up creating a 3-on-2 overlap but the Eels are running far too slanted to the sideline and the Bunnies slide with ease. The Eels end up turning the ball over as Dane Aukafolau’s offload gets caught up in his own hands.

 

Both teams work through sets before the Eels create a chance. Denzal Tonise darts from dummy half and weaves through traffic for great metres but his offload to support pings up off a shoulder. Dang!

 

Fortunately the Rabbitohs turn the ball quickly in reply.

 

The Eels work their way all the way down field and position for an attacking bomb on the last. Layoun races through and outleaps his opposite number but knocks on! Oophm chance missed there.

 

Very good metres for South Sydney now. Mirroring the set by the Eels just before really. They also complete their set with a bomb that John Fonua swallows up with ease. Greg Leleisiuao injects himself into the game with a powerful carry that breaks the line and he then draws a penalty as the cover defence arrive and rake the ball out of his possession.

 

Set play from the restart. Eels fake a movement to the left and turn back right to find a steaming Salesi Faingaa. Good defence keeps him out but he had defenders driving backwards. The Eels capitalise on the early momentum in this set and they work back to the posts where some sharp dummy half work from Reed Mahoney along with a great line from Sean Keppie sees his cross under the uprights! Mahoney and Keppie are building a really nice partnership in the red zone in recent games.

 

Try scored by Sean Keppie. Conversion successful by Anthony Layoun.

Eels lock the scores up at 6-all

22min gone

 

Correction from earlier. Dane is playing on the right and Noel on the left.

 

Great set after points for the Eels. Some second phase play has the Bunnies on the back pedal and they drive right into the red zone for an attacking bomb. John Fonua has a mental melt down and attacks his opposite winger a good half second before the ball arrives. Easy penalty.

 

Again both teams settle in a arm wrestle, Souths get the running in it as the Eels are pinged for a high shot late in a set. The home team go right on the attack as they work to their left edge to build for a right edge play. They eventually come right with plenty of bodies in action but the Eels read and reply well with a good jam from Fonua. The Eels continue to hold on with good shape until the last when the posts come into play. The Bunnies angle a kick from their right back to the posts, Layoun sweeps across the take it in stride but it barely catches the right upright and takes a South Sydney friendly deflection for the try.

 

Try scored by the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Conversion successful.

Rabbitohs lead 12-6

28min gone

 

Great hit by Faingaa there! Lined up a prop and knocked him right over. Awful end to the set for the Eels though. The mid-field bomb from the Bunnies leads to confusion between Layoun and Leleisiuao as they collide and knock-on.

 

The Eels again look solid in defence and again the set concludes with a deflection – but this one takes a kinder ricochet for the Eels as Layoun tidies this one up with ease. A penalty follows for the Eels so they look to go down field. They build nicely through this set as they work from their right to left and back right but the set is completed with a poor kick that gifts a 7-tackle set.

 

Penalty on halfway with Souths in possession. Hang on, no they aren’t! Is that for backchat in possession? I think it is. We will take that thank you very much.

 

Greg Leleisiuao has a stupidly good carry as he comes back in-field and carries three defenders to an inch or two short of the line. This boy is crazy strong. On the back of that run the Eels go left to Oregon Kaufusi who stands in contact and offloads back to Mahoney who finds Utoikamanu. The young backrower dummies to his left and slices through from 10m out!

 

Try scored by Filia Utoikamanu. Conversion successful by Anthony Layoun.

Eels lock the scores up at 12-all

36min gone

 

Mahoney and Tonise wreak havoc up the middle as they combine. Mahoney darts and links up with Tonise who steps and storms his way through several would-be defenders. Big right edge play set up on the back of it. We go hard and fast that way as Matterson and Faingaa get the ball before it ends up with Dane Aukafolau. He has Leleisiuao outside but dummies and goes himself. He looks to have scored from angle up high but the ref and touchy have a long consultation before deeming him held up. The brings up the last where it all falls apart for the Eels. They go left and then back right before Tonise puts a chip in that goes no where and is cleaned up easily.

 

A late penalty from the Rabbitohs gives the Eels the last chance of the half but some serious white-line fever is on display as the Eels are turned away repeatedly before grubbering on the last – to which the Bunnies say thank you and dive on the ball in-goals to bring an end to play.

 

Half Time

Parramatta Eels 12 – South Sydney Rabbitohs 12

 

Second Half

 

Parra to receive the ball. Utoikamanu tees off. The then continue to work to their right, even up to the last where we run it – poorly mind you – that ends up with Dane Aukafolau trying to kick it in desperation and getting the ball caught in the line.

 

To our good fortune the Bunnies are a bit sluggish in their first possession of the second half and a poor kick ahead of their own is cleaned up by Fonua before a penalty comes for hands on the ball.

 

Great ball from Matterson to Faingaa! Half break for the hulking backrower as the Bunnies scramble to bring him down in the red zone. They manage to do it but from the broken play the Eels go to their left – they are held out on the 1m mark and from there a short ball to Beni Valu who flies on to the pass sees the explosive backrower stroll over! Too easy!

 

Try scored by Beni Valu. Conversion unsuccessful by Anthony Layoun.

Eels lead 16-12

46min gone

 

Really solid set after points as the Eels drive through the middle. Oregon Kaufusi closes out the running component of the set with a very good carry before the Eels bomb it on the last. The kick itself is easily cleaned up and from there the Bunnies wake themselves up with a good set. They too are strong through the middle and a great kick on the last traps Fonua in-goals by the barest of margins.

 

Wowza. Sensational hands from the Souths’ fullback! He is running a sweeper line and cops a tough pass with a big jammer coming at him in Leleisiuao and he not only catches the ball and beats ‘GL’ but he then hot-steps his way through some terrible attempted tackles to score 5m to the left of the posts. Wonderful individual run enabled by some awful defence.

 

Try scored by the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Conversion successful.

Rabbitohs lead 18-16

50min gone

 

Both teams go back to trading set before Souths come out ahead with a late penalty deep in Parramatta’s half. Important set here.

 

They start on their right edge and slowly work it left where after three plays the Eels crack. Again they make the right reads but again fail to execute. Their fullback is the man to score once more as he bounces off some arm grabbing from Dane Aukafolau and Faingaa I think it was. Just soft defence.

 

Try to the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Conversion unsuccessful.

Rabbitohs lead 22-16

57min gone

 

Short kickoff attempt from the Eels as they obviously see a chance. Bit like their defence, the identify the opportunity but execute poorly as they kick too deep. Souths get bodies around the ball and secure the ball.

 

Now there is plain bad luck for the Eels. Again the posts are involved as they kick that way on the last and it bounces back in-field for an easy pick up and try. That has really blown the game up for the Eels.

 

Try scored by the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Conversion successful.

Rabbitohs lead 28-16

28-16

 

Another run of play where both teams work through sets and again it is the Eels conceding the late penalty. Discipline really hurting them today.

 

This time around the Bunnies make an unforced error as they come into the red zone.

 

More fortune! With the running of a great set from their forwards the Eels get an unforced error from a Dean Matterson clearing kick. The ball took a nasty turn at the last moment and the winger grasses it.

 

Parra go left from the scrum win and then work back to the posts. The Eels need someone to step up and Reed Mahoney is that man! He has a dart or rather more or a dive from short range and has someone got the ball down! Under the posts too!

 

Try scored by Reed Mahoney. Conversion successful by Mitch Butfield.

Eels trail 22-28

69 min gone

 

Parra go to their right in this set, chasing at least 6 more points. Dane offloads to Leleisiuao and it catches a South Sydney hand. 6-again. From there the Eels burst through the right as Layoun is rewarded for backing up with a late offload that sees him split the line. He is taken by fullback but stands and offloads to Butfield in support. He is tackled but earns a penalty! Game on.

 

The answer must lie down our right if we are to win this game, at least that is what the players feel. They go that way with a raft of numbers as Dean Matterson plays to the line. He has Aukafolau and Leleisiuao to his right but he dummies and fends his way over! TRY TIME.

 

Try scored by Dean Matterson. Conversion unsuccessful by Mitch Butfield.

Eels trail 26-28

72min gone

 

They can’t find the points they need in this set but they nearly get possession when the  South Sydney custodian flirts with disaster trying to clean the Matterson kick up on the sideline. He throws the ball in-field where it is called backwards and the Bunnies clean it up from there.

 

The metres aren’t great for them this set but a good kick on the last finds touch 15m out from Parra’s line.

 

Ohhh no. So promising and then so frustrating. Dane Aukafolau offloads to Layoun late in the tackle count. It pings off his feet and is play on . He scoops it up and surges right where we have a 3-on-2 – Leleisiuao and Faingaa there – and all he has to do is get it there but he is pulled down and then loses the ball trying to play it. The darkest time line right there.

 

No nonsense set from the Bunnies reply. Keep it simple to avoid an error and once more find touch – this time 10m out. The Eels are up against it with under 4min on the clock.

 

We march downfield but the kick on the last is ineffective. We looked for the bomb but it was too deep and South Sydney secure the pill. Chaos ensues in the following set as the ball ends up on the ground. Both teams appeal for the scrum feed but the ref rules a Parramatta hand knocked it down. Crucial call for the Bunnies.

 

They complete their set but can’t find touch. Layoun nearly makes a meal of it but ends up getting the ball in hand. We throw nothing at the Rabbitohs in the set though. All one out stuff until the last where there is a poor bomb. We try to bat it back but the Bunnies come away with it and in doing so, also get the win. That missed conversion from 5m to the left of the upright proving pretty dang costly.

 

Full Time

South Sydney Rabbitohs 28 DEF Parramatta Eels 26