Harold Matthews

 

	Parramatta Eels		Western Suburbs Magpies
1	Patrick Spence	1	William Craig
2	Suliasi Aho	2	Ofele Lene
3	Charlie Guymer ©	3	Joshua Leiataua
4	Declan Murray	4	Raiden Crowe
5	Josh Lealaiauloto	5	CJ Tufuga
6	Terrence Lafai	6	Tajh Colquhoun
7	Ethan Sanders	7	Heath Mason
8	Sam Tuivati	8	Kaisara Tuimauga
9	Yehya Ayache	9	Tallyn Da Silva
10	Genesis Talagi Seuala	10	Remi Mant
11	Saxon Pryke	11	Sila Dempy
12	Joshua Alhazim	12	Kit Laulili
13	Myles Martin	13	Masei Tavui ©
14	Terrence Lafai	14	Bohan Spencer
15	Poutoa Hotere-Papalii	15	Callum Van Deinsen
16	Rafaelle De Stradis	16	Lachlan Bush
17	Domenico De Stradis	17	Lotutalosaga Lavilavi
18	Movete Otoota	19	Zakauri Clarke
		20	Thomas Fisher

Stay tuned for the audio cast of this game, I will provide score updates though!

 

 

Try scored by Terrence Lafai. Conversion successful by Ethan Sanders.

Eels lead 6-0

3min gone

 

Try scored by Suliasi Aho. Conversion unsuccessful by Ethan Sanders.

Eels lead 10-0

11min gone

 

Try scored by Genesis Talagi Seuala. Conversion successful by Ethan Sanders.

Eels lead 16-0

14min gone

 

Try scored by Joshua Alhazim. Conversion successful by Ethan Sanders.

Eels lead 22-0

22min gone

 

Try scored by Joshua Alhazim. Conversion successful by Ethan Sanders.

Eels lead 28-0

26min gone

 

Half Time 

Parramatta Eels 28 lead Western Suburbs Magpies 0

The visi

Second Half

 

Both teams trade sets before time is blown off for an injured Eel. It looks like big Josh Lealaiauloto was the downed man but he eventually is good to go. The Eels complete their set with a misguided bomb on the last that both teams let bounce. Parra clean it up but are quickly engulfed by the Magpies’ defence.

The visitors work the ball down their right edge before knifing in a perfectly weighted kick that forces Patrick Spence to carry the pill over the dead ball line. Line drop out coming.

Oh dear. The Magpies looked to have navigated a near shepherd situation when they pull up a play down their left edge but their five-eighth Tajh Colquhoun makes a late decision to run again and the referee quickly penalises him.

Guymer and Alhazim get the set under way for the Eels before big Genesis Talagi Seuala threatens to make a bust through the middle. He is brought down by the barest of margins and then gets flopped on and while the ref doesn’t call the penalty there he does give the Eels a piggy back on the next play for a high shot.

Parramatta squander the chance with an error early in the tackle count and when the Magpies look to have coughed the ball up in return the official raises him arm to indicate a penalty for the Parramatta markers failing to remain square.

The ball gits the ground early in the following set for the Magpies but they quickly recover as their fullback slices through on the next play care of a brilliant around the corner offload from one of their forwards. Saxon Pryke shoots out of the line two tackles later and makes a brilliant tackle but Wests show a good bit of vision on the next play when they kick wide down their left for their winger Ofene Lele. He has all the space in the world and only needs a kind bounce but he doesn’t get it as it kicks dead.

Parramatta deliver a near knock-out blow in reply as they drive hard down field before Sanders nearly gets Suliasi Aho over with a deft grubber kick. The Magpies scramble desperately and bat the ball dead as the humongous winger closed in.

Another error down Parramatta’s left edge means they won’t be leaving this red-zone trip with any points and the half time score remains unchanged. The scrappiness factor is quickly ratcheting up here as the Magpies fail to complete the following set, gifting the Eels a scrum feed centrefield on half way.

Guymer is well met by the defence as he sorties down the left edge. That brings up the last and the Eels will play down the left edge short side. Quick hands between Alhazim and Murray nearly release Lealaiauloto over the line but the touchy spies a little knock on or forward pass in the exchange.

The Mapgies grind the ball towards half way and manage to complete a set. This one is done with a half torpedo bomb and Spence does well to clean it up and stay in field. No nonsense set from Parra and a powerful carry from their captain and centre Guymer gets them into Wests’ territory before Sanders hits a line drive clearing kick. Nice touch from the boot but an early penalty for a highshot undoes the good work.

The Eels have to show some starch on the goal line now as the Magpies pound away for a number of tackles. They do just that, including a desperation group effort to cut down the 5/8 Colquhoun and then the big man Rafaelle De Stradis shows a sharp pair of hands to nab a grubber kick from the Wests dummy-half Tallyn Da Silva.

Wests deserve a big shout out here for not going away. It looked like a 50-burger was inevitable as half time and they have rallied since the break to produce a highly competitive effort in the second stanza. As I type that they earn an attacking set on the back of a clever clearing kick and chase that drives Aho into touch. The hulking Parra winger nearly made a brilliant individual play as he beat a number of defenders but sheer weight on numbers got him into touch eventually.

A penalty early in this attacking set here as the Eels go too high in the tackle. Wests work from left to right but the Eels meet them evenly through the first four tackles. Their lock forward Masei Tavui has a carry to bring up the last, or it would have, if the referee doesn’t hit the Eels with another penalty.

A blatant obstruction is missed as their half back runs behind three players before he is tackled but the Eels hold on before they literally hold on to keep the Wests runner up in goals and bring the ball back 10m. The Magpies seem intent on attacking down their right edge where the Eels continue to repel them and time is called off when it looks like an Eel has caught a cleat in the family jewels.

Ah geez, after so much great defence! Wests shape up to their right once more, this time on the last tackle, but their hooker Da Silva takes to steps to his right before looking to dive over. The Eels actually get a decent hand to him but he does enough to burrow over and finally end the second half stale mate.

 

Try scored by Tallyn Da Silva. Conversion successful by Heath Mason.

Wests trail 6-28

56min gone

 

Geez that is a quality kick return from Lealaiauloto!  He then draws the penalty when the ball is clearly raked out of this hands in a three man tackle. Parramatta drive through the middle as their starting props look to close out the game. Genesis takes a carry that allows Lafai to scoot from dummy-half and on the last the Eels give the ball to one of their best as they turn Myles Martin back inside from the ruck and the sensational lock forward powers through a swathe of defenders to seal the game.

 

Try scored by Myles Martin. Conversion successful by Ethan Sanders.

Eels lead 34-6

 

Full Time

Parramatta Eels 34 def. Western Suburbs Magpies 6

 

 

SG Ball

 

	Parramatta Eels		Western Suburbs Magpies
1	Joshua Tuipulotu	1	Cameron Lawrence
2	Freeman Forsythe	2	Jay Shipley
3	Viliami Penisini	3	Salesa Tavui
4	James Malauulu	4	Reece Davison
5	Tutonu Junior Wright	5	Alosomu Lolohea
6	Tyrone Sau	6	Maverick Bantin
7	Josh Chappell	7	Jibiril Elrich
8	Taylor Mauala	10	Bryon Strickland
9	Kyle Leonard	17	Kynan English
10	Peter Taateo ©	18	Jurrado Smith
11	Jock Brazel	11	Bryce Cane
12	Maximus Tupou	12	Isaiah Anamani
13	Toni Mataele	13	Saumani Vili Solomona
14	Vlado Jankovic	8	Tristyn Vall
15	Jabriel Kalache	9	Tevita Peteleo
16	Caleb Tohi	15	Fale Alesana
17	Larry Muagututia	21	Charlie Lennon
18	Movete Otoota	19	Bryce Wilson
		20	Jude Gomez
		22	Che Te Rangi
		23	Alfred Curuenavuli
		24	Riley Williams

 

First Half

 

Apologies for the delay as I was partaking in some refreshments. While that was happening the Eels touched down for first points as Jabriel Kalache stormed over as he injected himself down the right edge and as I type that out, Viliami Penisini does it all himself to extend the Eels lead.

 

Try scored by Jabriel Kalache. Conversion successful by Josh Chappell.

Try scored by Viliami Penisini. Conversion successful by Josh Chappell.

Eels lead 12-0.

15min gone

 

Oh that is a coach killer. Big Taylor Mauala, one of Parra’s most consistent forwards, coughs it up from the kickoff. Fortunately, the Eels rally and survive a close call when the Magpies are pinged for a double movement.

Mauala and Kalache both have quality touches in the following set before the captain Peter Taateo, who is developing a knack for finding the try line, steams between defenders to score the third try of the day for the Eels.

 

Try scored by Peter Taateo. Conversion successful by Josh Chappell.

Eels lead 18-0

18min gone

 

Gee, if the last kickoff set was a coach killer this one was a peach. Chappell leads the Eels downfield and laces a brilliant, deft kick that traps the Magpies in-goals. Quality footy right there.

The Eels immediately venture down their right edge and Penisini leaves his opposite grasping at thin air before flicking an offload to Tutonu Junior Wright but the flanker has put a foot in touch before any defenders arrive.

Wests get a boost to their effort for territory when the Eels are caught tackling high but the visitors quickly turn the ball over. Parramatta will set the scrum 10m shy of halfway.

Another barnstorming carry, where he is literally carry defenders on his back, sees Penisini claw his way into the Wests red-zone and from there the Eels swing down their left edge. Tuipulotu chimes in from the back with some soft hands to release James Malauulu and the left centre battles his way through a number of would-be defenders to slam the ball down.

 

Try scored by James Malauulu. Conversion successful by Josh Chappell.

Eels lead 24-0

25min gone

 

Some terrific efforts this set from the interchange forwards in Tohi and Muagututia as they get their hands on the ball multiple times enroute to a set that is completed well inside Wests’ half. Chappell gets boot to a very awkward kick for the Wests custodian and he can’t bring it in cleanly, gifting the Eels another set. From there it is all too easy and the elusive Josh Tuipulotu strikes down the right edge. He is too quick, too agile and too smooth as he plants the ball down to give the Eels a commanding lead.

 

Try scored by Josh Tuipolotu. Conversion successful by Josh Chappell.

Eels lead 30-0

28min gone

 

One way traffic here as the Eels pick up a penalty for a high shot. They mind touch on Wests’ 30m mark and get to business as Tupou tkaes the opening hit up. Chappell dances and weaves down the right edge as he bounces off multiple defenders before he is finally brought down. Left edge is the place here and Kalache takes it that way before selling a monstrous dummy and stepping between sliding defenders to score a simple try.

 

Try scored by Jabriel Kalache. Conversion successful by Josh Chappell.

Eels lead 36-0

31min gone

 

Geez that was a sensational set of hands from Peter Taateo! His dummy-half, Kyle Leonard, left him hosed with a bullet pass to his outside right shoulder but he has grasped it cleanly AND netted the penalty with his bullish charge. Captain material stuff right there.

Chappell finds touch 30m out from Wests’ goal line and the Eels get to work down their right edge. Taateo comes back for another good carry on the second before the Eels rattle off a gorgeous set play. They feign the crash ball to the left edge backrower Tupou but he pivots before contact to find Kalache who then links up with the swooping Tuipulotu who gets his second with ease. Just how they drew that one up at training.

 

Try scored by Josh Tuipulotu. Conversion unsuccessful by Josh Chappell.

Eels lead 40-0

34min gone

 

Big Larry Muagututia takes the opening hit up and the Eels just aren’t taking the foot off the throat here as Chappell takes out the 3-wood and hits a cracking line drive for a 40/20. There is enough time for one last play before oranges and the Eels tap and go their left but Kalache’s cut-out pass to Freeman Forsythe hits the grass and the winger knocks on trying to clean it up. Still, what a brilliant first half!

 

Half Time

Parramatta Eels 40 lead Western Suburbs Magpies 0

 

Second Half

 

The Eels will be kicking off in the second half. Wests were heading towards what looked to be a decent opening set before a huge hustle play from Maximus Tupou sees him chase down a deflected clearing kick. Penisini nearly slices through with a nasty kick step off his right foot but the Magpies survive when they clean up the attacking grubber kick on the last.

Wests get through the next set but pick out Junior Wright on the full perfectly with their clearly kick but it unravels two tackles later when they load up for a big left edge set piece only for Kalache to lose the ball.

Bit of a slugfest at the moment with both teams struggling to get through their sets. Wests are in possession currently as they look to work into Parra’s half. Good bit of defensive work from Penisni there as he covers for his inside man, saves the linebreak and forces the error.

A damaging run from Muagututia and some second phase footy from Tohi has the Eels back in ascendancy and Chappell looks to harness the momentum with a clever attacking kick that gives Forsythe a real chance to come down with the ball and score. He fails to do so but after consulting his touch judge it is deemed that Forsythe was interfered with under the new rule. The weight of the extra set is just too much for the visiting team and Kalache shows some deft hands to put Jock Brazel into a gap. The backrower still has plenty to do with his angled run and he plants the big right foot to slide between the defence and slams the ball down!

 

Try scored by Jock Brazel. Conversion successful by Josh Chappell.

Eels lead 46-0

47min gone

 

Good set after points. Muagututia again in the thick of things before a great kick chase and tackle from Penisini pins the Magpies deep in their own half.

Gee that is just class footy. Starting with another run where Penisini has bullied the entire left edge of the Magpies. He leaves two defenders strewn on the ground with Sivo-esque fends before carrying another three defenders for a good 8m. Chappell again shows his footy nous as attacks the right edge short side and floats a gorgeous ball to Brazel who himself shows the touch of a halfback as the backrower kicks in behind the Wests fullback to allow Tohi to score! What a try.

 

Try scored by Caleb Tohi. Conversion successful by Josh Chappell.

Eels lead 52-0

51min gone

 

Just when the Magpies look to get a small foothold in the second half as they force a line drop out following a wicked midfield bomb, the Eels direct a wicked kick of their own as the drop out is hit flat and hard and takes a sick off-break to the sideline. Taylor Mauala has a great carry, fresh on from his stint on the bench, but from the following play the Eels are pulled up for a forward pass from dummy-half.

When the footy gods are smiling on you the ball really bounces your way. Chappell puts in yet another clever kick that finds space between winger and fullback but this time the ball hits the hand brake and takes a huge turn towards the chasing Eels. Kyle Leonard toes it ahead but directly into the fullback who cleans it up only to be drilled by the hooker chasing his own kick ahead. The loose ball is scooped up by Junior Wright who scores as easy a try as you will ever see.

 

Try scored by Tutonu Junior Wright. Conversion successful by Josh Chappell.

Eels lead 58-0

64min gone

 

They nearly make it back-to-back scores as they skittle the visitors as take the ball all the way to the red-zone before Chappell sends a pinpoint bomb up. Three Eels arrive at the contest for the ball and the ball pops out of the aerial battle towards Parramatta. The main official however quickly signals a Parramatta knock-on and West survive by the slimmest margin.

A penalty for a strip gives the Magpies a rare opportunity to venture into Parra’s half but a jarring hit from Jock Brazael puts a quick end to that business! The right edge backrower has revelled in all the action sent his way today.

Credit to Wests for battling through the drubbing. A class kick from their halfback earns them a 40/20 and a chance to break the goose egg. They start the set down their left edge before switching to the right but the one out stuff isn’t cutting it. Even as I type that, the moment they offer a second phase option and then a quick pass to a support player from there they finally cross. Good hands and hustle but I missed the jersey number for the scorer unfortunately.

 

Try scored by Wests Magpies. Conversion successful.

Wests trail 6-58

65min gone

 

Game has fizzled out a bit in the final 5min as the precipitation intensifies. Wests get a late penalty and one last chance to improve the differential but Tyrone Sau does brilliantly well to clean up the kick!

 

Full Time

Parrmatta Eels 58 def. Wests Suburbs Magpies 6