1. Debbie Doueihi
2. Ellah Hughes
3. Jacinta Tui
4. Petesa Lio
5. Ameena Kanj
6. Tallara Bamblett
7. Rosemarie Beckett
8. Petalina Atoa
9. Ashlee Pottinger
10. Ruby-Jean Kennard (c)
11. Tahleisha Maeva
12. Kyanna Lokeni
13. Summah Terare
15. Melenuku’o’Akau’ola Lauala
16. Chelsea Steele
17. Kataline Vave
19. Emily Waters
20. Lei-Lani Tua

First Half

The Bears are kicking off to start the big block of games at New Era today. Strong first charge from Petalina Atoa who also gets an offload away. Big metres up for grabs for the Eels in the opening plays. They work right as Pottinger steers play nicely. Switch back the left to set up at an attacking kick but an error in the play-the-ball lets the Bears off the hook.

Good tackle from Petesa Lio from the scrum. Rosemarie Beckett follows suit on the other edge. Love the early intent from the ladies here. Right on cue the visitors cough the ball up to give the home team a terrific crack at their line.

A penalty comes from the scrum play, Eels look for a quick tap but the ref holds them up. Lio eventually gets the ball on the first. Kennard carts it up next before the Eels play right to Bamblett who throws a lovely cutout pass to her sweeping fullback in Debbie Doueihi! Debbie takes a second to secure the ball after juggling the initial catch but she reels it in and touches down out wide! Beautiful start in these gloomy conditions. No Alysha Bell this week who has been a star from the kicking tee and helping the Eels scores in batches of 6 rather than 4. Summah Terare handling the responsibility in her absence.

Try scored by Debbie Doueihi. Conversion unsuccessful by Summah Terare.

Eels lead 4-0

6min gone

Plenty of momentum here for the Blue & Gold as they pick up a penalty for an illegal strip. Nice carries from Kennard and Lokeni take the Eels deep into the Bears’ half. Left late in the set as Ameena Kanj does well to trap an errant pass with her boot. Beckett kicks to the right on the last where North Sydney spill the ball to give the Eels a fresh set. Pottinger nearly barges her way over and while she barely falls short of scoring, she sucks in a raft of defenders. A nice pass from the ruck from Terare or Lokeni finds Lio who plays the short side beautifully to put Ellah Hughes over untouched in the corner! Scorching start here from Parramatta.

Try scored by Ellah Hughes. Conversion unsuccessful by Summah Terare.

Eels lead 8-0

10min gone

Atoa is straight up trucking the defenders here. Terare and Kennard power forwards in her wake as the Eels just keep rumbling. Bamblett gets an attacking kick away to the left edge this time and it finds the grass. It takes a turn to the left corner post as Kanj pursues and she wins the race to the bouncing ball! Alas she is barely pushed into touch before she can ground it in the corner as the desperate defence saves a third try.

Swarming defence from the home team stifles the Bears in reply. They kick from deep in their own half as Doueihi takes the pill with ease and then earns a penalty for a ruck infringement. Play resumes 5m shy of halfway as Maeva gets the pass on tackle one. Pottinger works right to Terare and continues that side to Beckett. Ball goes to Bamblett to uses Lio and the centre thunders down the right edge, storming past several defenders for a big gain!

Left to Beckett on the penultimate tackle as she takes on the line and is brought down. Pottinger jumps out of dummy half on the last and seemingly has taken the wrong option as the defenders meet her upright before the line but she rolls through the tackle and slams the ball down! One way traffic here with Parramatta completely dominating possession and territory in the opening stanza of this game.

Try scored by Ashlee Pottinger. Conversion successful by Summah Terare.

Eels lead 14-0

16min gone

Kennard loses the ball backwards from the kickoff but quickly reclaims possession. Atoa and Maeva continue to ruck dominance of the Eels before the home team work the right edge shortside. Good defence from visitors contains the raid though. The crossfield kick to the left on the last is beautifully taken on the trot by Jacinta Tui who quickly links up with her winger Kanj but the cover defence from the Bears keeps the left flanker out again!

A penalty follows for North Sydney as they get their first opportunity of the game to build a set. Tap is taken on halfway as the lock Cox rucks it up. Left to Toa Taufa before the rake Lees takes a scoot. The Bears play to their left but gee that is a strong tackle from Lokeni! Alas, there is a penalty given away on the next play – think the referee got Bamblett for something there so the visitors have a nice run of play going here as a result.

Strong defence to open this set from our right edge as they turn the Bears away for several tackle before yet another 6-again comes – this one for a batted pass. A veritable tsunami of possession here but the Eels keep turning up. Hint of a knock on at dummy half from the Bears there but play goes on and they turn it to their right where they finally catch Parramatta short and crash over via their centre Weekes.

Try scored by Grace-Lee Weekes. Conversion unsuccessful by Sienna Williams.

Bears trail 4-14

23min gone

Bit of surge here from North Sydney as they look to build on that first try. Strong ruck work sets them up for a raid down their right and they play that way on the last as their try-scorer turns creator. Lee-Weekes brushes past the front line of defence before linking up with Bella Hunt. The winger still has some work to do as she plants the right foot and steps inside the cover defence to score near the posts. Game has flipped on its head in a few short minutes here.

Try scored by Bella Hunt. Conversion successful by Sienna Williams.

Bears trail 10-14

26min gone

Both the Bears and the Eels turn the ball over in attacking positions as half time closes in. With under a minute left on the clock, it will be North Sydney who pack a scrum from deep in their own half. Trick play alert! They heave the ball downfield from the scrum win but Doueihi is aware to the threat and races back to save the day. Parramatta work through the set and get a kick away before the siren but the Bears clean it up neatly and run it back where they are tackled to bring an end to a see-sawing period of footy!

Half Time

Parramatta Eels 14 lead the North Sydney Bears 10

Second Half

Eels punch the ball downfield as the Bears scoop it up on the bounce. A loose pass is quickly called up by the referee though and the Eels get first look at the goal line in the second half. Scrum is set with the left side alignment. Parra win it and play right to Bamblett who dummies and takes a run. Pottinger is baying for a penalty and the referee obliges but it is largely an academic result on the first.

Petesa Lio takes the tap restart and churns towards the line. Atoa does likewise before the Eels down to shift left but an obstruction play prevents Tui from scoring in the corner. What a let off there.

High IQ footy though! Beckett effects the one-on-one strip to put the Eels right back on the front foot. Beckett involved a tackle later as she holds up the ball before sending Tui into the line. Pottinger takes play to the right on the last as Beckett kicks cross field and this time it is Petesa Lio showing the clean set of hands! She plucks the ball out of the air and probably could have dived over herself between two defenders but she shovels the ball out smoothly to her winger Ellah Hughes who says thank you very much and nabs her second of the day! That all comes back to the strip from Beckett!

Try scored by Ellah Hughes. Conversion unsuccessful by Rosemarie Beckett.

Eels lead 18-10

36min gone

Atoa and Maeva muster the Eels over halfway before Pottinger gashes the Bears up the middle for a big gain. Bears probably lucky not to be penalised for jumping early from marker on the last but Pottinger does well to navigate the pressure and find Beckett who completes the set with a kick to the right. North Sydney spill it backwards but get back into the field of play before Lio swallows up the winger.

A strong set of defence pins the Bears deep in their half and opens up the field for Doueihi in her kick return as she gallops over halfway. Tui comes infield to help the forwards with a nimble dart around the ruck but it leaves a defender on the ground and the referee quickly signals time off. Trainers rush out to attend the injured Bear. She is eventually aided off the field, obviously hope there is nothing serious regarding any sort of injury.

Tui plays the ball to Pottinger who runs left and links up with Kennard. Left again to Beckett who uses the show and go before she is tackled. Bamblett looks to roll the ball into the ingoals on the last down the left edge but it barely rolls dead and the Bears get a much needed 7-tackle set.

It doesn’t lead to much of anything for North Sydney though as a mistake in the ruck sees the Eels back in possession 30m out from the opposition goal line. Centrefield for the scrum this time as Lio bashes through the first defender for another excellent run. One to the middle before Lio is involved again, this time to score! Gorgeous lead up work from Bamblett there as she drifts to her right and holds the ball up perfectly. Hinted at playing out the back to a sweeping Doueihi but uses Lio on the unders line and the powerhouse centre gets a much deserved try.

Try scored by Petesa Lio. Conversion successful by Rosemarie Beckett.

Eels lead 24-10

42min gone

Nice take from Tui on the kickoff. Atoa continues to pile on the numbers with another quality run. Ditto for Kennard. Parra play to their right but it is slow and sloppy before they dive on a loose pass. Bamblett completes the set with a bomb but it goes uncontested and the Bears bring it in safely.

Terare very busy in defence in the following set as the Bears work hard to get the ball out to their 40m mark. Great pressure from Pottinger on the last and Beckett drops back to field a shallow clearing kick. Kanj scoots down the left edge before Tui plunders a good 15m from her down dummy half run. Lio comes from the other side of the field to get in on the action. Beckett sums it up perfectly on the last as she weaves in an outstanding grubber kick to force a line drop out. Professional stuff.

Sienna Williams drills a low kick up the middle. Chelsea Steele gets her number called for the kick return before a rampaging Kennard takes the Eels right onto the goal line. It looks like the home team has scored again as Beckett plays late and flat to Tahleisha Maeva who dives over but a late call from the touchy confirms the pass travelled forwards.

Gee Pottinger has a big engine. Featured in defence and off-the-ball pressure in that set. The Bears complete their set with a midfield bomb that is allowed to bounce. It takes a turn to the #11 for North Sydney in Fanua Simati but she is rapidly locked up for the turnover. Time is called off for an injured Eel – looks like Kyanna Lokeni but I think she is okay. Lio and Lokeni take the opening runs in the next possession. Terare is used as the pivot on the next play but her ball to Bamblett is quickly pulled up as illegal.

Great fight from Lio there. She is beaten initially from the scrum but doesn’t get thrown off. She clings on and forces an error as her opposite looks to push a pass. Having herself a heck of a game today.

Eels’ scrum 10m into North Sydney territory. Left from the base as Terare pumps the legs through contact. Kennard plays two wide to Lokeni before Bamblett plays left to her partner in the halves in Beckett. Early ball to Doueihi who turns it to Jacinta Tui and the left centre scythes through the front line of the Bears! Power and footwork on show as he slices through the line and dives over! Wonderful individual effort there following a clean backline move.

Try scored by Jacinta Tui. Conversion unsuccessful by Summah Terare.

Eels lead 28-10

51min gone

Another completed set after points. Got to make the coach happy there. Oh dear, the Bears turn it over almost immediately in return and I will tell you what, Petesa Lio wants blood. She races to pick up the ball and wants that scrum set.

Terare gets the call from the scrum win again. Another good run from the lock follows but she undoes the positive work with an error of her own. Bears are let off the hook there as we enter the final five minutes of the game.

Stelle and Kennard working hard in the next Parra possession. Left to Beckett who double pumps to Doueihi before using her fullback. That brings up the last and the Bears swarm off their goal line to trap Emily Waters and get the ball back.

The Bears fail to complete another set in reply and that sets the Eels up for one last attacking raid. Lio has another impressive carry down the right as she swats defenders away and earns a penalty in the process. Parra work right with Lokeni will have one last play. Water to Beckett who rolls it to her left with another outstanding kick that allows Jacinta Tui to secure her double as he dives on the ball! Exclamation mark on a massive second half for the Eels.

Try scored by Jacinta Tui. Conversion unsuccessful by Summah Terare.

Eels lead 32-10

Full Time

Parramatta Eels 32 defeat the North Sydney Bears 10 

1. Mohamed Alameddine
2. Luke Maroun
3. Michael Gabrael
4. Richard Penisini
5. Dominic Farrugia
6. Blaize Talagi
7. Lorenzo Talataina
8. Sam Tuivati
9. Matthew Arthur
10. Kobi Hurford
11. Charbel Chehade
12. Tyrese Lokeni
13. Sebastian Piukala
14. Zaidas Muagututia
15. Joshua Bridgett
16. Jordan Uta
17. Jacob John
18. Jordan Faleono

First Half

The Eels kick off the Harold Matthews clash. Goods first up tackle from Chehade. A good first defensive set from the Blue & Gold in general as the Bears are forced to drive the ball downfield from inside their own half. Alameddine and Penisini take the first carries for the home team before a penalty comes. Tap and go! Parramatta work right to Blaize Talagi who is dragged down. Sam Tuivati crashes towards the uprights before Talagi takes play to the otherside of the field. The left edge shift pays dividends immediately as Blaize links up with Lorenzo Talataina who then hits his fullback on the sweep. Alameddine has numbers to his left but dummies and goes and eventually gets the ball down over the line. Great start to proceedings for the Eels.

Try scored by Mohamed Alameddine. Conversion successful by Mohamed Alameddine.

Eels lead 6-0

4min gone

Kobi Hurford with the opening charge from the next set. Talataina takes a run down the left before the Eels centre the ball with Chehade. An early clearing kick is rewarded handsomely when Penisini wins the chase to reclaim possession and put the Eels on the attack with a tackle up their sleeve. They look to crash over against the scrambling North Sydney defence but lose the ball in contact before the line. Whew that was close!

Slice of luck for the Bears as a poor clearing kick hits a defender in the front line. Ref rules it was played at so they get a fresh set of tackles to work with. It sees them work downfield and into Parramatta’s redzone but their grubber on the last is tidied up neatly by Alameddine.

Riposte from the Eels! Dom Farrugia marks his first game with an early line break as he is rewarded for supporting up the middle. He looks to link up with Talataina I believe as they come to the fullback but the half grasses the pass.

Both teams work through their sets now. Pretty good footy in spite of the conditions really. A ripper of a read and tackle from Luke Maroun breaks the deadlock though as he jams in under the ribcage and knocks the ball out!

Gabrael threatens to break out for a big gain from the scrum win but is pulled down in the nick of time. A penalty comes on the next tackle, the Eels want to tap and go but the ref holds them up. Chehade nearly slips in behind the ruck before the Eels play right to Sam Tuivati. The home team try to work a ruck play afterwards with Hurford steaming onto the ball but the ref has ruled that the man playing the ball (Tuivati) has obstructed the defence I think.

A second consecutive penalty puts the Bears firmly on the attack. Parramatta’s right edge holds up soundly in the opening tackles. When the shift comes to the other side, Gabrael reads it and flies in. He crunches the half but has touched the ball in the process leading to a restart of the count. Tough luck but the Bears don’t wait long to drop the ball themselves. Eels back in possession 10m off their goal line.

Hurford, Gabrael and Penisini all involved next set. Penisini with a strong run in particular. Piukala sets up the attacking kick as Talagi works two wide to Talataina on the last. Lorenzo quickly stabs a terrific grubber kick into the ingoals as Maroun chases and forces the line drop out. He came dang close to scoring there as well.

Hurford again called on to take the opening charge but after carrying defenders for a good 5m, he loses it as he hits the ground. Bad mistake there from the talented young bookend.

Oh lawd that was a thunderous hit from Chehade. The Bears quickly regain composure to make a half break down the left sideline but the kick to complete the set sails deep in goals and bounces dead to give the Eels the ascendancy.

Nice charge from Gabrael early in the next set. Unfortunately they fail to complete another possession as another of their talented big men spills the beans. Tuivati the culprit this time as the conditions start to become a factor for the home team.

The Bears go close a couple of times before eventually bashing their way over via their big man Thomas Epere. Simple pushover through contact there and a try that comes on the back of repeat errors from the Eels.

Try scored by Thomas Epere. Conversion successful by Hayden Stevens.

Bears lock the scores up at 6-all

22min gone

Potential trouble brewing for the home team now as the Bears pick up a penalty from the kickoff set. Deep into Parramatta’s half now with the chance to take the lead. North Sydney work from right to left. Good defence thus far from the home team as they force the visitors towards the sideline and then dump them into touch. Much needed defensive stand.

Alas a run of completed sends from both teams is broken when once again the Eels produce an unforced error. Backbreaking stuff really. Michael Gabrael  the one at fault this time with a poor play the ball. The Bears however fail to capitalise on the chance as they are pulled up for a forward pass from the very first play of the resultant set. Big time let off there.

Jacob John making a difference there with a big carry that nets a penalty. A booming touchfinder flirts with the touch line and the Bears try to bat it back into the field of play but do so from out of play. Arthur takes play right to Chehade but he is driven back in a strong tackle. Tuivati takes the ball to the posts before Talagi uses his right edge with the ball ending with Penisini. Arthur plays across the line with a nice cutout pass but Joshua Bridgett drops it with the defence opening up in front of him. That goes down as squandered opportunity with just over a minute left in the half.

The Bears kick a wicked 40/20 with the seconds on the clock fast running out but thankfully they are in a state of confusion trying to set up for one last play allowing the time to bleed out. Parramatta get a reprieve there.

Half Time

Parramatta Eels 6 locked up with the North Sydney Bears 6

Second Half

Sloppy start to the half as Alameddine fails to track the bouncing ball. Thankfully Sam Tuivati cleans it up without incident. Speaking of incidents though, Joshua Bridgett is pinged for a PTB error which puts the Bears immediately on the attack. Less than ideal start from the home team.

A forward pass from the visitors lets Parramatta off the hook in an eerie case of deja vu from earlier in the game. A simple set follows from the Eels as Matt Arthur kicks early. Maybe that is the tonic they needed. The kick is a quality one as it rolls towards the goal line leading the Bears getting tackled 10m off their line. Forced to work out from deep in their half, now it is the away team who cough the ball up on halfway. Can Parramatta start to turn the screws from here?

Forget turning the screws! The Eels go straight for the throat from the scrum as Richard Penisini drifts to his right and sucks in two defenders masterfully. He flicks the ball to Dom Farrugia before contact and the winger shows off the nitrous as he races 45m downfield to score!

Try scored by Dom Farrugia. Conversion unsuccessful by Mohamed Alameddine.

Eels lead 10-6

36min gone

A sign of the tides turning just a little now? The Eels pick up a penalty from the kickoff set and go right back to work in North Sydney’s half. Hurford centres the ball and sets up a scintillating backline movement on the next tackle as Talagi, Talataina and Alameddine combine to put Penisini over down the right edge! Rapid fire blows from the Blue & Gold here.

Try scored by Richard Penisini. Conversion successful by Mohamed Alameddine.

Eels lead 16-6

39min gone

Well the king tide has come in from nowhere as the Eels make a complete meal of the next kickoff. A rare blemish from Blaize Talagi there and it costs the home team dearly as Kobi Walsh bounces through some soft goal line defence to score to the left of the posts. The margin immediately narrows and this game goes back to being balanced on a knife’s edge. Unbelievably the conversion is missed. A gift phantom two points for the Eels when you think about it.

Try scored by Kobi Walsh. Conversion unsuccessful by Hayden Stevens.

Bears trail 10-16

43min gone

Again, errors and ill-discipline are crippling the Matts as a contentious PTB call against Luke Maroun leads to a penalty several tackles later. The Bears have failed to make the most of some other chances today but it is not the case this time around as some crisp ball movement down their right edge allows their backrower to crash over and bridge the gap even more.

Try scored by Alex Fonoti. Conversion unsuccessful by Hayden Stevens.

Bears trail 14-16

47min gone

Nice clean up work from Dom Farrugia. He also throws in a big kick return to set the Eels up for an attacking set following the kickoff possession from the Bears. Lokeni rumbles up the middle in his wake and draws the penalty. Might have been for high contact there.

Talagi kicks for touch and it is marked 30m from the North Sydney goal line. Tap and go from Gabrael. Right to Jordan Uta and right again as Talagi throws a wild Harbour Bridge pass that Farrugia cleans up. Back to the middle where the Eels finally find traction as a great run and offload puts Zaidas Muagututia over! Think the lead up work came from Talagi and Lokeni there as the home team puts one step towards victory.

Try scored by Zaidas Muagututia. Conversion successful by Mohamed Alameddine.

Eels lead 22-14

51min gone

Another penalty carries the Eels downfield and with the chance to put the game well beyond doubt. They move to the left early in this set as Gabrael gets the ball and nearly storms his way over. Sebastian Piukala is held up over the line and the right edge shift on the next play isn’t executed properly resulting in Talagi dropping a high pass and turning it over.

The Eels hold on in defence before a nice run and offload from Gabrael lets Maroun get in behind the ruck and pick up a penalty. They tap and go via Maroun and the no nonsense set is capped off when Blaize Talagi flies into the line and slams the ball down to secure the victory for the Blue & Gold.

Try scored by Blaize Talagi. Conversion unsuccessful by Mohamed Alameddine.

Eels lead 26-14

57min gone

Talagi fields the kickoff and carts it up himself. Lokeni gets the second charge before a gorgeous outside-inside play from Talagi and Alameddine eventually releases Zaidas Muagututia into the backfield. The cover defenders rope him in after a good 30m gain and from there the Eels look to storm over as Sebastian Piukala steams onto the ball under the posts. He nearly splits the defenders and reaches out to score but loses the ball over the line! Damn unlucky there.

A chip and chase from the Bears nearly sees them trouble the scorers one last time today but the pass from the regather is dropped! There were quite a few cover defenders around the ball there so not sure they score regardless.

With second left on the clock the Eels ruck it out and claim a valuable two points.

Full Time

Parramatta Eels 26 defeat the North Sydney Bears 14 

1. Patrick Spence
2. Tutonu Junior Wright
3. Declan Murray
4. Freeman Forsythe
5. Suliasi Aho
6. Reilly Canning
7. Terrence Lafai
8. Lance Fualema
9. Yehya Ayache
10. Saxon Pryke
11. Daniel Readon
12. Domenic De Stradis
13. Nicholas Lenaz
14. Jacob Davis
15. Markis Atoa
16. Joshua Alzahim
17. Ibrahim Fakhri
18. Raffaele De Stradis

First Half

North Sydney will kickoff to start the SG Ball. Pryke takes the first carry for the Eels before Fualema rumbles into the line. Left to Readon and back right to the fullback Spence. The clearing kick finds the carpet and a strong chase traps the Bears 15m off their line.

North Sydney punch it up the middle in return and their kick finds touch 20m out from the Eels’ goal line.

Junior Wright and Lenaz take the tough carries in the next set. An early kick from Canning is claimed by his halfback Lafai putting the Eels on the attack and some nifty play on the next tackle forces a line drop out. Forsythe provided a good run and offload in the lead up to the kick there.

Pryke takes the drop out back into the line and picks up a penalty. Ayache sends his backrower Dom De Stradis into the defence from the tap. Left to Canning who plays out the back to Spence and he gets buried late and off the ball as a reward for it. The ref has seen it and a penalty is called. Readon takes the early run before Ayache tries his hand at burrowing over. The defence hold him up over the line so we come back out to the 10m mark. Right two passes wide to Lafai I think who looks to pass before the line but gets the ball batted down. Play on as the Eels pick up the loose ball.

Saxon Pryke nearly carries three defenders over the line in a strong run. It sets up his five-eighth on the next tackle as Canning takes full advantage of the weakened defensive line to zip through the goal line defence and dive over! Good first read from Canning as he backed himself to get over.

Try scored by Reilly Canning. Conversion successful by Reilly Canning.

Eels lead 6-0

7min gone

A bouncing kick is eventually corralled by De Stradis. It gives the Bears a chance to muscle up in defence though and the visiting team does a good job outmuscling the Eels this set. Lafai is forced to clear the ball from well inside his own half and for the time being North Sydney get the advantage in field position.

Refs miss a pretty big forward pass but thankfully it doesn’t hurt the Eels as Spence goes on to claim a towering bomb. The centres Forsythe and Murray combine to make early metres before an offload from Lance Fualema releases his fullback Spence up the middle! Great hands from Spence as well and he knifes through for a good 20m gain before an ankle tap brings him down. Lafai pounces on the chance with an excellent kick that earns a line drop out.

De Stradis and Lenaz cart it up the goal line before Ayache has another crack. He is ruled short and the ref initially signals a lost ball before changing his mind and letting the Parramatta dummy half play the ball. They can’t convert the reprieve into points as the Bears’ custodian Owen Flaherty dives on a grubber kick just inside the field of play and an over eager defensive line is pinged on the next tackle for jumping too early.

A second offside penalty follows and suddenly the Bears go from their goal line to Parramatta’s in a matter of seconds.

Good positioning from the fullback Spence prevents any damage from being done though as he intercepts and early grubber kick from the Bears.

A no frills set comes from the Eels in return. Just getting back into the grind there as Canning drills the ball downfield. Their next possession is just as simple in approach as dummy half run after dummy half run edges Parramatta ahead in the territorial battle. Lafai caps the set off with another quality long kick.

In spite of that the Bears break the stalemate first with a cracking try. Their fullback Flaherty splits the right edge of the Eels and bursts into the backfield. His five-eighth Darcy Brettle is awake to the opportunity and backs up his fullback to nab the four-pointer and put this game back to even pegging.

Try scored by Darcy Brettle. Conversion successful by Darcy Brettle.

Bears lock the scores up at 6-all

19min gone

Tough defence from the Eels forces the ball loose on the second tackle. Markis Atoa sorties to the right of the ruck before Lafai plays wide to Spence who is swallowed up by the shooting defence. Atoa with another carry as Parra work to their left. Lafai to Canning who tries to flick the offload away but has the ball squirt out of his grasp for the turnover.

Brettle hunts for a 40/20 for the Bears but Spence quickly swoops on the big clearing kick to claim it on the full. Forsythe and Lenaz take the Eels over halfway as Pryke rolls through contact to keep the Eels pushing forwards. A very tidy kick sees the Bears tackled 1m off their line. Good fundamental footy there.

A physical set of defence forces the Bears to give from 25m off their line but just as the Eels begin to work into North Sydney’s half for an attacking set big Suliasi Aho drops the ball. It pretty much resets the contest as the Bears pack down for the scrum on halfway.

Much make tackle from Daniel Readon probably saves a try but the Bears somehow finesse a line drop out from the same possession with about half a dozen offloads on the last keeping the ball alive. Eventually they roll a grubber kick into the ingoals where Ayache does well to get back and save the day.

Murray is caught too far infield as the Bears work the ball to their right. He scrambles hard to make up for the lost time and eventually makes the tackle on his opposite but not before ceding plenty of metres. Still, the Eels hold on and bring play to the last tackle of the set where the visiting team gambles on the left edge raid. The cutout pass to the winger sails askew and bounces into touch. Parramatta survive.

We are back into the tough, physical arm wrestle here as both teams play some hard footy. Advantage goes to Parramatta when Spence is able to shepherd a long clearing kick over his dead ball line. The clearing kick takes a Parramatta bounce but in the scramble for the ball the Eels are ruled to have impeded a defender in the contest for the ball. That was shaping up as a Parramatta try otherwise.

Another penalty, this one late in the tackle count, might prove costly as the Bears get a full set to attempt to breach the Parramatta goal line. North Sydney work from left to right but fall apart during the big shift. The Eels swoop onto the ball and eventually it ends up with big Saxon Pryke who rumbles up the halfway before he is cut down. He is held down for an age and sure enough the penalty comes but the ref believe that is sufficient despite the clear nature of a professional foul.

It looks like the Eels have turned the ball over midway through the next set but the ref had ruled the tackle complete. Instead we have time off for an injured Bear. Looks like their left winger. He is alright after a brief respite thankfully.

Nice work from Canning shortly after to force a line drop out. Some really neat kicking today from both he and Lafai.

Oh geez, Davis has dropped that one cold on the second tackle and with 30sec left on the clock it looks like the Bears will survive and go into the half with even scores.

Half Time

Parramatta Eels 6 locked up with the North Sydney Bears 6

Second Half

Apologies for the lack of updates. Just navigating some technical issues. The scores remain unchanged from half time following missed opportunities for both teams.

The kicking game of the two halves for the Eels has been a highlight today and it is at the forefront of the deadlock busting play! Canning stabs another excellent kick ahead to complete a set from a shade over halfway. It finds the grass and breaks 90 degrees to the right to beat the fullback. Declan Murray gives hot pursuit and claims the ball to score!

Try scored by Declan Murray. Conversion successful by Reilly Canning.

Eels lead 12-6

53min gone

They just can’t break away from the visitors though. The try scorer Murray loses the ball working it out from the kickoff set and the Bears extract a heavy toll from the Eels in return. A well weighted grubber kick down their left edge sees Michael Geddes win the race to plant the ball down. Brettle rattles the ball off the upright in a costly miss from the conversion attempt.

Try scored by Michael Geddes. Conversion unsuccessful by Darcy Brettle.

Bears trail 10-12

58min gone

A withering set of defence from the Eels helps redeem the previous goal line stand as a charge down on the last is nabbed by the Blue & Gold. Pryke steams onto the ball to set the tone for the set before the Eels work right. Play comes back to the left as big Lance Fualema who trucks through defenders and gets the ball down from my vantage. The ref seems to indicate it is will be awarded before changing his mind late and signalling held up. Fualema clearly objects to the call, confident he planted the ball down and gets sent to the sin bin for dissent. What a bizarre and pivotal series of plays. I am pretty confident Fualema grounded that so I get his frustration but by venting onto the main official he has potentially changed this game.

Tempers flaring up here as Jacob Davis is quite literally kicked by a North Sydney forward as he tries to play the ball. Somehow not a sin bin mind you but it does go on report.

Pryke settles things down with a carry as Lenaz follows on the second. Alzahim pinballs through defenders and gets a pass away to Forsythe who is eventually tackled. Back to Pryke before a left edge shift to De Stradis who is well tackled. On the last the Eels initially think kick before going through the hands to their right edge. Alzahim passes to Forsythe who shovels it on to Aho but the cover defence have him accounted for and make the turnover on tackles.

The Eels edge ahead in the hard fought contest when the officials spy a forward pass from the Bears. The indiscretion occured on the last so it is a PTB and not a scrum. A bit over 3min left to play here as the home team clings to their 2-point lead.

Hustle play from Canning! The big left foot step can’t break the line but it forces defenders into a weak tackle. He jumps to his feet to play the ball but they drag him down and the penalty comes. Lafai tries to dance back to the left but has to eat the tackle after coming close to running behind other players. He comes back two plays later to complete the set with a grubber kick but the Bears do well to keep it in the field of play. They have less than a minute to go the length of the field now but the moment they look to go wide they drop the ball! The Eels have held on in a genuinely hard fought battle.

This was a gritty and physical battle today and kudos to both teams for not taking a step back.

Full Time

Parramatta Eels 12 defeat the North Sydney Bears 10