Like something akin to a rugby league lunar eclipse, the rare chance for the NSW Cup to play under the bright lights on a Friday night occurs this week. The Parramatta Eels will host the Mounties at Kellyville Park in frigid conditions as the Blue & Gold look to make a concerted push into the Top 4. The returns of Makahesi Makatoa, Oregon Kaufusi and Ofahiki Ogden gives the Eels a monstrous boost in the forward pack and result in the home team fielding their most complete and formidable lineup of the season thus far.

Round 13 kicks off at 7:00PM with Sixties bringing you all of the key action from this week’s game.

NSW Cup Team List

1. Jordan Rankin (c)
2. Maika Sivo
3. Zac Cini
4. Hayze Perham
5. Sean Russell
6. Jack A Williams
7. Jake Arthur
8. Makahesi Makatoa
9. Mitch Rein
10. Oregon Kaufusi
11. Elie El-Zakhem
12. Bryce Cartwright
13. Ky Rodwell

14. Brendan Hands
15. Wiremu Greig
16. Ofahiki Ogden
17. Tevita Taumoepenu

18. Solomone Naiduki

It must be snowing somewhere close tonight for it to be so cold. I offer my usual disclaimer about not being Forty 20 – this will be mostly score updates though I’ll do my best to describe any scoring plays.

First Half

Parra kicking off

And it’s raining!

Beware the second kick! Jack Arthur puts in the kick on the last. It’s tapped back by Perham(?) and another kick is dribbled into the corner where Russell wins the race to ground it. Conversion unsuccessful

Eels 4 nil 6 minutes gone

Mounties push the kick off too deep and Eels get to go on the attack again. Mounties field the last tackle kick this time and hold on

Eels on the attack again and Mounties fumble the kick on the last. Scrum to Parra and Mounties hold on desperately as the Eels shift to Sivo. The pass is knocked down so it’s Parra again in possession on the 10 metre line.

The ball again shifts left and precision passes put Sivo into space to stroll over.

conversion unsuccessful

Eels 8 nil 14 gone

what a chase from Arthur! The Eels go left off a scrum in Mounties quarter and Perham swings around from right side to left. The play breaks down off his pass and Mounties break downfield. Jake Arthur hits top gear in the chase and rounds him up in 30 metres. Mounties then shift left off the play the ball and drop the pass.

Williams gets the ball to Perham on the Mounties 20 and he leaves the defenders perplexed as he steps off his right and accelerates through to the line.

Converted by Rankin

Eels 14 nil 32 minutes gone

Sivo! Sivo! Sivo!

The NRL boys are on the verandah and the big Fijian brings the cheers as he finishes a backline shift to the left and beats the last defender.

conversion unsuccessful from out wide

Eels 18 nil Half time

Second half

Eels deep in Mounties territory.
Eels force an error for a scrum on the 10. Last tackle and Carty goes from dummy half five metres out. He’s too big for the Mounties backs and crashes over in the corner.

conversion from the sideline swings wide

22 nil 47 minutes gone

Tough call. Arthur shows and goes and slices through for the try. Ref calls obstruction but my first  reaction is that there was nothing wrong with the play.

From the ensuing penalty Mounties get another piggy back penalty on the last which is followed by yet another for a high shot two tackles later. Parra defend well and an errant pass from Mounties rolls into touch 15 metres out from Parra’s line

Mounties knock on at dummy half and Parra have the feed 30m out

Solid set finished with well placed kick to earn the drop out. Mounties get a one on one strip and then a penalty which eases pressure.

Woodie! The big fella rampages through the meat of the ruck from 10 out for the try between the posts. Pulchritudinous stuff for lovers of barnstorming front row play

converted by Rankin

28 nil 17 minutes remaining

Eels are back in the quarter after good a charge from Sivo. Arthur turns Sivo back on the inside and he gets brought down 3 metres out. Cini goes from dummy half and is too strong.

try converted by Rankin

Eels 34 nil 12 minutes to go

parra get a 40/20 and play the ball 10 out. What a pass from Arthur! He cuts out two players and hits Sivo on the chest and the big fella brushes aside his opposite to cross in the corner. It’s his third try of the night.

unconverted

38 nil Seven minutes to go

And that’s now full time and my fingers can’t type anything more in this cold!

Eels 38 Mounties nil

Home and warm now.

Quick feedback.

Sivo probably ran a combined 20 metres in scoring three tries. But he does look fit. Wiremu (Woodie) was a handful with his carries. From recollection Maka and Oregon only played in the first half (don’t hold me to that 😁).

My 3,2,1 was as follows

3 Rodwell – relentless work through the middle. Didn’t feature in my try descriptions but his carries through the ruck were phenomenal.

2 Arthur – class performance in both attack and defence. Not just the conductor tonight though his passing was precision stuff. Was sharp and powerful with his running.

1. Rankin – real captains knock tonight. Terrific organising from fullback and cleaned up a few Mounties half chances.

Sixties

If you liked this article, you might consider supporting The Cumberland Throw.