The Eels continue their push to try and solidify a spot inside the the Top 8 in Round 18. After narrowly falling short of the 5th placed Wests Tigers last week they now tackle the 4th placed Cronulla Sharks. They are back at home for this game and in good shape for this game with captain Corey Fenning back heading an exciting backline. In the forward pack two exciting prospects will lead the way in Peter Taateo and Larry Muagututia.

This will be the second meeting between these two teams. They last met in Round 2 where the Eels cobbled together an excellent team wide performance to defeat Cronulla 22-12. Securing the season sweep over the boys from the Shire today would make up valuable ground in the race for the finals and give the Eels a big shot in the arm when it comes to confidence.

Jersey Flegg Team List

1. Corey Fenning
2. Matt Komolafe
3. Lachlan Blackburn
4. Jabriel Kalache
5. Turoa Williams
6. Mac Puafisi
7. Ethan Sanders
8. Peter Taateo
9. Kruz Niutili-Schmidt
10. Larry Muagututia
11. Jayden Skinner
12. Ryan Jones
13. Brock Parker

14. Jacob Davis
16. Jack Colovatti
17. Nikau Wrathall
15. Saxon Pryke

18. Nicolas Lenaz

First Half – Parra kicking off

Trick play from Fenning from the kick off as he grubbers the kick past the first line of defenders and regathers. Parra are camped in the Sharks ten for the set but are held out.

Sharks kick downfield and Parra are in possession on their forty. They work it left and Kalache is released into space. He finds Sanders on his inside who gallops 20 metres to the line.

Fenning converts.
Eels 6 nil about 5 gone

Sharks and Eels trade sets then on Parra’s next set they work the play to the Sharks 40 on the last.

They run it and Sanders takes it right to the line and Kalache is again put into a hole. He finds Fenning in support and the captain crashes over in the corner.

Conversion missed

Eels 10 Sharks nil about ten gone

coach killer from kick off. Parra drop the ball in the hit up and have to survive a set on their line.

Sharks force a drop out and look to have scored but they’ve gone into touch.

Boom. Big hit from Parra forces a scrum in the Sharks 40 and the Eels signal their intent by going wide from the scrum win.

Ten metres out from the Sharks line Sanders throws the cut out to Williams who dives over in the corner.

conversion nailed from the sideline by Fenning

Eels 16 Sharks nil about 17 gone

Parra work it downfield from the kick off and a Sharks lifting tackle gifts a penalty on halfway.

Sharks have knocked down the pass. Scrum ten out

Committed Sharks defence answers plenty of questions from Parra’s forwards and they defuse the kick to the wing.

Eels are on the front foot as Fenning fields the ball and takes it upfield to the Forty. Parra breaks open the left side and a Sharks player looks injured. The play goes right but Sanders sees the space back near the injury and sends play back there. Ryan Jones is too strong and crashes over out wide

conversion unsuccessful

Eels 20 Sharks nil about 25 gone

Parra get the penalty in the kick off set and are deep in attack. The ball hits Larry Muagututia on the charge and he throws a great ball to Colovatti who crashes over between the posts

Try converted by Fenning

Eels 26 Sharks nil about 30 gone

Penalty to the Sharks as they try to work play off their line.
Sharks hit the Eels half for the first time in a while and their left winger is put into space. He’s got some toe but steps on the line about ten metres out as the Eels cover approaches

Half time

Eels 26 Sharks nil

Second half

Both sides have traded sets and now the Eels have forced a drop out. Parra shift right but the ball is turned over ten out.

Great intercept from Komolafe as the Sharks build an attack. Parra get into the Sharks quarter and that dreaded second kick forces the error as the Sharks player fielding it is ruled to have gone into touch – might have been a tough call

Puafisi gets the ball on the right and fires a nice ball to Skinner who crashes over ten metres to the right of the posts.

Conversion successful

Eels 32 Sharks nil 13 gone second half

Parra work play into Sharks half and a grubber forces an error from the fullback but Parra are adjudged offside.

Positive play from the Sharks here and a bullet pass sees the left winger charging for the line, but a forward pass is called.

On their next set they kick behind the line and find success with the fullback chasing through to regather. Try converted

Eels 32 Sharks 6 19 gone second half

Sheesh! Heavy lifting/slamming tackle on Fenning on the fifth. He’s dusty but no penalty is coming.

Parra get an average kick in but Sharks turn the ball over second tackle 30 out.

Ball hits Kalache out wide and he manufactures a pass to Williams. He goes close to scoring in the corner but is bundled out.

Big intercept by Williams and Parra survive a set on the goal line.

A terrific dart from dummy half by Davis takes the Eels deep in attack. The ball hits the right and that man Komolafe is over in the corner

Conversion unsuccessful

Eels 36 Sharks 6 30 gone second half

Taateo joins the line in a shift to the right in the Sharks quarter and the ball then shifts to Fenning who caps a great game by somehow grounding the ball in the corner.

conversion is wide. Eels 40 Sharks 6 nearly full time!

And the siren sounds as the kick off is taken

Full time

Eels 40 Sharks 6

Terrific brand of footy from the Eels today. Everyone’s done their job from the opening whistle.

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