Welcome to Round 6 of the junior reps. In addition to the Gale and Ball action we have the Lisa Fiaola Cup and Jersey Flegg.

Once again I’m no Forty 20 but I’ll do my best!

Stinking hot conditions. Shade is only found behind the stand at this early point in the morning.

Lisa Fiaola Cup

For those unfamiliar, this is a four round under 17 competition. It’s part of the development pathway to Tarsha Gale Cup. Unfortunately I’m working without a team list here – my apologies to the girls for not being able to name them.

First Third

Great start from the Eels, advancing play to the Sharks quarter twice now. The halfback has already demonstrated a smart kicking game earning an early line drop out.

First try to Parra has just been scored with a barnstorming charge from our number 8 and she plants it under the posts.

converted by the fullback

Eels 6 Sharks nil – about 7 minutes gone

Parra have again worked play into the Sharks quarter and the number 8 has been turned back in behind the ruck and looks to have scored her second try. The ref has found a problem and turned the ball to the Sharks ten out.

Parra has earned a penalty for a high tackle from a scrum on the Sharks 20m line. The number 23 has tapped the ball and only has eyes for the line. She brushes through defenders and plants it down about ten in from the left corner.

conversion unsuccessful

Eels 10 Shark nil  4 minutes to go first third

Second Third

Parra are very quickly on a roll. Play works to the left and they’re over for a try about 15m in from the corner. Conversion unsuccessful.

Eels 14 Sharks Nil

Parra are rolling through the middle and there’s plenty of joy to be found. One metre out and the dummy half does it all herself as she dives over next to the ruck. Conversion unsuccessful

Eels 18 Sharks Nil

Its rapid fire tries now. The sharks fail to kick the ball ten metres on the kick off and they have no answer to the Eels drive through centre field. The five eighth brushes defenders aside and dives over. Conversion from the fullback unsuccessful

Eels 22 Sharks nil

The Eels are becoming more expansive now. The play gets to the quarter and they go right. Back to the middle and the prop, number 8 hits onto the ball with intent. She gets her second.

conversion successful

Eels 28 Sharks Nil

A great passage of play from the Sharks on the back of a string of penalties. But my, what defence from the Eels on their line as they repel crashing runs from the visitors.

Talk about counterattack! The Sharks final play gives the Eels seven tackles from the quarter. Parra ask questions with every play as they are soon in the Sharks red zone with a couple of tackles to play. The ball is shifted to the right winger who does a good job to come infield ten out then offload in contact. The ball is with the number 15 who drives through the defence to score. And we’ve got some very proud parents beside us who join us in celebrating a great try.

Conversion unsuccessful

Eels 32 Sharks nil. End of second quarter

Final third

Parra are applying the pressure and the Sharks are pinned at their end. The play is under the posts and the pass finds the number 6 hitting a hole to the right of the posts.

Conversion successful by the fullback

Eels 38 Sharks nil 11 minutes to go

No de ting some fine backline play and passing from the Sharks here. They move the ball to their right and a Gidleyesque pass opens up the Eels and the Sharks travel about 40 metres in that play to score. Excellent conversion from an angle.

Eels 38 Sharks 6 with six minutes to go.

More pressure for the Sharks with just a minute or so left to go. The play is under the posts and it looks like the Eels number 8 has her third try. My apologies as it was a bit difficult to identify the try scorer in the celebration melee. Conversion successful

Full time

Eels 44 Sharks 6

 

 

 

Tarsha Gale Team List

 

1 Debbie Doueihi (c)
3 Alysha Bell
4 Lindsay Tui

19 Caitlin Peadon
5 Hayley Bell
6 Charlotte Cawthorne
7 Tallara Bamblett
8 Laila Dimech
9 Ashlee Pottinger (c)
11 Kalisi Mahe
16 Leila Black
12 Bella Sandford
13 Kyanna Lokeni
10 Kanye Maru-Mulu
14 Kasey Quye
15 Mele Akau’ola Laula
17 Serah Poloaalii
21 Alliyah Ghannoum

23 Siulolovao Vave

First Half

Early ball and territory for the Eels with repeat sets. Pottinger takes a shot from dummy half and gets over after just two minutes play. The Sixties jinx is in full evidence as Alysha Bell makes a rare miss.

Eels 4 Sharks nil 3 minutes gone.

Good kick off set with a completion that finishes with the Sharks having to start from their ten metre line. Their next set is another great one with great offloads and support play, and they finish the set with a crash play that ends one metre out. They force an error from the Sharks and from the scrum it’s on. The ball goes right towards an unmarked winger but the Sharks have taken the odds to an intercept. They race 90 metres to score a converted try

Sharks 6 lead Eels 4  11 minutes gone.

Pressure for the Eels now as the Sharks force a line drop out.

The Sharks work plat left and it’s a relatively simple hit up for their next try. Conversion unsuccessful.
Sharks 10 Eels 4  14 minutes to half time.

Parra work a backline shift left and Caitlin Peadon screams onto a beautiful ball from Bamblett and cuts through the defence, sprinting 50 metres to score under the posts. Conversion by Bell successful

Eels 10  Sharks 10  11 minutes remaining.

Oh no. A couple of good runs from the kick off are let down by the team not completing the set. Sharks have the feed thirty out.

The Sharks are right on the Eels line but they’ve turned it over with an incorrect play the ball and now give away a penalty in the next tackle.

Parra complete the set, though they don’t ask questions with the last tackle kick. Sharks working it from their quarter now.

Parra field the Sharks kick but lose possession mid count. The Sharks get a penalty for a slow play the ball. Parra are defending their line grimly but now the Sharks throw a forward pass. Parra complete their set and again make the Sharks work it out from their red zone.

Half time

Eels 10  Sharks 10

Second Half

The Eels have had a lot of possession and territory over the last ten minutes but can’t crack the Sharks. It’s now their turn to defend.

Finally a penalty has come against the Sharks for being offside, and the crowd can be thanked for their reminders. The Eels take full advantage to work play just to the left of the posts. Dimech takes the pass from the play the ball a couple of metres out and crashes over. Bell converts from relatively close range.

Eels 16 lead Sharks 10.. Eleven minutes remain.

That looks like a tough call. Pottinger has been hurt making a tackle but looks to have been penalised for a flop. (NB – I’ve reviewed the footage and it wasn’t Pottinger who was penalised for the flop, it was Mahe) Please note, play had to be stopped for her injury and she’s been assisted from the field. To add further insult the Sharks now score in the penalty set.

Conversion from an angle is successful

Eels 16 Sharks 16 with five minutes to go.

Look out. The sharks have fumbled the kick off. Eels scrum 15 metres out. The call for patience comes from the bench. Parra work it to Doueihi from the scrum and she cuts through but loses the ball in the tackle over the line and now the Sharks get a seven tackle set.

Parra hold them out but they’re on their quarter with just three minutes to go. Parra get towards the halfway and go right.

Disaster!!! The Sharks have taken another intercept and run 50 metres untouched, scoring under the posts. Game, set, match to the visitors.

Sharks 22 Eels 16

Or is it? The Eels retrieve the grubber kick off and get a penalty as the Sharks look to slow play up. The ref blows time off but the time keepers don’t notice. About 8-10 seconds lost as the clock is allowed to tick down from 35 seconds to 25 seconds. Parra shift left and put in a grubber to the corner but they can’t field it.

Full time

Sharks 22 defeat Eels 16

 

SG Ball Team List

 

1 Apa Twidle
2 Cainan Hardiman
3 Pat Spence
4 Devonte Vaivela
5 Mohamed Alameddine
6 Ethan Sanders
7 Josh Lynn
8 Sam Tuivaiti
9 Matt Arthur
10 Lance Fualema
11 Dom DeStradis
12 Will Lewis
13 Saxon Pryke
14 Raf DeStradis
15 Sebastian Piukala
16 Lebron Tuala
17 Kobi Hurford
18 Sam Squire

First half

Bad start here for the Eels as they don’t complete the kick off set then immediately concede a converted try on their right edge.

Sharks 6 Eels nil, 3 minutes gone.

Some loose play from both teams but now the Eels get terrific territory and possession. Incredible defence from the Sharks holds out two sets on their line as Parra look to go through the middle.

Third set is a charm. The Sharks throw a forward pass and Parra get a scrum feed ten out. More questions asked and finally a play on the left edge sees Dom DeStradis plunge over about 15 metres left of the post. Sanders hits the upright with his conversion.

Sharks 6 Eels 4, 17 minutes to go.

Sorry I’ve had some connection problems and lost about five minutes of blogging

The Sharks got a dubious call go their way when they had hands all over the ball and Parra were adjudged to have lost it. They score on the back of it after the last tackle kick was deflected by the Eels and their winger gets across in the corner. Huge sideline conversion

Sharks 12 Eels 4

Parra have a scrum feed just in Sharks territory. The ball goes two passes wide to Twidle who goes to the line before passing to Vaivela who cuts them open and runs 40 metres to score.

Converted by Sanders

Sharks 12 Eels 10

Parra get a penalty just as the siren sounds. They opt for the two and Sanders nails it.

it’S all locked up at half time.

Eels 12 Sharks 12

Second Half

Sharks have the territorial advantage early and force a line drop out. A terrific shorts kick finds the turf and the Eels win it. Parra complete the set but are penalised soon after. They survive the Sharks set and then complete theirs as both teams match completions.

The Sharks are the first to buckle with a forward pass and the scrum is set on their 30. Unfortunately the Eels now match them and make an error attacking the line.

Its now an awful ending to the Sharks set as a poor dummy half pass fails to find its mark and they are tackled in possession on the last. Parra grab this opportunity with both hands. Firstly Twidle shows great patience to hold the ball in a left shift. They spread it wide to the right and Hardiman gets across and improves the position. This time Sanders misses the conversion.

Eels 16 Sharks 12. 22 to go.

This is a really tight contest and the Eels have just had to repel a dangerous attacking set from the Sharks. Quick drinks break now with 17 to go and the Eels with a scrum feed on their 30.

Great drive down the middle is followed up by a shift left. A cut out to Alameddine opens a channel down his wing. The fullback is having across in cover but Mohamed cuts back inside and steps him for the try. Conversion again unsuccessful by Sanders.

Eels 20 Sharks 12. 14 minutes to go.

Well, my bugbear of not completing the kick off set has just transpired as the Eels turn it over on the first. A full set is repelled and Alameddine flies to catch the last tackle kick and he’s on a long run downfield. Unfortunately the ball has come out of his grasp when tackled from behind. The sharks are back on the attack but they’ve quickly let Parra off the hook losing possession.

Another Eels completion and the Eels spine is taking good control. Cronulla reply with an error on their 30. And with the commentators curse in play there’s a forward pass from the Eels which is then compounded by a penalty.

Its a case of lucks a fortune here as a last tackle kick from the Sharks results in multiple deflections, including from the Sharks, but the ref adjudges the ball to go backwards from them and when they force the ball he awards a try.

conversion unsuccessful

Eels 20 lead Sharks 12 with around four minutes to go.

Completed sets are exchanged as the Sharks look for a try and the Eels aim for mistake free footy. The Sharks look to a big shift left on the 40 metre line with just seconds remaining but Parra shut it down as the ref calls a halt.

Thank goodness we’ve got a win!

Full time!

Eels 20 Defeat Sharks 16

 

Jersey Flegg Cup

First half

First attacking set on the line and they get to the last. The kick goes up to the right wing and Newlands taps back but there’s nobody to clean it up. It’s not the worst result as the Sharks have to ruck it out from the corner.

And here’s the result. The Sharks have made an error on their thirty and Parra are straight back into the quarter. A shift right again to Newlands with one to beat. He decides not to step the fullback but takes the chance on the corner with a big dive. He plants it!

Conversion unsuccessful

Eels 4 Sharks nil. 6 gone.

Now that’s ridiculous. The Sharks kicker has drilled it into the Eels player and the ball rebounds 20 metres. The ref calls played at!!! He then awards a penalty to them on their 40 metre line and they earn about four six agains in the Eels quarter. Great defence from Parra to hold on and force an error.

Another penalty for the Sharks and they’re on halfway. They get to the Eels red zone for a last tackle kick which comes up trumps as the referee rules that their player has grounded the ball correctly and before the dead ball line.

Conversion unsuccessful and that’s drinks break with 17 minutes till half time.

The Sharks have sliced through the Eels defence from about 30 out and the player is brought down on the line with the ball coming free as he tries to ground it. It’s rolling along the ground and another Sharks player picks it up and grounds it. The ref looks to the touchie who gives him a nod and they award the try. I’m a long way from the action so I have to go with the call..

Conversion successful

Sharks 10 Eels 4  10 minutes to the break

Now that was a coach killer. A kick goes towards the Eels corner. Miller-Stephen picks it up and attempts to pass it to Newlands but the ball goes forward and nowhere near him. It’s a scrum with the Sharks feeding. Parra’s defence holds strong on the first few plays but a superb backline shift has the exclamation point added with a great pass to the centre who scores. Conversion successful

Sharks 16 lead Eels 4 Four minutes till the break.

Parra now drop it cold on the first tackle on their quarter and it looks ominous. My worst fears are realised as the Sharks bust Parra wide open with a play to the right edge.

try converted

half time. sharks 22 Eels 4

If these unforced errors continue it could get ugly.

Second half

The Eels complete their first set but are penalised on the kick chase. Not a good start

A couple more sets traded and the Eels are again penalised in the tackle. Parra survive the set and now look to get field position with a completed set that gives Sharks the ball on their quarter.

A bit more discipline in evidence as the Eels string completed sets together. Unfortunately their defence can’t contain the Sharks Half who cuts them to pieces on the edge of the ruck then steps Miller-Stephen on his way to touching down under the posts.

Sharks 28 Eels 4, 23 minutes remaining

The Eels earn back to back penalties and are set in the Sharks quarter. Unfortunately an errant pass causes a turnover and the Sharks are let off early in the count.

Eels have another chance and Davis darts out of dummy half and finds a spectacular offload as he’s being tackled. Wrathall is following and gets over between the posts. Lack converts

Sharks 28 Eels 10, 14 minutes remaining.

A terrific left to right pass from Puafisi unleashes Turoa Williams who kicks ahead and regathers. He considers a pass infield but correctly elects to go for the corner himself. Conversion unsuccessful

Sharks 28 lead Eels 14. 11 minutes remaining.

Parra get to the last in the kick off set and Puafisi launches a massive spiral. The fullback loses the ball and Eels players are streaming through as the ball bounces towards the try line . Unfortunately the ref has found a penalty, and backed that up with a piggy back on the Forty.

Parras defence has more steel here and Brazel catches the last tackle kick in front of the posts.

Parra get to the kick but it’s a wobbly one from Lack. And yes, the ref has found a penalty against the chasers. Like last week, the Eels discipline has been found at fault by the official for much of this match.

Parra hold on but there’s barely four minutes remaining.

The clock is about to hit zero but the Eels are falling off tackles through the middle and the Sharks have crossed under the posts

Full time Sharks 34 defeated Eels 14