The Harold Matthews and SG Ball continue their push through the finals today with both teams just one game removed from their grand finals. They travel to Leichardt Oval to take on the Newcastle Knights and Canberra Raiders respectively in the twilight hours of a relatively overcast Saturday. As with all Junior Representative finals matches you can catch the live streams of the game on NSWRL TV.

Click through this link to find the landing page for the live stream!

For those that can’t watch it, or simply want to be part of the conversation here on TCT, live updates begin at 4:15PM for the Harold Matthews and 5:45PM for the SG Ball.

Harold Matthews Team List

 

1	Corey Leigh
2	Dom Farrugia
3	Alma Faataga Seve
4	Lachlan Vella
5	Aidan Kebourian
6	Junior Fagalele
7	Lorenzo Talataina
8	Jordan Uta
9	Zaidas Muagututia
10	Mikayel Tito
11	Anthony Abdow
12	Jezaiah Funa-Iuta (c)
13	Tyson Sangalang
14	Lachlan Coinakis
15	Ocean Vaivela
16	Mark Williams
17	Maison Ong
18	Lincoln Fletcher

Match Updates

 

First Half

 

Parramatta will kick off to open the match.

Strong tackle from Uta and Sangalang from the first play of the game. Funa-Iuta follows their lead but Newcastle do very well to battle through to halfway to complete the set. Aidan Kebourian reels in a real testing bomb and is quickly met by the kick chase.

Real smart play there from Zaidas Muagututia as he punishes lax marker work with a surge down the left edge shortside. Talataina completes the set with an attacking bomb but the Knights are the equal of it and reclaim possession.

Up tempo ruck work from Newcastle now as they punch it up the guts. Again they look for the bomb and Corey Leigh loses it backwards. His opposite number Connor Votano is pushing through to generate the pressure but was he called offsides? It seems not as the halfback Haami Loza brushes past Leigh to dive on the loose ball and score the opening points. Leigh will be frustrated with that one but there is no time to waste making up for it.

Try scored by Haami Loza. Conversion successful by Connor Votano.

Newcastle lead 6-0

4min gone

Strong runs and second phase footy have the Knights over halfway again as they build strongly. They look to pressure Leigh again with the high ball but instead are penalised for a high shot as Leigh is hit across the chops. The Eels fail to complete the resultant set though and give the Knights possession on their side of halfway.

The greasy conditions clearly a factor here as the Knights get through just two plays in the next set before losing control of the ball in the ruck. Scrum from midfield for the Blue & Gold. Straight to Uta from the scrum win before Funa-Iuta has a testing carry down the right. He isn’t 100% after it though and is very slow to play-the-ball. An offload springs Zaidas into a gap and he nearly dances his way over! The Knights scramble and barely stop him from scoring but Jordan Uta shows some light feet of his own on the next play to find a crease of daylight around the ruck and score!

Try scored by Jordan Uta. Conversion successful by Dom Farrugia.

Eels lock the scores up at 6-all.

11min gone

Gee that is a good charge from Funa-Iuta from a shallow kickoff. Tito and Uta follow his lead as the Eels work over halfway. Zaidas uses Tito again before Sangalang sets up the last play. Fagalele sends it far too deep off the boot though and the Knights take it in-goals for a 7-tackle set.

Again the Knights have traction through the middle. Good runs and quick ruckwork opening up space here but they push an extremely optimistic offload late in the set and turn the ball over just as they reach Parramatta’s red zone. Big let off right there.

Funa-Iuta is hammered in the initial contact late in the next set but keeps his feet and finds quality post-contact metres. Newcastle defuse a good bomb and threaten to make a break in return but the Eels barely contain the play before nearly reefing the ball away 1-on-1. The Knights dive on the loose ball though and get back to work.

Ah geez, that looked like a combination of short numbers and maybe a bad read? Parramatta’s right edge bite hard on the block runner which frees up fullback Connor Votano to cut back across the sliding defence and he gets through an off-balance Leigh to put the Knights back in front.

Try scored by Connor Votano. Conversion successful by Connor Votano.

Knights lead 12-6

17min gone

Newcastle continue to threaten from the resumption of play. A penalty for a high shot helps them downfield where they look to run the ball on the last. An inside ball to their lock Kane Self nearly gets the forward over but he is ruled to have made a double movement. Good tackle from Leigh there to force the penalty.

Knifing carry from Talataina there! Beats a number of defenders and nearly gets into open space. Zaidas looks to run from dummy half with the momentum of the last play but takes an awkward tackle and is very slow to get up. So slow we have time off in fact. He looks okay thankfully and will resume play. It is the last tackle but I am not sure Talataina knew it as he takes on the line from 30m out and is tackled.

Gee that is a tremendous take from Leigh. He is hit before the ball arrives, and sure enough the penalty is called, but he still took a swirling bomb. He has been nails since that unfortunate first drop. Seve gets us back underway as Muagututia and Fagalele link up on tackle two. Sangalang is hit hard on the next play before Adbow is collared high for no whistle next. Talataina kicks for Farrugia on the last but Dom mistimes his run at the ball and the Knights come down with it.

Nice kick return from Corey now as the Eels get good service from their back three. Kebourian and Farrugia get the Eels to halfway. Funa-Iuta has his play-the-ball interfered with and takes the quick tap. Great run from Ocean Vaivela and it lets Zaidas play to Fagalele who is brought down before the line. Inside ball from Zaidas to Ocean now and the big man is somehow held up over the line. Great defence. Parra run it to their left on the last where they use hands to find Kebourian but the scramble defence of the Knights arrives to cut him down just metres short of the line.

How wasn’t that a knock on? Newcastle get away with a poorly executed shift from inside their red zone as their left winger tips a high pass forwards and then dives on the loose ball. No call from the officials and they are able to jam a clearing kick downfield. Big charges from the Parra forward now though. Vaivela and Adbow hammer the ball through the ruck and the Eels look to blitz to their right from it. The pass to Seve hits the deck unfortunately and confusion follows as to who lost it forwards first – the jamming Newcastle defender or Seve. After a chat with his sideline official the call is a Parramatta knock on and I think that was probably the right call.

Offside kick chasers for the Knights undo a decent set. Vella takes the tap restart for the Eels with Vaivela following him up but the big bookend gets the play-the-ball wrong and the Knights have under 30sec on the clock to make a play happen. Scrum is set 60m out from Parramatta’s goal line. They play left and look for the kick but it is charged down. Newcastle regather and spread right where they are tackled. Time for one more play as their right centre Lochie Gray I think beats Vella with a nice move and fend before flicking the ball to his winger. The flanker chips ahead but a terrific cover play from Talataina saves any damage from happening – although the play ends up called back anyways for some reason as the half comes to an end. Frenetic stuff here with both teams playing at a lightning pace in the first half.

 

Half Time

Newcastle Knights 12 lead the Parramatta Eels 6

 

Second Half

 

Parramatta to receive the ball as the rain pours down.

Talataina takes a tough kick off and sends Funa-Iuta into the fray. The forwards do well this set before Zaidas sends a slightly miscued clearing kick downfield. It still works out well enough though.

A charge down from Muagututia turns into a slice of luck as the Knights knock on the regather attempt and then get pinged for playing at the ball from an offside spot. Vella has a strong charge to start the next set but Abdow loses the ball in the ruck on the next play. Obviously need better discipline than that from our boys as they look to get back on the scoreboard here.

The error is exacerbated by offside defenders shortly afterwards as the Knights find touch just over halfway. Parramatta defend fairly well through this set but the cross-field kick to Kebourian’s edge on the last sees the Parra winger lose the ball over the dead-ball line for a drop out.

The weight of a repeat set proves to be Parra’s undoing as the Newcastle halfback Loza puts on a big show and go to breach the front line of defence. Leigh, who is sliding across behind, can’t hit the brakes in time to stop an explosive left foot step from the half and Loza dots the ball down under the posts for a critical try.

Try scored by Haami Loza. Conversion successful by Connor Votano.

Knights lead 18-6

37min gone

Some good work from Leigh and Kebourian to start Parramatta’s next set as they combine on the kick return for a big gain. Newcastle prevent it from becoming a fully fledged line break though. Talataina completes the set with a classic end-over-end bomb that Votano swallows up.

Tough sledding for the Eels now as this game settles into an arm wrestle. Zaidas tries to put the Eels back into it with a 40/20 attempt but hasn’t go the angle and unfortunately a high shot from the next set sees Newcastle right back in the box set to score. They work from their left to right with some second phase play finding their backrower Cannavo but the Eels bring him down.  Switch of play to their left where they nearly breach the goal line with their other backrower Toon-Hotene. Parramatta hold on and force the kick where Kebourian has the slippery ball go right through his hands. Newcastle chase down the loose ball and look to have planted it in the corner but the chasers were offside. Wow that was a much needed call.

Newcastle have had all the ascendancy in the second half and the Eels desperately need someone to make a big play. Lachlan Coinakis steps up in that regard as he jolts the ball loose on the right side of halfway. The Eels need to make something of this but as I type that Fagalele has the ball knocked out of his hands on tackle one. Brutal stuff.

Newcastle feeling themselves a bit here as they go for a chip kick on the last. They lose the ball forwards in the contest though. Oh goodness that is messy. Sangalang gets a terrible pass behind his hips as he looks to ruck it out and he can’t get his mitts on it cleanly. Poor stuff from Parra.

White line fever gets the better of the Knights in the wake of that Parramatta error. They are queuing up for a shot to score and end up spilling a face ball on the goal line.

Funa-Iuta makes a nice gain down a narrow short side before Uta picks up a set restart for ruck interference. Funa-Iuta comes back for another charge, he has worked hard today, as the middles get to work. The movement to the left is stalled when Leigh loses the ball backwards. It forces Parra back to the right on the last as they run it through the hands. The halves combine and find Farrugia with a sliver of space to run down but the cover defence of the Knights get to him before he has a real chance at attacking the goal line and bundle him into touch.

Lorenzo spins though the defence of the Knights looking to spark something for the Blue & Gold. He can’t find his bearings in time to link up with support but on the next play the Eels go left to Vella who plants the left foot and cuts back in against the goal line defence. There is just enough space for him to get low and drive through and score! The Eels finally crack the Knights in the second half. The conversion needs to be it from out wide and Farrugia never looks like missing! Can they make this comeback happen someway somehow?

Try scored by Lachlan Vella. Conversion successful by Dom Farrugia.

Eels trail 12-18

53min gone

Here comes the middles! Strong work from Parra’s big men this set as they drive deep over halfway. Right to Fagalele who goes to Talataina. The halfback sums it up and looks for a chip kick to Farrugia! Perfectly weighted! Dom flies onto it and takes it off the first bounce. Has the fullback to beat and just leaves him in the dirt to score in the corner! What a try. Conversion is way out on the sideline and he just sends it to the right. Damn. Still time here.

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

Eels trail 16-18

56min gone

Funa-Iuta and Sangalang get early work here before the Eels play right to Williams. Ball centred by Uta to set up the kick as Talataina bombs the winger Blair. He brings it in though and the Eels have two and a half minutes to make something happen.

How did he hold onto that!? The Newcastle lock was going to drop that for all money but spins with the tipped pass and reels it back in. Huge play. Leigh takes the clearing bomb as the Eels have possibly their last possession.

They work left where a good offload from Uta finds Zaidas who quickly turns it to Vella who is eventually pulled down. Right to Dom who sorties back infield. Last play and it all unravels as Zaidas jumps out of dummy half but doesn’t look to have a real plan. Parramatta end up playing hot potato but never threaten the Knights before Williams loses control a loose ball on the ground.

Newcastle break the line with seconds left on the clock. Leigh makes the tackle but the Eels give away a penalty and suddenly tempers flare up as a big fracas breaks out. Eventually the teams separate but barring an insane call from the officials this is all over. Leigh gets called out and will spend zero seconds in the sin bin. Time back on as the Knights tap and throw the ball over the sideline. Newcastle too good in this one as they hold on against a late charge from the Eels.

 

Full Time

Newcastle Knights 18 defeat the Parramatta Eels 16

 

SG Ball Team List

 

1	Apa Twidle
2	Devonte Vaivela
3	Richard Penisini
4	Blaize Talagi
5	Mohamed Alameddine
6	Josh Lynn
7	Ethan Sanders
8	Lance Fualema
9	Matt Arthur
10	Saxon Pryke
11	Dom De Stradis
12	William Lewis
13	Charlie Guymer (c)
14	Sebastian Piukala
15	Sam Tuivaiti
16	Pat Spence
17	Kobi Hurford
18	Sam Squire

Match Updates

 

Sam Tuivati will start for the Eels with Saxon Pryke moving to lock and captain Charlie Guymer on an edge. William Lewis makes way to the bench. Sam Squire comes into the team for Kobi Hurford. The Raiders get a huge boost with star fullback Chevy Stuart returning from a stint in Jersey Flegg AND NSW Cup to take his place in their team today.

Eels to receive the ball.

Lance Fualema opens this game up with a good carry. Dom De Stradis up next. Right to Pryke who powers through contact for strong post-contact metres. Tuivati and Fualema round out a very good starting set before Sanders tests Stuart with a towering bomb. He takes it well but the kick chase drive him into the ground.

Good first up defence here as Newcastle kick from inside their half. Apa Twidle fields the clearing kick easily and picks up a penalty – the first of the game. Sanders finds touch 5m into Canberra territory. Richard Penisini taps and goes as the Eels then go infield with Fualema. The ball pops up and Dom is awake to it as he scoops it up. Big right edge shift for the Eels now as they look to test Canberra early on but Devonte Vaivela drops it! Don’t think he was in there but he had a chance to go back infield against the sliding defence until he lost it.

Early kick from the Raiders as their dummy half drills it downfield. Twidle retrieves it from his in-goals and gets back into the field of play before he is met by a very strong kick chase. Terrific work from Matt Arthur gets the Eels out of trouble! Immediately spies for misaligned marker and punishes him for it to pick up a penalty.

Infield to Pryke to start the next set. Right to Tuivati and right again as Sanders nearly puts Talagi over! Great defence saves the day. Called shot now as Arthur takes on the line and kicks ahead for Pryke. It is between Saxon and Stewart now and the Canberra fullback barely gets their first and boots the ball over the sideline from midfield. Dang it. Another right edge raid for the Eels in the next possession but the ref spies a micro knock on from Guymer as he goes into contact from the Sanders’ short ball.

Gee the referee has given the Raiders a long leash there for a shepherd. Stewart took a pretty clear advantage running behind his own man there before giving himself up. The Eels defend well despite and force another clearing kick that leads to another penalty for Parramatta, this one for high contact.

Expansive movement from the restart to find Tuivati. Fualema does very well to hold onto the ball on the next play. Left to Twidle who dummies and goes before he is taken by the defence. Now right to Arthur who is brought down. Short side play to the right as Guymer looks to put Vaivela over but again the right winger can’t bring in the ball and this time I think points might have been missed. Ah but the ball was touched! No wonder it ended up behind his hip.

Early work to the left this set before Lance is barely held up! Defenders did very well there with the big man steaming in. Back out to the 10m mark. Lynn has a nice dart to the right and it sets up Matty Arthur! He uses a big of a hesitation move to the right edge short side as the defenders scramble to mark up on his option runner and he simply takes it himself to score!

Try scored by Matthew Arthur. Conversion unsuccessful by Ethan Sanders.

Eels lead 4-0

12min gone

Fualema back into the fray as he powers over the 20m mark. Dom up next as he fights for extra metres. Right to Guymer and then back infield to Pryke. Very well constructed set as Tuivati brings up the last. Kick from Lynn is probably a fraction shallow but still an excellent set after points.

Defence continues to hold up well early on. Twidle takes the clearing kick and beats the first man to get to him before he is pulled down. Arthur and Talagi run from dummy half as the Eels go over halfway with Tuivati. Sanders finds carpet with his attacking bomb with the Raiders wanting none of it but a chance to play off the bounce is quickly snuffed out with the ref signalling a Parra knock on. Looks like it hit an Eel off that initial bounce.

Vicious hit from Talagi! Cuts a Raider in two and forces another clearing kick from the opposition. Alameddine takes the kick this time around. Sanders keeps things simple for the Eels with the Blue & Gold not looking to overplay their hands. He drills a low kick along the ground to complete the set and give his kick chasers a chance to control field position.

Oh no that is sloppy work. Dom De Stradis is so good with his off-the-ball efforts but this time he runs into the kicker late. There wasn’t any danger to the kicker there but it is was clearly late and the Raiders get a free set on Parramatta’s goal line as as result.

APA TWIDLE! What an outstanding tackle on his goal line. Holds up the centre Leuluai on his own to save a certain try. The Raiders work right with Stuart but the Eels wrap him up only to give away a penalty for extra curricular work in the ruck. A glut of possession for the Raiders but it amounts to nothing as they lose the ball playing through the hands down their left edge.

Talagi takes tackle one from the scrum. Lewis and Guymer take the next two charges but big Lance Fualema drops it on tackle four to give the Raiders another look. Big set incoming.

Left to their centre Leuluai for the Raiders. Back to ruck and then right to their half Skipps but he is taken by the defence. Vaivela now provides the defensive spark! Jams in from his wing and meets Leuluai violently to knock the ball out. Well done.

Blaize again has his number called for the first carry of the set. Lewis and Guymer go next before Pryke carries the ball over halfway with plenty of interest! Huge run. Arthur jumps out of dummy half and uses Guymer. That brings up the last as the Eels run it down their right. Early ball for Talagi here and his class shows up big time and he gets on the outside of Leuluai and offloads to Vaivela. Plenty left to do for Devonte as he hits the handbrake and recalibrates before steaming back infield as he storms through a wave of cover defenders to score! Excellent work from Parra’s right edge.

Try scored by Devonte Vaivela. Conversion successful by Ethan Sanders.

Eels lead 10-0

25min gone

Piukala and Lewis take the early charges here before Saxon is hit heavily in a big tackle. Arthur nearly splits the line but is taken strongly at the last second. Sanders completes the set with a good clearing kick but poor discipline in the ruck sees the Eels concede a penalty.

Booming touch finder for Canberra. Sets them up for a big set. They go left early before coming back right to the centre Iosefa but Penisini corrals him easily. Damn, set restart for the Raiders late in the count as Sanders and Penisini are pinged for a different tackle on Iosefa. The dummy half Pattie tries to force his way over but the Eels hold him up.

Pattie again in play for Canberra as he kicks from 1m out trying to find a forward flying through. It takes a pin ball deflection before landing in the hands of an offside Raider and the ref immediately springs into action to make the call.

Talagi and Tuivati with good service early in this set. Sanders turn Dom inside as Arthur brings play to the right where Lewis takes the run. Arthur completes the set with a smart grubber that nearly forces a line drop out or better save for a tremendous diving take from the rake Pattie. Arthur is right back into the action a play or two later though as he gets under the ball and jolts it free with strong contact!

Class from Apa Twidle there! One of the, if not THE, breakout players for the Eels in Ball this year. He gets the ball from the scrum win and jaunts to his right. As always he plays to the line with the ball in both hands, presenting the triple threat option. He ends up taking on the line himself and a step and a fend and he is gone! Try time!

Try scored by Apa Twidle. Conversion unsuccessful Ethan Sanders.

Eels lead 14-0

33min gone

Piukala and Lewis again the opening runners before Tuivati puts his hand up for another charge. Arthur to Guymer next play before Tuivati goes again. Big man working hard here. Sanders completes the set with a big kick but Stewart takes it well. He shifts the ball left but Vaivela flies in to make a heavy hit.

Time nearly up in the first half as the Eels defend this set. Canberra run it on the last and drive a kick ahead that Alameddine takes brilliantly like a slipper. He gets hammered for his efforts and the ball is loose as tempers explode. Mohamed didn’t like the treatment he received there. Time off as the teams split up and the officials have a summit meeting.

The Raiders are called out first. Is this a caution or something more? Just a warning for Canberra. Now Guymer gets the chat. Lots of gesticulation from both leaders and the referee before someone, maybe Guymer, is put on report? No clue what happened amidst all of that but the Raiders get a gift shot at a penalty goal from the right sideline with the half ended.

Penalty conversion unsuccessful by Sam Gash.

The kick is sprayed to the left as Talagi fields it and plays a game with the chasers before heaving it dead. Outstanding first half from Parra. Need to go on with it from here.

 

Half Time

Parramatta Eels 14 lead the Canberra Raiders 0

 

Second Half

 

Eels kicking off.

Gee that is heavy contact from Tuivati. Has been in top form today on both sides of the ball. And now Twidle! He snuffs out a daring short side raid from the Raiders as he intercepts a kick ahead and then gets the penalty. Huge play!

Penisini and De Stradis ruck it out early next set before Tuivati carries defenders through the middle. Piukala shapes to his right before taking the run himself as the Eels go right to Lynn who plays flat to Talagi. Lynn sets up to kick to his left on the last but Pattie gets to him first and charges the ball down before regathering a perfect bounce for a big gain until Lynn traps him from behind.

Parra scramble brilliantly on their goal line and the big man Piukala does a wonderful job trapping a grubber kick from Skipps in the front line and then cleaning it up. A tough set follows for the Eels but Sanders nearly laces a 40/20 on a narrow angle! It just doesn’t take the right turn but it ends up as an outstanding clearing kick nonetheless.

Canberra more aggressive with their offloads early in the second half but Parramatta remaining composed in the face of it. The Raiders get a big chance to eat into the deficit when Penisini makes an unforced error coming out of his own end. Parra’s right edge get a test as Stewart ventures down that side but they turn him away. To the opposite edge now as the sliding defence of the Eels plays it perfectly and on the last the Raiders try to crash over from a ruck play only for the Blue & Gold defenders to man up! What a stand!

Talagi and Vaivela lead the way next set. Alameddine and Tuivati, who else but Tuivati, take the Eels out of danger before Vaivela has a bit of space down the right to set up a midfield kick. Sanders send up the bomb but Stewart defuses it like a pro.

Big tackle from Matt Arthur late in the next set. Cuts down an inside runner back to the ruck and it results in Talagi gobbling up a poor kick on the next play. Penisini, Alameddine and Arthur take the runs to set up an attacking bomb but again Stewart is equal to the task as he beats the first chasers as well. The defence bring him down shortly after thankfully.

Excellent catch from Alameddine there as he takes a swirling bomb over his shoulder. Twidle is met by a strong tackle before Vaivela cops a bit of the same next tackle. Pryke is also hit hard but bounces off the ground for some extra metres as Lynn dabs the ball downfield and into the in-goals. Perfect kick but the kick return is high quality as well as the Raiders fight their way back to their 10m mark.

Heads up defence from Pryke there as he prevents a dangerous offload from developing into something more with a quick switch tackle to the support player. Good read from Talagi down the right as he picks off Steward on the sweep. The Raiders heave it to their right on the last where Alameddine meets his opposite in the air and helps encourage a knock on in the contest from the Canberran flanker.

Talagi is driven back on tackle one but finds an offload to Vaivela who gets the Eels back on the front foot. It sets up Patrick Spence for a run that catches the defence offside. Very good sequence there. Sanders smokes the touchfinder into Canberra half as Tuivati delivers another almighty carry. Left edge shift from there for the Eels as the spread finds Alameddine down the sideline. He pins his ear for the line but the cover defence get there in the nick of time and drive him into touch. Parra players appeal for a shoulder charge but the officials are happy with the tackle attempt.

Ball movement down the right edge for the Raiders but the Eels carefully watch the wrap around attempt and defend it well. Their clearing kick hits the carpet on the last and Vaivela makes a bit of a meal of the clean up attempt as he dives on the ball as a chaser arrives and loses it forwards. Scrum for Canberra from 10m out. Can the Eels hold on again?

The answer is no as their massive prop forward Clydsdale carries defenders over the line and spins as he falls to the ground to free up his ball carrying arm. The Eels have defended so well for so long and this needs to be the exception today.

Try scored by Jake Clydsdale. Conversion successful by Sam Gash.

Raiders trail 6-14

54min gone

Momentum often follows points in these grades. Can the Eels stymie any threat of that kind? Canberra put together a strong set that takes them over halfway but Alameddine defuses the bomb. Spence looks like he was hit high there but the ref says play on. Talagi creates a half chance for Vaivela with a skip and a flick but Vaivela needed to come back infield and chooses to take on his opposite instead. A strong tackle flips him into touch and the Raiders get the ball near halfway. Or do they? The touch judge has come into game now with a word for the referee. Was that high contact? Or a dangerous tackle? It has gone on report and the Eels will get the penalty.

Talagi will tap an shift the ball to Lynn who uses a fresh Fualema. Left to Sanders as finds Lynn and then De Stradis who runs the unders line with courage. Arthur’s pass is played at by a defender and the Eels will pack a scrum with the feed.

Oh deary me. An excellent scrum play comes undone as Devonte drops it cold on the right wing. Has struggled to keep a hold of the Steeden today unfortunately and his drop undoes the good work of Sanders and Twidle there.

And now a penalty from the scrum as the defence is caught offside. Compounding errors. The Raiders are clearly fired up now as well.

Their early charges have some sting to them but the Eels are able to blunt the impact and the shift to Stewart has a forward pass in the lead up! The Raiders have let the Eels off the hook here at the clock rings over 60min. Under 10min to play now.

Pryke takes the scrum win run. Left to Lance who steams over a defender! Cracking run. Spence takes the run from the quick ruck and Lance is back for seconds on the next play. Lovely ball from Sanders to Dom down the left. Short side play on the last from the Eels as they go to Alameddine. He runs out of space and links back up with his halves who send the kick towards Talagi. The Raiders tip the ball backwards in the contest and barely regather it as the Eels arrive.

Canberra look for a 40/20 but Twidle is awake to the danger and tidies up the attempt. Solid set from the Eels follows as they look to play the clock here. Sanders completes the possession with a bomb that is claimed by the Raiders.

Some luck there for the Raiders as they bat back an attacking bomb and play hot potato from left to right. Eventually their half Skipps rolls it along the carpet and it forces Alameddine to bat it dead. Lynn gets us back underway but the Eels give away a penalty on the first play for a strip with multiple defenders in the tackle. They don’t take the shot at goal and opt for the tap restart and cough it up on tackle one! Dropped cold by their big #10 Owen Hromow. 4min to play for both teams now.

Guymer trucks it up from the scrum win. De Stradis claws his way forwards on tackle two before Alameddine adds to his workload. Dom makes good metres on his second run of the set but his buried in a heavy tackle at the end of it. Sanders sends it high once again and it pays off this time around. Canberra let it bounce and it skitters to the sideline. Stewart gives chase and bizarrely plays at it and the touch immediately points his flag because he had a foot on the sideline!

The Eels use Fualema on play one before Sanders has a run himself. Arthur skips out to his right and turns Lance back inside. Sharp hands to the left put Alameddine into a narrow corridor and he dives for the corner. He slams the ball down but it must have been fractionally short as the referee immediately signals a knock on.

Defence has been the key for the Eels though. They have strangled Canberra out of this one and it is fitting that another jarring tackle seals the deal as the Eels force a turnover with strong contact with 40sec left on the clock. Outstanding effort from the boys here.

Time is called off as a bit of push and shove follows but we do get back to a scrum as the clock bleeds out. Time enough left for a single play as Arthur takes it from the base of the scrum and dives at the defence to bring an end to a cracking game of footy!

 

Full Time

Parramatta Eels 14 defeated the Canberra Raiders 6