0The Parramatta Eels will be solely represented by their Jersey Flegg squad this weekend in Round 18. The Eels are fresh off an important 22-12 victory over the Cronulla Sharks and need to build immediately on that triumph in order to start making a legitimate push for the finals. They find themselves in an old haunt on this sunny Saturday as they host the Wests Tigers at the venerable Ringrose Park in Wentworthville.

Dev Squad Trial.

We begin today with a Flegg Development squad match between the Eels and Tigers. I won’t go play by play as I don’t have a team list, but I’ll give a general description and score update.

Parra kicking to the northern end kicks off. The team looks made up of SG Ball Players and extended Eels Flegg squad.

The teams exchange sets and Parra force a line drop out. The Tigers are all offside and Parra take the tap in front of the posts. The Tigers hold on but then lose possession in their next set. Reilly Cannings picks it up and strolls about 25 metres to score under the posts.

No conversions today.

Eels 4 Tigers Nil about 8 minutes gone.

A couple of quick turnover sets by both teams following the kick off. The Tigers get possession from a scrum deep in Parra’s half.  They ask questions on both sides of the ruck but the Eels hold strong. The Tigers make an error in the play the ball and Parra complete the next set, with the sixth inside the quarter. Quick penalty to Tigers follows next set.

Tigers kick on the last and Dom SDe Stradis scoops it up off his toes on the line and sprints 30 metres linking up with Beau Newlands. Clever one on one strip from the Tigers on Beau and they’re straight back on the attack. A last tackle kick is fielded in the in goal on the full by Mohamed Alameddine and he’s allowed to run it!

He goes 80 metres but tries a desperate pass as the defenders converge. Tigers back in possession.

A couple of scrappy sets follow. Lance Fualema, Le Bron Tuala and Pat Spence are now interchanged. Parra deep in attack from a penalty. A left side shift inside the 20  and the ball is out to Alameddine with space and he jinks off his left to get the ball down in the corner.

Eels 8 Tigers 0 about 22 minutes gone.

Extended period of defence for the Eels here as the Tigers get repeat sets. Great defence on the line from Parra on both edges. A left side shift goes horribly wrong for the Tigers and it’s an Eels scrum ten out.

A huge carry from Charbel Chehade gets the ball upfield. The time ticks down and it’s half time.

Eels 8 Tigers nil

Second Half

Parra deep on the attack and they’ve stretched the play from right wing to left wing. Newlands sets up his winger for the corner but the ball is dropped.

The play moves downfield and the Tigers are peppering the Eels line through the middle. A face ball goes astray and the Eels player (Vaivela?) scoops it up and goes 50 metres.

Parra get to the red zone and hit the right edge. The favourite play of hitting back left now follows and Alameddine accepts the final pass to cross in the corner.

Eels 12 Tigers nil. Just over 20 minutes remaining

The Tigers are back on attack but the Eels defence again holds strong. A last tackle kick is shepherded over the dead ball line by Newlands.

A 20 metre tap and Parra advance the ball quickly to the red zone. A perfect grubber into the in goal and Feterika is first there and scores.

Eels 16 Tigers nil 15 minutes remaining.

Finally a kick has worked for the Tigers. They attempt another kick on the last into the Eels in goal. A Parra player attempts the trap and scrap but it rebounds perfectly for the Tigers chaser to collect the ball and score.

Eels 16 Tigers 4 eleven minutes remaining.

Possession back to the Eels off another Tigers error in the Eels quarter. Parra back downfield and terrific offloads leads to Sebastian Piukala scoring.

Eels 20 Tigers 4  About 6 minutes remaining.

The Tigers have finished todays scoring with a try to their left winger.

Full time. Eels 20 defeated Tigers 8

 

Jersey Flegg Team List

1	Apa Twidle
2	Matthew Komolafe
3	Richard Penisini
14	Araz Nanva
19	Ethyn Martin
6	Joshua Lynn
7	Ethan Sanders
21	Jontay-Junior Betham-Misa
9	Matthew Arthur
10	Brock Parker
11	Charlie Guymer
12	William Latu
13	Nick Lenaz ©
Interchange
24	Linsday Munro
15	Sam Tuivati
16	Max Tupou
8	Noah Reed
18	Lance Fualema

 

Late Mail

 

There are a number of changes for Parramatta ahead of kick-off today. Powerful prop forward Jontay-Junior Betham-Misa is called back into the team as Noah Reed pushes back to the bench. There is a double switch in the backline as Araz Nanva moves from the interchange to start in the centres for Lachlan Blackburn while Ethyn Martin replaces Turoa Williams on the flank. Lindsay Munro joins the bench.

 

Match Updates

 

First Half

Tigers kicking off running south.

Its the Tigers first on the board here. They’ve hit through the middle just outside Parra’s quarter and someone’s missed their assignment. The Tigers runner has emerged through the ruck and found their lock in support as Twidle looked to tackle him. Try under the posts. Converted.

Tigers 6 Eels nil 5 minutes gone.

Eels penalty and Sanders finds touch just over half way. A couple of plays later and Arthur has been pinged for a forward pass from dummy half.

The Tigers complete the set with a poor kick and Parra start their set 25 metres out from their line. What a kick and chase! Sanders gets the ball just over halfway and threads a kick along the sideline forcing the Tigers winger to field it ten out. The Eels chasers force him into touch and it’s a scrum ten out in front of the posts for Parra.

A couple of tackles later and Twidle gets the ball on the left and throws a beautiful cut out to Martin who sprints to the corner for his first try. Conversion unsuccessful.

Tigers 6 Eels 4 about 10 minutes gone

Parra break downfield through their left and Martin again impresses with his carry in and through contact. Parra chances their hand with a shift right and a cross field kick for the winger but the ball beats Komolafe into touch.

Oops Jontay will be on report for that tackle 30 metres out from his line. A couple of big moments from Richie Penisini in defence. First he jams in with a big tackle then he cleans up a dangerous grubber. Now it’s a bigger carry just to the right of the ruck. Parra get to their kick and the Tigers right winger catches it and beats all of the Eels chasers. Twidle tackles him on half way but a quick shift to the left has Parra scrambling to get near the Tigers left centre Feledy who sprints away to the corner to score. Unconverted.

Tigers 10 Eels 4 about 20 minutes gone.

Another penalty to the Tigers, this time a high tackle 30 metres out. The Tigers explore their left then hit back to their right. A sweeping Vaihu breaks through Parra’s edge defence and he’s barely touched as he plants the ball down. Converted

Tigers 16 Eels 4 nine minutes remaining

Great set from Parra started with big Carrie’s by Martin and Penisini. Sanders forces a line drop out and Parra come back with a big carry from Tuivaiti. A big shift left through Sanders, and Twidle to Penisini who unleashes Martin for a ten metre sprints to the corner to score.

Conversion from the sideline unsuccessful.

Tigers 16 Eels 8 just over a minute to half time.

Parra hit the blind side left a couple of tackles after the kick but are pinged for a forward pass. The Tigers go for a kick chase from the scrum but Parra covers it.

Half time Tigers 16 lead Eels 8

Second Half

The teams exchange sets to start the half and Parra get the better when they force an error on the Tigers line. Parra apply all sorts of pressure and desperate defence keeps the Eels at bay and they field the last tackle kick.

The Tigers benefit from an Eels error a couple of tackles later and earn a scrum on the quarter. They undo the good fortune by turning the ball over on halfway.

Parra earn a penalty when Boods Arthur cops a high tackle ten out. Reed hits it up and is held up short. Tuivaiti sweeps around to the left of the ruck, Arthur finds him with a bullet pass and the big unit crashes over.

Converted by Sanders.

Tigers 16 Eels 14 8 minutes gone second half

A big break set up by the Tigers halfback and only amazing scramble defence from Parra prevents a try. The Tigers last tackle kick is fielded by Martin and the teams exchange completed sets.

The Tigers might have got the better of exchanges here as a stray pass behind Komolafe turns over possession around halfway.

Parra defend that set but again turn over possession. A penalty to the Tigers and they’re now into Parra’s quarter. They work the play centre field and it looks like they’ve crossed via a short ball next to the posts. No! The ref has called a forward pass and the Eels breathe a huge sigh of relief. The Eels have not replied well to that let off, failing to complete the set and the Tigers have a scrum on the half way line.

A late in the count penalty for a strip and the Eels will do well to survive. Look out! A stray pass and Nanva is off for the prize. What. Has he done a hammy? He’s pulled up around the 40 metre line and it might be cramp. Parra advance play to the quarter and they’ve earned a scrum.

The play shifts right and Penisini has pulled out of a tackle. The defence has scrambled and he’s thrown the ball away on an early tackle.

The teams exchange sets once more and the Tigers do well to hold out another Eels raid, though Nanva has again cramped up.

Seven minutes remaining.

Penalty to Parra here but they’ve lost it on an early tackle just outside the quarter. That could be costly.

it’s the Tigers with a penalty now and they’re rampaging into the Eels quarter. Yet another error now and the Eels benefit this time.

Unfortunately the Eels finish with a poor kick on the last and double down by tackling the catcher in the air. Only two minutes left on the clock and this is looking dire for the Eels. The Tigers knock on and Parra have a scrum with a minute remaining. They run it on the last but the pass goes astray and Penisini picks it up but is immediately tackled.

Full time

Tigers 16 Defeat Eels 14