This weekend sees the final set of Junior Representative trials before the competition commences in two weeks time.

The Lisa Fiaola Cup and the Tarsha Gale Cup squads took to the field on Friday night, whilst the Harold Matthews and SG Ball matches will be played today (Saturday). I haven’t been able to get the exact scores, but I believe the Eels Lisa Fiaola team were strong winners (five or six tries to one), whilst the Panthers came back late against the Eels Tarsha Gale team and either won or forced a draw.

All squads were trimmed after last weekend’s trials against the Bulldogs, which means that there will be fewer players involved in the matches. This should provide a guide to the teams to take the field in round one, and a hit out against the powerful Panthers club is always an early gauge of the strength of the sides. That said, it’s still a trial played under trial conditions.

At this stage team lists remain unavailable. Hopefully we can provide them before kick off. If not, I’ll do my best to provide some description of the play as well as score updates.

Harold Matthews Cup

First Half

Panthers kicking off.

Decent first set via the Eels middles and the kick is fielded on the Panthers 30. An early error hands the scrum to Parra 35 out. It’s a scrum play left but a forced pass surrenders possession.

Early errors continue for both teams. Parra drop the ball in their own quarter, then after earning a repeat set, the Panthers lose possession on an early tackle.

A couple of repeat sets and half back Lincoln Fletcher is held up in goal. Big prop Ocean Vaivela takes up where he left off last year as he scores off a crash play. Fletcher converts

Eels 6 Panthers nil

Wow – huge charge from big Ocean from the kick off. Unfortunately Parra lose possession around half way. Now Penrith cough it up two tackles later!

A well weighted kick from Fletcher and it’s a line drop out.

After Maison Ong, Vaivela and Ryda Talagi provide strong lead up, the Eels hit a short left from close range and it looks like Cyrus Bloomfield has scored. Conversion successful

Eels 12 Panthers nil

Once more there’s an early turn over and Penrith have the ball 30 out. They shift left and the winger hares for the corner. Great cover defence as the Eels bundle him into touch.

oh no! The Eels again hand it back inside the 20 and now Parra pay the price. A couple of six agains and Penrith hit their left edge. Their player carries a couple of Eels over the line with him to score.

Conversion unsuccessful

Eels 12 Penrith 4

The teams have traded completed sets. The Panthers defence has really muscled up and they’re hitting hard but they are the first to make an error in the period of traded sets.

Half time – Eels 12 Panthers 4

Second Half

Parra gets a lucky call in their first possession as the ref rules a knock back but then they make a play the ball error immediately afterwards. Penrith complete their set and kick deep. This gives Bloomfield the opportunity to showcase some elusive running.

Parra now get to their kick and the Panthers reward them by making an error on the second tackle.

Parra head to their right edge here and the player has barged over in contact. It looks like Noa Kasinga.

Conversion successful

Eels 18 Penrith 4

The handling from both teams would be driving the coaches crazy. Parra make an error in yardage and Penrith are set up in the red zone. Now Penrith have been penalised for a play the ball error!

Hang on. In the ensuing set Parra are penalised for an obstruction – interesting call there.

Penrith make excellent ground and launch a left side attack, cutting through the Eels defence and scoring out wide.

Conversion unsuccessful

Eels 18 Panthers 8 12 minutes gone second half

The team that can control the mistakes here will be in the drivers seat. That’s again emphasised as first Parra’s defence is penalised and Penrith make a handling error.

Parra have a full set deep in Penriths half. Penrith defend their line then get a penalty. Quite a few changes to both teams now as more players are getting a run.

Another defensive indiscretion from Parra and the ref has sin binned an Eel. Penrith take full advantage and score immediately. Parra will do well to hang on here.

Conversion hits the post and goes through

Eels 18 Penrith 14

A replacement is allowed for the sin bin as it’s a trial so it’s back to 13 on 13 for the last 7 minutes.

Parra make an error in possession just near halfway. The Eels have won the scrum against the feed!

Parra look to have scored from dummy half and Ezra Leota has claimed the try – somehow the ref rules held up. Now Leviticus Funa Iuta has carried about four defenders over between the posts. He looks to have lost the ball but is ruled to have grounded it. We’ll take it!

Conversion successful

Eels 24 Panthers 14

Parra and Penrith exchange a couple of errors and the whistle blows.

Full time

Eels 24 Panthers 14

 

SG Ball Cup

First Half

Penrith kick off. Parra work through yardage and Dylan Brettle throws a cut out to put Dom Farrugia down the sideline. The Eels put in a cross field kick on the next play the ball but Penrith field it comfortably.

The Riff complete their set with an overcooked last tackle kick and Parra get a 20 metre tap. A late tackle drop by Parra in Penriths red zone follows and then the Panthers make an error to immediately gift Parra possession and territory. Brettle earns a line drop out on the last.

What a drop out! Penrith take it quickly and it goes past the 50m on the full. Parra then help their opponents out with a second tackle drop.

The Panthers work play into the Eels quarter and their forwards are bending the line. They prove too strong here and draw first blood via a charge next to the posts by one of their big units.
Conversion successful.

Penrith 6 Eels nil about 11 minutes gone

Parra in possession in the red zone. They hit the left edge and Tyrese Lokeni powers into contact and gets a great ball to Devonte Vaivela who crosses out wide.

Conversion unsuccessful from Dom Farrugia

Penrith 6 Eels 4 about 15 minutes gone

Parra get to their kick and then earn possession by bundling the player into touch on the quarter. They hit the middle and Jye Camilleri charges at the line, first bouncing off the posts then crashing over.

Conversion from Farrugia successful

Eels 10 Panthers 6 – 17 minutes gone

Parra make an awful play the ball error off the kick off but defend the set with Farrugia catching it in-goal on the last.

Parra break downfield via Camilleri and then pepper the Panthers line. There’s an awkward play the ball and Camilleri takes his cue to dive over from dummy half.

Farrugia converts from close range

Eels 16 Penrith 6 about 22 minutes gone

Penrith get to their kick and Parra give away a penalty as the kick is put in. Penrith get the penalty in Parra’s red zone. A left side attack looks likely to score but the Eels defence drives the winger into touch.

The penalties flow Penriths way with another brace of them piggy-backing the boys in pink into the red zone. A grubber on the last has all players scrambling for the ball but Penrith knock on.

More ball for the Riff now as Parra immediately make an error.

A big shift left for Penrith and it’s shut down by a rapidly advancing Vaivela who has swapped to right centre.

Parra can’t keep doing this. They’ve again returned the ball via a forward pass from dummy half. That’s forecast is now confirmed as the Panthers cross about ten metres to the right of the posts.

Conversion is successful and the ref blows half time after it goes over.

Half time – Eels 16 Panthers 12

Second Half

More errors to start the second half but it’s the Eels who are first on the board. Massive runs from Parra’s forwards take play into the red zone and it’s Camilleri again who picks up a loose offload to get over for his third try.

Conversion successful from Farrugia

Eels 22 Panthers 12 8 minutes gone

Another kick off error from Parra. Penrith scrum on the ten metre line. Parra defend the set but Penrith’s kick earns a line drop out. A crash play on the last and the Riff are in next to the upright.

conversion successful

Eels 22 Penrith 18 – 13 minutes gone

A strange penalty to Penrith there. Their player has lost possession in the tackle and the ref and touch judge consult each other before a penalty is awarded for a high shot?

A six again call goes Penriths way and then they make an error.

Huge break by Lorenzo Talataina and he’s brought down near the quarter. Two tackles later the Eels drop the ball in front of the posts.

Penrith get to their kick which they contest in Parra’s 30. A nice tap back and somehow their support players keep getting the pass just out of Parra defenders reach. They are rewarded for the execution with the try just left of the posts.

Conversion successful

Penrith 24 Parra 22 – about 20 minutes gone

Yet another Penrith penalty piggy backs them downfield. A kick on the last finds it’s mark on the right wing and the Panthers player grounds the ball despite the attention.

Conversion successful

Panthers 30 Eels 22 – ten minutes remaining

A blatantly lost ball in the tackle is somehow missed by all officials there and Penrith take advantage by breaking downfield on the next tackle. Fortunately Parra block the kick and regather the ball. The Eels work into the Panthers red zone and earn a penalty and a siz again call. It all goes to waste with a try denied due to a forward pass call that was absolutely correct.

Parra get stripped of the ball on their next possession but survive. Penalty for a high shot on the Eels. Play is in Penrith’s 20 but Talataina over cooks the last tackle kick. Seven tackles to Penrith here.

It’s getting scrappier now and players are looking fatigued. Waiting on the final whistle.
Full time

Penrith 30 Parra 22
Final Observations

Errors aside this was a decent hit out from both Eels squads. Mistakes are to be expected at this time of year and with more players running on and off. That doesn’t mean some of the dropped ball should be ignored, but perspective is needed.

Playing Penrith is a good test. The collisions today were solid and there were big units on each team.

The Matts impressed and if not for those errors I expect would have won by a greater margin.

Similarly, the Eels Ball looked good when they held the ball and had the opportunity to attack. Penrith only took the ascendancy late in the game.

 

Sixties