The Saturday action continues at St Marys in the Jersey Flegg as the Eels take on the Penrith Panthers. Parramatta fell to the Bulldogs in Round 1 and will be looking to launch their season proper with a win over their Western Sydney rivals.

Jersey Flegg Team List

Match Updates – Sixties

Saxon Pryke moved to lock ahead of kickoff. Lance Fualema will start while Teancum Brown joins the interchange

Parra kicking off

Both teams trade sets and the first error ends up coming from Penrith on their 40.

They drive into the quarter on the back of big runs from Pryke and Tuivaiti but the ball is dropped as it’s spun right to Vaafusuaga.

Penrith now return the favour spilling the pill after the scrum.

Ryley Smith puts a kick into the in goal from dummy half on a late count tackle and can’t quite ground it. There’s some “shenanigans” to follow and the Riff get a penalty.

Great take from Apa Twidle but then Tamarere Simons drops it cold next hit up. Penrith scrum ten out and it doesn’t take long for them to execute a simple play to score just left of the posts via their dummy half.

conversion successful

Penrith 6 Eels nil after 11 minutes

An offload from Tuivaiti has resulted in an offside call against the Eels. Penrith now pushing back into Parra’s half.

Twidle fields the last tackle kick and the Eels now rucking it back. A couple of dubious tackles in this set and Smith kicks on the last. The Riff get to their kick in the next set and Twidle drops the bomb and a penalty is blown to Penrith. Riff now peppering the line but a tap-on goes awry for them and Parra get an intercept. Another completed set from Parra but then a penalty follows for Penrith on an early tackle. Count is building here!

Great catch by Charlie Scorovi on the last but he’s driven back in goal. Short drop out but Penrith field it. Yet another penalty for a high shot. A couple of crash plays then a shift right. It looks like an obstruction in there but the ref gives it the all clear as the winger dives into the corner and the moustachioed ground announcer provides his expressive narrative about the score.
Conversion unsuccessful

Panthers 10 lead Eels nil with ten minutes remaining first half.

And as I type up that last try the Riff have split Parra open after the kick off and scored under the posts. Conversion successful

Penrith 16 lead Eels nil. Eight minutes to go first half

This ground announcer is definitely an acquired taste but he seems like a happy soul.

Eels finally getting some possession 30 out from their own line. They advance the ball into the quarter and earn a drop out. Long kick here. Parra back to the quarter in three tackles but the kick on the last is overcooked. Seven tackle set for Penrith but fortunately for Parra they make an error on the Eels 30.

Parra get to the 30 at Riffs end and a chip and chase from Lynn earns a drop out. Short kick goes out on the full and ref deems it not contested. Penrith argue and time is allowed to tick. Parra take a tap with about 50 seconds on the clock. Penrith give away a penalty to waste more time and surprisingly Parra don’t take the two with barely time for a couple of tackles. A kick on the second is batted dead by the defence and its half time.

Penrith 16 lead Parra nil – half time

Second half

Lebron drops the pill in the kick off hit up. Parra defend it and get their legs in front of an attempted kick. Parra clearing kick is fielded by Penrith on their thirty metre line. They win the territorial battle as the Eels get their next catch inside the quarter. Now it’s a relieving penalty for the Eels. Another incomplete set as the attempt to spread right comes unstuck with a poor pass 30 out from Penriths line. Panthers go wide from the scrum and the winger slips. Somehow the Eels are pinged for a high shot. Soft penalty there!

That’s another atrocious call as the Penrith player loses the ball into the Eels defender but it’s missed completely. Penrith fumble on the last and as Parra ruck it out they lose possession for wait for it – losing the ball into the defender.

Penrith waste the chance with an incorrect play the ball and queue the tape for more of the same as Parra barely get through three tackles before making an error.

A bit unlucky for Parra there as a wild pass from the Penrith winger as he’s driven towards touch hits an Eels arm and the knock on is called. Another set for Penrith but they stuff up the play the ball to let Parra off the hook.

Penrith now make another play the ball error at their own end. Parra on the attack. Lewis is held up on the 4th. Lynn’s kick is easily fielded on the full and it’s a seven tackle set. Now a penalty as it looks like a high shot from Lynn off the tap restart.

Messy stuff from both teams here as Penrith don’t get through their set. Last tackle kick from Parra then pins the Panthers on their line with a great chase.

A good chance for Parra on their next set as a chip kick is chased and fielded by Twidle but his offload on the 20 hits the turf and is knocked on.

 Parra get expansive down their right. Simons is put into space and he tries to pass infield just short of the line but the ball rolls forward out of his hands.

Terrific take by Simons now on his line. Parra struggle to get to their ten metre line in the next couple of tackles and then Will Lewis busts downfield to the halfway. It’s the last tackle and the Eels hoist a midfield bomb but the chasers tackle the fullback in the air. Clear call for the ref and perhaps lucky for it to only be a penalty. But it matters little as Penrith split the Eels right edge and gallop away for a try. And the announcer is delighted.

conversion successful

Panthers 22 lead Eels nil with 8 minutes remaining.

A panthers error and it’s an Eels scrum on the quarter. Hot potato stuff on the fourth tackle and Twidle decides on a grubber towards his left winger. It looks like Nanva is winning the race but he fumbled the ball under pressure.

Next possession the Eels have again hit their left and Chester threads a kick through the line. Scorovi fields it and with support streaming through inside the quarter he loses his grip on the ball and the chance goes begging.

One final play now for the Eels and Lynn’s pass sails over the sideline.

Full time – Panthers 22 Eels nil

Sixties

Final comment

I thought Saxon Pryke was the Eels best, and Ryley Smith deserved praise for his relentless energy and effort.

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