Round 7 of the Junior Representatives sees the Eels in action at home against the Central Coast Roosters and Canberra Raiders in the Lisa Fiaola Cup and Tarsha Gale Cup respectively. The double-header kicks off at 10:45AM with the red hot Lisa Fiaola looking to cement their place near the top of the ladder with the Tarsha Gale following at 12:30PM.

Lisa Fiaola Team List

1	Logan Lemusu
2	Fiafia Freedom Crichton Ropati
3	Mitszy Cairns
4	Essence Alo
5	Sienna Bonello
6	Sharon Latapu
7	Aaliyah Soufan
8	Fontayne Tufuga
9	Anika Penitani
10	Shire Thocolich
11	Leyla Oueik
12	Danielle Seckold
13	Khyliah Gray
14	Bailey Ma-Chong
15	Evelyn Kuwendu
16	Mere Sivo
18	Alleya Scrivens
17	Ana Vave

Match Updates

A light drizzle has set in at Eric Tweedale ahead of kickoff in the Lisa Fiaola. Obviously ball handling becomes that much more difficult as a result but it can’t impact Parramatta’s focus on dominating through the ruck today.

Eels will kick off to start proceedings.

A good defensive set puts Parra in advantageous position and Freedom Crichton Ropati starts their first possession with a powerful charge that leads to a half break. The home team are poised to unleash an attacking kick from 25m out but an error in the play-the-ball brings a swift end to the set.

A fresh chance is immediately gifted back to them when the Roosters are penalised for passing off the ground. A big left edge movement finds the winger Bonello before the Eels come back to their right as they work through their tackles. They run it on the last as they use hands down their left edge once more as Mitzy Cairns is brought down by some spirited defence to effect the turnover on tackles.

And yet another chance! An error in the ruck from the visitors sets the Eels up in prime position and they waste little time capitalising on their third straight opportunity. The halfback Aaliyah Soufan digs into the defensive line and rips a beauty of a pass to her winger Bonello who does very well to finish in the corner. Quality play there.

Try scored by Sienna Bonello. Conversion unsuccessful by Anika Penitani.

Eels lead 4-0

8min gone

An outstanding set after points follows. Nothing fancy but hammer blow after blow through the ruck before the set is completed with a kick that finds grass and is matched by a good chase.

Again the Roosters turn it over coming out of their own quarter and again Soufan is in the thick of the resultant play for the Eels. She angles down her left edge with a wide backline set outside her before straightening and finding her centre Cairns screaming into a gap to storm over under the posts!

Try scored by Mitzy Cairns. Conversion successful by Anika Penitani.

Eels lead 10-0

12min gone

Errors from both teams after the next restart of play. The exchange leaves Parramatta back in possession as Danielle Seckold makes a promising charge down the left edge. She splits the initial defenders and looks to offload to support but the ball is dropped by her outside runner and the Roosters will have the next set.

Yet another mistake from the Roosters has Parramatta back on the attack. Fontayne Tufuga sets the home team up with a bullocking carry up the guts and the set closes out with the Eels running the ball on the last. They venture down their left edge once more, where they have done so much damage, but to their credit the Roosters have marked up well and swarm Cairns for drag her down.

Strong counter blow from the visitors now. They create the break down Parra’s right edge and while Lemusu is able to stymie the bleeding from the initial break, a second rapid shift down the same side sees the Roosters cross in the corner via their winger Nelson-Staunton.

Try scored by the Roosters. Conversion unsuccessful.

Roosters trail 4-10

22min gone

An absolutely levelling blow! Fontayne Tufuga unloads on her rival middle forward from the kickoff and jolts the ball free for the turnover. A penalty follows for a high shot and suddenly the Eels are back on the front foot. There is a promising raid down the right edge that sees Essence Alo tackled short of the line by some quality defensive work before a short ball across the face of the goal line is dropped. The error is quickly matched by the Roosters though and the Eels are back in possession inside the red zone.

Scrum play uses Lemusu who runs deep into the defence and is dragged down near the goal line. A penalty actually as they grab the ankle in the ruck.

Tap and go via Tufuga now. Big hit from a Rooster on an inside pass but the Eels hold on. Great footy on both sides. Wide allignment to the left now as Soufan is hit with a bullet from the rake Ma-Chong but the next pass to Seckold is grassed as the backrower readied for contact.

Parramatta survive an extended run of play for the Roosters following a penalty for a strip. While the Eels hold on they are then bludgeoned by a brutal defensive effort from the Roosters that traps them 20m off their line. Soufan is rushed on the last and bails out from the kick attempt as she plays back to her left and ultimately the Eels are brought down on halfway.

The big effort in defence is rewarded for the Roosters as they strike in the seconds before half time with a lancing carry from their centre Mia Vaotuua as she bulldozes through Parra’s left edge to score.

Try scored by the Roosters. Conversion unsuccessful.

 

Half Time

Parramatta Eels 10 lead the Central Coast Roosters 8

 

Second Half

 

Roosters to kickoff.

Good take from Soufan as she dives forwards to field a midrange kick. Alas the Eels cough the ball up on the next tackle and the Roosters get the chance to take the lead. The switch from left edge to right but the Eels match up. The ball is centred with a play to spare as they go back to their left. Simple hands but the Eels look a player short and indeed the centre Bigeni is able to split Alo and Crichton-Ropati to put the visitors in front almost immediately after half time.

Try scored by the Roosters. Conversion unsuccessful.

Roosters lead 12-10

33min gone

Oh dear, carbon copy of Parramatta’s last set as they drop the ball on the second tackle. Huge chance for the Roosters to build a lead here as they get to work down their left edge. While the Eels defend well through the first three tackles they are caught napping when play looks like it is shaped to the Roosters’ right but comes back left. Sharp hands realise the overlap as their winger Nelson-Staunton touches down in the corner.

Try scored by the Roosters. Conversion unsuccessful.

Roosters lead 16-10

37min gone

The touch judge spies a cheeky little forward pass from the Roosters early in their kickoff set. Can the Eels make something of it?

Tufgua gets to work through the middle as Soufan then plays left via Seckold. Right now Logan Lemusu has a hugely promising run that sees her pulled down a metre short. Cairns is tackled to bring up the last which sees Soufan drive a crossfield kick towards Alo. A messy contest for the ball sees the Eels get a fresh set that escalates to a penalty for a bit of backchat maybe?

Finally they string it together with a crisp backline movement. Soufan finds her backrower Seckold with a clean, early ball and from there Danielle turns halfback with a cracking cutout ball to Sienna Bonello that allows the flanker to dive over in the corner and arrest the momentum of this game.

Try scored by Sienna Bonello. Conversion unsuccessful by Bailey Ma-Chong.

Eels trail 14-16

42min gone

Terrific set! Not only do the home team punch it deep into the Roosters’ half but a superb grubber kick from Latapu sees the Roosters driven into touch metres off the line.

Seckold and Gray have strong runs towards the left before the Eels switch right to Alo but she is taken strongly. A long sequence of offloads and passes sees the home team keep the ball alive on the last but full credit to the Roosters as they maintain their composure and eventually kill the play.

Big swing now towards the Roosters after Lemusu misjudges a clearing kick and it results in a knock-on. A penalty for a strip comes next and the Roosters will have a full set on the Parra goal line but they won’t need it as they power over mid tackle count to take a stranglehold on this game. It was a short ball from dummy half to prop there.

Try scored by the Roosters. Conversion successful.

Roosters lead 22-14

49min gone

Slice of luck for the Roosters here as the kickoff ricochets wildly off the shoulder of their half. It caroms perfectly to the player she would have linked up with normally though and the Roosters are able to start their set without trouble.

They end up completing the possession with a dangerous shortside raid that breaks through the left edge of the Eels. Good cover defence minimises the damage though and the home team get the ball back.

Tufuga is busy again as she drags defenders down the left edge. She wants a supporting runner but has none in the vicinity. The set is completed with a grubber kick from the backrower Seckold but with the clock ticking under 8min now Parramatta need more.

Perhaps feeling a smidgen too bold now, the Roosters run it on the last down the opposite flank only to fire a pass into touch short of halfway. Minor break there for the home team and they need to make the most of it.

Tough sledding early in this set as the Roosters make strong contact through the middle. Soufan laces a grubber to her left on the last but it is swallowed up by a perfectly positioned defender.

A second error from Lemusu on a kick return all but closes the door on the Eels today as the Central Coast Roosters look set to secure a big upset victory.

Just as the Roosters look to have tacked on the final insulting blow with another venture down their left the final pass to their winger Nelson-Staunton is ruled forwards.

 

Full Time

Central Coast Roosters 22 defeat the Parramatta Eels 16

 

Tarsha Gale Team List

1	Dallis Graham-Withell
2	Aysha-Rain Pietersz
3	Caitlin Peadon
4	Lindsay Tui
5	Hayley Bell
6	Raphaella Perigo
7	Aaliyah Haumono
8	Kalisi Mahe
9	Rory Muller
10	Liaina Dimech
11	Leila Black
12	bella Sandford
13	Ryvrr Lee Alo
14	Charlotte Cawthorne
15	Micayla Bourne
16	Alliyah Ghannoum
17	Ciara Stockham
18	Losaline Sikahele
19	Keely Stevens

Match Updates

Some late changes for the Eels. La-Teesha Maisema comes onto the wing for Aysha-Rain Pietersz while Keely Stevens replaces Charlotte Cawthorne on the interchange.

Raiders to kickoff.

The Eels fail to complete their opening set of the game despite some good metres. It was a short ball to Dimech that produced the first error there. Canberra are ruthless in their reply as they kick aggressively down their left. They recover the chip kick and go on to press Parramatta’s goal line defence before forcing their way over with their prop Claudia Finau to take the early lead.

Try scored by the Canberra Raiders. Conversion successful.

Raiders lead 6-0

4min gone

A brilliantly struck kickoff suddenly has the Eels back on the attack as the ball finds the dead ball line after the bounce. The line drop out is comfortably taken by the home team and in the blink of an eye they are on the scoreboard courtesy of a surging carry from Ryvvr-Lee Alo who punches her way over from 20m out!

Try scored by Ryvvr-Lee Alo. Conversion successful by Bella Sandford.

Eels lock the scores up at 6-all

7min gone

Wonderful follow up now! I believe it is Haumono who provides a lovely ball to a flying Dimech in the midfield for the big play. Aaliyah is smashed for her effort but it releases Dimech into the backfield. The flying frontrower swerves past the fullback but it caught by the cover chasers. The Eels go one play to the right before Raphaella Perigo attacks the line to the left as she weaves and steps her way over!

Try scored by Raphaella Perigo. Conversion successful by Bella Sandford.

Eels lead 12-6

10min gone

Some lovely pod work here now. Perigo and Muller work together nicely over halfway before Dimech and Alo combine for a damaging sequence through the ruck on the next tackle. It all leads to a sparkling backline movement down the right edge as Hayley Bell reels in a spectacular cutout pass (was it from Perigo?) and pins her ears for the line to score in the corner! Fair crack at the conversion from Sandford but it is waved away.

Try scored by Hayley Bell. Conversion unsuccessful by Bella Sandford.

Eels lead 16-6

13min gone

The offensive onslaught continues as Perigo bursts through the right edge of the Raiders! It is rapid fire stuff as she comes to the fullback and tries to thread a pass between a cover defender and her outside support in Tui and Masema. She can’t find them on the full but La-Teesha cleans it up on the bounce before Perigo completes the set with a crossfield bomb.

The Raiders are able to tidy it up from the bounce but turn it over a play later as the Eels look to pile on more points. Dimech is barely held up over the line and it leads to time off for an injured Raider.

Long break here as the trainer attends the Canberra lock India Dyball. She is eventually subbed off but looks to be walking alright so it doesn’t look too serious.

Mahe is turned back against the ruck once play resumes before the Eels venture right. Haumono uses her backrower Sandord on the crash ball. Next play sees Alo and Dimech combine under the posts but staunch defence keeps the powerful frontrower upright shy of the line. Perigo takes control on the last as she springs down the left. She digs into the line before firing a flat ball to a flying Tui as the centre dives over to build Parramatta’s lead! Sandford pulls her conversion attempt to the left and is waved away.

Try scored by Lindsay Tui. Conversion unsuccessful by Bella Sandford.

Eels lead 20-6

18min gone

More momentum building for the Eels as a penalty for a strip comes from the kickoff set. Haumono marks touch near halfway. Parra aren’t quite in sequence through the set as some called plays fizzle out but Haumono salvages the possession with an expert grubber kick that nets a drop out.

Dimech and Alo set the table with powerful carries to open the set but Muller and Mahe mistime a switch of play behind the ruck allowing the Raiders to dive on the ball.

Consecutive penalties take the Raiders out of their danger zone before Maisema makes a nice read and tackle down the left sideline. An error from Graham-Withell on the kick clean up opens the door for Canberra though as the scrum is set centrefield and around 15m off Parra’s goal line.

Good work from Tui there! Linespeed from the scrum allows her to pressure her opposite number and it leads to a small bobble in contact that the referee is quick to call.

Perigo stays sizzling as she notches another linebreak at the start of Parramatta’s next set. The dummy and fend put her into space before she is collared from behind short of halfway. She gets another touch a few tackles later that draws a fresh set for the Eels as she plays late at the line and catches a defender’s hand with the pass.

Graham-Withell and Sandford start the next set before Mahe is popped right as she looks to pass. The ball flies out the back and is cleaned up by Parra. Tui has a good carry to put the Eels on the goal line but the big shift to the right edge is nullifed by disciplined defence from the visitors as Tui is brought down short of the white stripe.

Canberra end up kicking out on the full in the following set as the Eels get the ball back near halfway. A penalty for a high tackle is called next with around 75sec left in the half. Tap and go the play here as the backs get some early runs through the middle. The Eels are building for a big shift left but they get it wrong as the fulcrum for the shift slides behind a decoy runner leaving the referee no option but to call a penalty for the obstruction.

A chaotic end to the half sees the Eels lose Kalisi Mahe to the sinbin for a professional foul after she makes a tackle from an offside position during a quick tap. Canberra can’t make anything of the advantage in the seconds before half time but the second stanza now awaits them with the numerical handicap against the Eels.

Score update from the Harold Matthews in the mean time. Parramatta are up 6-0 following a try to Kasinga Noa.

 

Half Time

Parramatta Eels 20 lead the Canberra Raiders 6

 

Second Half

 

Eels to kickoff.

Strong start from Canberra as they make inroads down their right edge. It carries them well into Parramatta’s half as they kick from 12m beyond halfway and trap Graham-Withell ingoals.

Trouble brews as the big frontrower Finau threatens the Eels near the posts but her offload it batted by a Parramatta defender at the last moment leading to a scrum for the visitors.

From the scrum win the Raiders split left to their fullback who is promptly engufled by a ferocious tackle from Ryvvr-Lee Alo. The contact knocks the ball out and the Eels make a massive escape!

Tui carries her team well and truly out of their own quarter with a scything carry. The set is completed with a Perigo bomb that draws a mistake from the Raiders. The knock-on is upgraded to a penalty for a late hit on Raphaella before a second penalty comes due to ruck interference. Parra squander the chance though as an offload bangs into a head of a defender and is quickly dived on by the Raiders.

Now the visitors get a penalty only to fail to find touch as the Eels get the ball back pretty much where they initially turned it over when all is said and done.

Alo is busy with another good charge before play slows down as Perigo is banged up from a carry near the line. The Eels run it from right to left on the last but the Raiders maintain their defensive shape and bring a flying Maisema down to survive the set.

In the Harold Matthews the Eels have built a strong lead following tries to Lorima Rokasuka and Cyrus Bloomfield as they sit on a 18-0 advantage just inside the second half.

Back to the Tarsha Gale now where the Eels have dived on a loose carry from the Raiders. Think it was Sandford that recovers the ball. With little time wasted Parramatta convert the bonus possession into points with a livewire carry from Keely Stevens that sees her surge through defenders near the posts to score through contact. Terrific effort.

Try scored by Keely Stevens. Conversion successful by Bella Sandford.

Eels lead 26-6

41min gone

More points in the Matts as Ezra Leota goes over. 24-0 now in that contest.

An error from the kickoff set puts Canberra back in the box seat to trim away at the deficit. They pick up a fresh set due to a high tackle and get a bit of white line fever as they spend a good four tackles trying to crash over near the ruck. When they do eventually spin it, on the last, naturally the ball is dropped cold by the five-eighth Vea and the Eels are rewarded for the strong stand.

Now a bit of fortune as Parramatta pick up a penalty for an offside recovery of a deflected kick. Absolutely the right call mind you but you still take it.

The ball quickly returns to the Raiders though as they deflect a pass from Perigo backwards and dive on the loose ball.

The Matts continue to plunder points down in Melbourne with Michael Nauer crossing to take the Eels to 30-0.

Nice work from Muller, Bell and Dimech early in this set as it positions the Eels for an attacking kick. The wind picks up and swirls and Perigo sends up the bomb and it results in a drop from the Raiders.

Peadon rips in from the scrum win and nearly crashes over before the Raiders are caught offside on tackle two. Dimech resets the Eels before there is a knock on from a shooting defender in front of the posts.

Back to the Harold Matthews for a moment where Samuel Mardini has crossed to take the Eels to a 34-0 lead.

In the Gale the Raiders have someone gone the length of the field against the run of play to score. I am not sure what happened there as I thought it was a Parra feed. The Raiders came away with the ball though and their fullback Elise Simpson exposes some fragile front line defence before showing legitimate speed to race 90m and score.

Try scored by the Raiders. Conversion successful.

Raiders trail 12-26

57min gone

Quick fire hit back from the Eels as they generate another error from a kickoff out of the Raiders. Tidy ball movement to the left, including a neat tip on, puts Lindsay Tui outside her opposite and she makes the most of it to bag her second of the day. That will just about do us as well with the clock ticking under 30sec from Sandford’s conversion attempt.

Try scored by Lindsay Tui. Conversion unsuccessful by Bella Sandford.

Eels lead 30-12

59min gone

The Raiders sail the short kickoff attempt well over the sideline leading to a penalty. Parra take a tap restart and bring an end to the game.

 

Full Time

Parramatta Eels 30 defeat the Canberra Raiders 12

Matts and Ball

Full time in Matts

Eels 34 defeated Storm nil

Half time in Ball

Eels 16 lead Storm 6

Full time in Ball

Eels 46 defeated Storm 16