The inaugural Eels Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership team got off to an absolute flier last week against the Sea Eagles when they were out scoring the clock to jump to an 18 nil lead.

Eventually prevailing 18-10, the women will be looking to start the season with back to back wins when they take on the Dragons. The St George side were thumped by Wenty in round one, though the Magpies are a strong outfit.

This Eels team is comprised of graduates from the Eels pathways and some quality recruits. At different stages during the season they will be bolstered by NRLW squad members who aren’t selected for duty.

The NRLW team has a trial today which will be streamed by the Eels. Unfortunately we won’t be covering it live as our attention will turn to the Eels lower grade matches at Lidcombe.

Team List

First Half

Eels kick off. Dragons get to the last tackle kick. There’s a challenge for the ball. They get it and race away but a knock on is called.

Dragons fumble the Eels last tackle kick and Parra’s in possession in the red zone. They hammer the middle then shift left. Tufuga hits the line and offloads. The ball is quickly moved out to the wing and Doueihi beats a couple of defenders to score.

Conversion unsuccessful

Eels lead 4 nil after 6 minutes

The strike back from the Dragons is swift. They find touch from the kick off on Parra’s right side. A couple of tackles later they go for a big right side shift and get the overlap. Right winger dives over in the corner.

Conversion unsuccessful

Eels 4 Dragons 4 after nine minutes.

Dragons get to their kick after a good kick off set but it’s out on the full.

Good work from the Eels forwards this set. The last tackle kick from Dimech finds the in goal but the Dragons just get into the field of play.

Baker fields the kick and returns it with gusto to get Parra on the front foot. Again the forwards power through the middle and two penalties quickly follow.

Vaeluaga Is causing problems for the Dragons with every charge. Unfortunately Parra make a play the ball error.

Back in possession now via a Baker kick return.  Makira doing great work at dummy half. A penalty for what might be a flop? But the Eels are now penalised for an incorrect play the ball and don’t the Dragons make them pay!

Second phase play exposes the Eels defence and gets the Dragons to Parra’s quarter on the last. The kick goes towards Parra’s right winger and the Dragons centre takes it and unloads in contact to her winger who scores.

Conversion unsuccessful

Dragons 8 lead Eels 4 after 20 minutes

A dragons error in the kick off set. Let’s complete the set here Parra. Good defence from the Red V as they hold off raids to the left then right. Parra go the long ball to Shipron on the last but she drops it the tough ask.

Parra back on the attack next possession after a high tackle penalty. Again plenty of ball movement from Parra. They hit their left edge and the Dragons knock down the pass. It’s immediately scooped up and fed to a forward (Payne?) who scores. Sorry there are no announcements here.

Conversion from Sandford

Eels 10 Dragons 8 with about 8 minutes remaining first half.

Another Eels left side raid. Ball to Perigo and it looks like she’s over. No the ref calls double movement which draws some emotion from Perigo.

Big lifting tackle penalty against Parra late in the count and the Dragons are well placed in the red zone with less than 3 minutes till the break. Dragons injury so a hold up now. Eels might do well to hold them out. They do well defensively but now disaster as they fumble a last tackle grubber and the Dragons swoop for the try.

Conversion successful.

Half time- Dragons 14 lead Eels 10

Parra receive and work play into Dragons territory and find touch on the ten. Solid start here.

Opportunity now via a Dragons play the ball error on their 40.

Well that is unfortunately an awful play off the scrum as the Eels knock on and the player picks it up in an offside position. There’s some coach killer moments today.

There you go. Once again an Eels error has led directly to a Dragons try. From the penalty set they work to Parra’s red zone and shift right. The fullback? steps off her right foot and slices through Parra’s defence and improves the spot to under the posts. Conversion successful

Dragons 20 lead Eels 10

Now a penalty for a high shot against the Eels late in the count. They are making a rod for their own back here.

Better defence as the Dragons hit their left edge in Parra’s quarter but the defence is up to the task. Oh no, a play the ball error about 35 out is handing possession back to the Red V.

There’s a big Dragons prop that’s causing all sort of trouble and the Dragons hit her twice in this set. The Eels barely hold her out but she turns the ball over with a play the ball error.

A penalty advances the Eels downfield and now they combine some great footy with Tufuga and Dimech getting through defenders with awful scrappy footy later in the set. They end the set being pushed into touch. My goodness, the next set ends via a penalty in possession.

The Dragons have forced a line drop out. They hit their big prop now shift right but Parra tackle them into touch. The Eels need to complete a set here and they do with the kick fielded by the Dragons on their 30.

Another Dragons penalty follows.

Thankfully for Parra they put the pass down just short of the line on the right edge.

Terrific break from Perigo and a penalty follows. Tufuga is held up over the line. Some awful passing follows in this set and a lost ball was inevitable.

Penalty to the Dragons follows and the Eels eventually defuse the last tackle kick.

Vaeluaga breaks into open field. She takes on the fullback but is tackled. She goes for the flick offload for Pottinger who looms in support but the pass is high and it proves too awkward. Yet another incomplete set and the Dragons back on the attack.

Less than ten minutes remaining and it’s been a string of lost opportunities for Parra in this one. There’s  another shot in possession as the Dragons make an error on Parra’s 40.

Parra link well as they advance play to the quarter but it’s yet another incomplete set as the ball is lost in contact. But now the Dragons make an early tackle. A couple of power plays set the Eels up ten out. A shift left to Perigo who mesmerises the defence before sending Vaeluagacharging close to the posts. She now moves herself to out wide on the right and hauls in an ordinary pass and uses quick hands to unleash Peadon for the try!

Conversion hits the cross bar.

Dragons 20 lead Eels 14 with five to go.

Perigo is again shredding the defence on the left. The Dragons do well to catch the last tackle kick. Their kick is now out on the full.

Last chance here for Parra. Baker makes a half break to the 30 but there’s an error around the play the ball and a Dragons scrum. Penalty now for the Dragons with 30 seconds left.

Full time Dragons 20 defeat Eels 14.

Second Half

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