Though there have been losses by Parra’s NRL and NSW Cup teams this weekend, the Eels NRLW team flew the flag for the club in fine style yesterday with an inspiring victory over the Broncos in Brisbane.

After watching his charges register such an impressive win away from home, new coach Steve Georgallis said that he couldn’t stop smiling. I’m positive that Steve wasn’t on his own in that regard, as the result was one of the few moments of joy for Eels fans in recent months.

With the Jersey Flegg resting this round as a result of a global bye, it brings us to the final instalment of Eels footy for the weekend as the Eels take on the Rabbitohs in the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership at Eric Tweedale Stadium in Granville.

Parra come into this contest on the back of two frustrating losses. They were clearly the most dangerous side in their loss to the Dragons, but a raft of errors saw them fall narrowly. An abysmal 56% completion rate completely nullified the 47 tackle breaks (33 against) and 7 line breaks (4 against) that they generated. Those stats go a long way to exemplifying a wasted dominance.

Then twelve errors, another poor completion rate of 62% and a send off had them under the pump in the latter stages of their loss to the Steelers in Wollongong.

The answer is simple – completions, completions, completions.

Souths enter this contest with two victories from their three matches, including a last up win over the Tigers. They’ll bring form and confidence.

Unfortunately, the Eels do lose their dynamic number 14 Raph Perigo for two matches following her send off for a lifting tackle last week. We await her replacement on the interchange bench.

Kick off is 1pm.

Eels Team List

First Half

A heap of team changes as the team run on – I’ll try to fix that on the team list as quickly as I can. Parra kicking off.

what a start as Parra regain possession. They’re into the quarter with some huge carries. A couple of penalties to Parra now for strips. They drive with some power plays through the middle now a shift right but the pass is behind Baker and it’s a Souths scrum.

A souths penalty in this set but they follow up with an error. Parra scrum and it’s some average passing in this set. They get to the last but kick out on the full.

40/30 to Souths at the end of their set, actually it’s 40/20 but they drop it on the second tackle.

Penalty to Parra but they mess up the play the ball at the start of the set. Souths scrum about 40 out. An early shift left and Parra hold up the winger over the line. Hang on the ref has called six again. Souths make Parra pay the price for their errors with Studdon scoring just left of the posts.

Conversion successful by Studdon

Souths 6 Eels nil with 24 minutes left in the first half.

Parra again regain the kick off and they are back to driving through the middle through Payne. A couple of really loose shifts left and the inevitable error follows.

Souths get to their kick next set and Parra have to ruck it from their quarter after the kick finds touch. Souths get a touch on a pass and it’s Parra’s scrum 35 out from their own line.

A near thing at the end of the set as Alo goes close to regathering a kick but it’s lost in front of the posts.

Souths last tackle kick in the next set is going too deep but it’s fielded by Baker before it bounces behind the line. I don’t think she realised the ball needed to land behind the line before she could grab it as the chasers/defenders were not that close. Drop out follows.

Great defence by Parra as they withstand two line drop outs and a six again. Terrific result now as the Eels drop out finds touch. A penalty to Parra and they’re into Souths quarter. A shift right and Haumono finds Peadon with great hands and she in turn does a great job to beat defenders on her way to the line.

Great conversion from Bamblett

Eels 6 Rabbitohs 6 with nine minutes to go in the first half.

Parra has settled into a better rhythm in the latter stages of this half and are punching holes in the Bunnies’ defence. Alo in particular has looked dangerous. However both teams are guilty of too many errors. The first half now closes out with no addition to the score.

Half time Eels 6 Souths 6

My apologies for a bit of scattered coverage in this first half. There were many changes to the team and it was a challenge to get on top of the team list update let alone call the play.

I want to credit the Eels forwards for settling into their work in this game and bending the South’s defence. Asaua, Payne, Tufuga, Alo and Fa’amausili worked well as a unit. Jackson has a great motor and gets through plenty of work.

Second Half

Souths kick off and find touch!

Hang on the ref has set a scrum? Anyway the Bunnies waste the opportunity with an error inside Parra’s quarter on the second. Eels scrum. They now lose the ball off the scrum pass!

The Eels need to address their errors if they want to win this one. Souths are set in the red zone and go close to scoring on a right side shift but a great defensive read by Shipton shuts it down. Back left to centre the play and it’s the last. Back right and Parra’s line opens up and it’s try time to the Bunnies.

Conversion missed

Souths 10 Eels 6 with 29 minutes remaining.

Souths make an error on the kick off and it’s a Parra scrum 30 out. Wow huge charge from Asaua. A shift right but it’s another error.

Souths in possession and get to their kick but Parra receive a penalty from the chase. A set completion from Parra as they get to their kick but it’s too heavy. Seven tackle set to follow.

Fine play by Souths as they first of all go close down the left wing then force a line drop out. Penalty now for a strip. Now a high tackle.

Ten out from the line and the ball is moved left to one of their players running a great line. She cuts through Parra’s defence in a well structured try.

Studdon misses the conversion

Souths 14 lead Eels 6 with 21 minutes remaining.

Bunnies get to their kick and again Parra receive the penalty off the chase and tackle. Parra work play towards the Bunnies 30 but that last tackle kick is just too heavy. Seven tackle set upcoming.

Crucial play as the Eels knock down a Bunnies offload on halfway. Play moves into Souths quarter and this time Parra run it on the last. Great hands by the forwards and Alo crashes over next to the posts.

Conversion by Bamblett successful

Souths 14 lead Eels 12 with 15 minutes remaining.

Eels error off the kick off and Souths launch a spirited raid in their set off the scrum. A couple of terrific tackles in this set from Parra on their line and they hold the visitors out. Last tackle kick as the Eels complete a set and Souths work play from their quarter. Baker confidently fields the Studdon kick and Parra are starting this set off their 30. Penalty now for a high shot. Big hit up from Alo. Awful right side shift with clumsy passing but Parra get a penalty for something nasty in the tackle. Bit of a referee chat for Souths here.

Tap taken by Parra 30 out. Asaua gets them into the 20. Another late tackle penalty. Parra centre the play and it’s another massive charge from Asaua who this time smashes her way over for what could be the match winning try..

Conversion by Bamblett successful

Eels 18 lead Souths 14 with six minutes remaining.

Parra get to the last tackle in the kick off set but drop the ball. Souths advance to Parra’s quarter but a pass goes over the sideline. Oh no! It looks like Shipton has tried to offload on her quarter line early in the set and Souths have the scrum feed with three minutes to go.

Great goal line defence from Parra follows and Souths lose the ball a metre out. Parra scrum with two and a half minutes left. Get to the kick! Alo is injured and play stops as she’s replaced. Still…get to the kick!

Great carry from Jackson starts this set. Faultless stuff from Parra on the next four tackles and they find touch inside the South’s 10.

Terrific defensive set. Souths are on their last tackle around halfway with time ticking away but  Makira is penalised for a strip. And she’s been binned!

28 seconds remain. Hot potato stuff as Souths try to get a last second try but the Eels defence holds its nerve and shape as the Bunnies efforts prove fruitless.

Full time

Eels 18 defeat Souths 14

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