The Eels take on the Panthers in what has become an annual final junior reps trial at Windsor.
First up are the girls teams on Friday night with the boys scheduled for Saturday morning.
Last week, the Bulldogs got the better of the Eels in the Lisa Fiaola and Tarsha Gale Cup trials at Granville, but the Eels proved too strong in the Matts and Ball trials. it was an exciting brand of football on display, one that fans would have enjoyed.
Penrith are always a good test, and both clubs have trimmed their squads with the season kick off just two weeks away.
I’ll again be attempting live updates of the boys trials, most likely without team lists. Expect me to call a mix of names and numbers.
Hopefully it’s not flooding at Windsor!
Saturday update: I don’t have the scores but I believe both of the girls teams enjoyed victory over the Panthers on Friday night, playing some impressive footy.
Harold Matthews Cup – Kick Off 10am
No team lists
First Period
Panthers kick off running to the club end. They execute a charge down on Parra’s last. A couple of plays to centre play ten out and Parra looks short on the left. The Riff head there, beat a couple of defenders and it’s all too easy.
Conversion successful
Panthers 6 Eels nil after 3 minutes
This time the Eels get a charge down on the last but it falls to the Riff. A loose pass two tackles later hands possession to Parra on their quarter but they in turn cough it up about 40 out.
Panthers are looking strong and four Eels barely manage to hold them up over the line on about the fourth. Wide left now and good hands create a passage for the winger to sprint to the corner.
Conversion unsuccessful
Panthers 10 lead Eels nil after nine minutes
Riff get to their kick and then Parra turn it back over with a simple drop a couple of tackles later. It’s basic stuff for the home team who now cross for their third.
Kick unsuccessful
Panthers 14 Eels nil after 13 minutes.
This Eels team has no resemblance to last week in physicality. They are making basic errors and unable to defend them.
Penalty to Penrith after the kick off and they’re back on attack. This time the Eels just hold on.
Penalty to Parra now and they advance the ball to the quarter. The pass is spilt but we get a lucky penalty.
Penrith appear to be handling the Eels with ease but the half threads a grubber and the left centre (Moala?) grounds it.
Conversion has a wild bend but it’s through the posts.
Panthers 14 lead Eels 6 after 20 minutes
Parra’s 5/8 (Risati?) splits them and play moves into the Riff half. The ball comes left but it’s another dropped ball and disappointingly the player doesn’t chase the ball to clean up. Riff in possession. They then drop the ball in Parra’s half and the Eels return the favour on halfway.
It’s now getting sloppy as Penrith create an overlap on their right but the pass to the winger is a shocker.
Another dropped ball from Parra.
Penrith get to their kick and the Eels complete their best set of the half driving play through the middle. Some clever dummy half work from the 14 in this set. The Riff field the kick on the last and create an opportunity in the left corner but the Eels scramble well to tackle them into touch.
Half time – Penrith 14 lead Eels 6
Second Half
The Eels receive a down town penalty on the Panthers last tackle kick but miss their opportunity with a dropped ball on the Panthers 20.
Penrith now split the Eels and in turn throw a loose pass on Parra’s quarter.
Parra are looking a bit more composed now and the forwards are gaining some ascendancy.
They drive play into the quarter here but a fourth tackle kick is poor and turns the ball over.
A penalty to Penrith compounds the error and the Eels concede a disappointing try as the Riff prop lumbers towards the line in a nothing last tackle play yet is allowed to stretch out to plant the ball next to the posts.
Kick successful
Panthers 20 lead Eels 6 after 12 minutes
Eels get the ball back on the quarter from the kick off. A kick for the right winger is overcooked and he can’t control it as it bounces touch in goal.
Seven tackle set.
The Riff make Parra pay for their error yet again as they split the defence then quickly spread the ball to the left wing for a try.
Conversion unsuccessful
Panthers 24 lead Eels 6 with about 15 minutes to go
This time it’s a Panthers error that’s punished. They fumble the Parra kick off on their quarter. After a scrum the Eels explore their left. A cross field kick on the last finds the 16 who’s playing on the right edge. He catches the ball and plunges over.
Conversion successful
Panthers 24 lead Eels 12
Penalty to Parra for a high shot and they’re into Penrith’s half.
A kick on the last to the Panthers right wing is fumbled. Parra on the attack but an attempted cut out pass to the Eels left winger ten out is absolutely telegraphed and duly intercepted. Another Panthers error and Parra is back on the attack. They get 6 again and yes, the ball is dropped before one tackle is completed. Yes this is a trial.
The Panthers hoist a high kick to the Eels fullback on the last and he spills it but the ref has called the chasers offside.
Now another penalty to Parra for something in the tackle.
The Eels 10 takes the ball powerfully to the posts but is held up. A grubber follows soon after and Penrith fumble in front of the sticks. Parra can’t pick it up.
Scrum
Parra stack their left but go to their only player on the right – number four. He gets around the defence and dives over in the corner.
The conversion falls well short into the strong breeze as the siren sounds.
Full time – Penrith 24 defeat Eels 16
Observations
The Eels looked a bit disjointed in this trial and lacked the physicality of last week in both attack and defence. The errors were numerous and not defended. That said it is only a trial and coach Hodgson has two weeks to iron out the kinks.
On the other hand, the Panthers looked like Parra did last week. Early on they were decisive. Like the Eels, errors then crept in. However, they defended those errors much better than the Eels.
SG Ball Cup – Kick Off 11:45
No team lists
First Half
Both sides trade completed sets to start the game before Parra throw a forward pass in front of the posts in the first genuine scoring chance.
The second down town penalty today on the Panthers next set. The kick finds touch on the quarter. Parra Centre play then hit their left edge and great stepping from the number 12 Phoenix Tauasa gets him across the line.
Conversion successful from Fletcher
Eels 6 Panthers nil after five minutes
Another Eels penalty from the kick off. Six again as play works into the quarter. Sharp shift to the right edge and the Eels 11 (Chris Petrus) emulates his back row partner to power across for the try.
Conversion nailed
Eels 12 lead Panthers nil after 8 minutes
Penalty to Penrith gets them up near half way. Great work from the Eels 6 (Cameron Bamblett) to trap and scrap the Panthers last tackle kick but a dropped ball follows next tackle. Riff return that favour on the first tackle. Big carry from Dom earns a penalty but now the call looks changed? Eels still in possession. Great kick and chase on the last earns a drop out.
Big carry from the Eels 10 (Vaivela?) off the drop out but a spread right brings a double knock on. The rain is getting heavier.
Penrith advance play but the ball is dropped. There’s a bit of a melee on the Eels 40 but it’s a Parra scrum after the ref talks to both captains.
Errors are now traded by both teams as the conditions seem to be causing havoc for the handling.
Great from the Eels fullback (McCarthy, Carter?) to somehow shut down both the runner and support player on a Panthers line break – looked like he made a tackle and ankle tap in one play.
A try to Dom Farrugia is denied with a forward pass call.
The fullback now calmly catches a floating bomb and Parra’s return bomb in the next set is allowed to bounce with a drop out resulting. Penrith win the drop out contest then earn a penalty. It all falls apart for them with an obstruction and Parra march down to the Riff quarter in the next set. An offload from Coinakis creates an opportunity and he’s then dumped on his back by a Panther who is now taking it further as Coinakis is laying prone. The Eels rake chases after him for some push and shove but play goes on. Fletcher takes on the line and is tackled a metre out as the siren sounds. There’s a long chat from the ref to a Panthers player before the ref blows the half time whistle.
Half time – Eels 12 lead Panthers nil
Second half
Parra kick off.
Another down town penalty against Penrith
Nice completion from Parra earns a drop out. The Eels get a penalty for a strip but the Panthers defence hold firm in this set.
They get to their kick and the Eels cross halfway two tackles later. A lost ball in the tackle provides the Riff with a scrum feed on their forty.
A penalty for a high shot on a falling player follows and the Riff attack Parra’s red zone. Great defence follows and heavy contact on a crash play jolts the ball free!
Coinakis kicks early out of dummy half and I think he’s aiming for a 20/40. It stops near the sideline on the Panthers quarter and the fullback runs it towards the middle. He drops it!
Scrum to Parra on the quarter – trick play as Fletcher chips over the defence and the ball pulls up next to the posts. The Eels 6 picks it up in spectacular fashion and dives over for a brilliant try.
Conversion successful
Eels 18 lead Panthers nil after ten minutes of this half
Penrith charge down an Eels kick but Parra defends the set. Penalty to Parra now. Big left side play. The winger is down the sideline and somehow manages to find support with an inside pass for the try (by the 6?). Jubilation abounds! Fletcher nails the conversion from the sideline. Wow!
Eels 24 lead Panthers nil with 20 minutes to go.
There’s a tackle against Parra in possession – not sure why. Now another penalty in front of the sticks.
Superb physical defence is followed by a trap and scrap to secure possession. Now an Eels penalty to relieve pressure.
A stack of replacements now as the Eels toss the ball around on the last. Eventually the bomb is hoisted and the Panthers fullback fumbles. Parra’s #15 picks up the scraps and beats a defender to score under the posts.
Conversion successful
Eels 30 lead Panthers nil with 12 minutes to go.
The Eels drop the kick off ten out but more great defence results in a Penrith error. They advance play to the 40 but a dropped ball sees a Panthers scrum feed.
This Eels defence is something else, even with so many changes. A last tackle bomb is dropped but somehow the Eels scramble to force a Panthers error. More defence now as the Eels trap and scrap another last tackle kick but the ref rules a knock on. Tough call.
Finally all this possession results in a Panthers overlap on their left but the ball flies out of the wingers hands as he goes for the big dive grounding!!!
The Eels kick chase gets the play back on the Riff quarter but a penalty to Penrith follows soon after.
Seven tackle set after the last tackle kick from Penrith is too big.
Full time – Eels defeat Panthers nil
Final observations
This was a comprehensive trial win by an Eels team which dominated every facet of play. This Parra team attacked with their defence then showed classy touches in possession.
A great warm up for the season against a traditionally strong opponent
Eels forever!
Sixties
Quick start by the Riff…hope we can hang in there with some quality ball
Do we know if the line up is named?
Operated without lists Milo. Too many errors from Matts.
Tough outing for the Matts. Dogs and penrith always very tough trials. Carn Ball team
Ball were impressive
Ham and Milo will be happy. I am happy.
Who is the 6 for ball?
Unfortunately I didn’t have a team list. I had expected Lorenzo Talataina to get first shot at 5/8. It didn’t look like him out there today, but I could be wrong.
John, I have heard good things abt both Matts and Ball teams. Time will tell and hope we can hold the team well in terms of injuries and back ups.
Thanks Sixties!
Do you think the 6 in Ball could have been Talataina? He was great in Matts and one to watch.
It didn’t look like him but I could be wrong trying to pick players from the stands in the rain
Thanks for getting out there in this weather and providing these updates.
Hopefully the Matts have got the handling errors out of their system today. They were impressive last week so a little surprised by the outcome today. Did Bloomfield play this week?
Do you know how the girls went last night?
Cheers Riverside.
Yes, looked like Cyrus at fullback but there were no big moments from him today. I asked about the girls and was told they both won and impressed.
I”ll have to get my antenna out and know who’s playing when. I”m interested to know how the 2nd row recruit from the UK goes in the ladies team. It’s a long way from home to come and play, back yourself and adjust. More power to her.
Excellent work Sixties.
Cheers Spark
Was there today. Young fletcher has some real class about him looks a real talent.
He had a very good game Scuba Steve, in what was a strong team outing.
Hey mate, just a few players. I think the fullback may have been Jayden Carter, not Ollie McCarthy. Carter is also blond and I believe McCarthy is now too old for SG Ball. The 6 from a video I saw on crownsportsmanagement instagram story is Cameron Bamblett. Both have been signed from the penrith system. Carter has played fullback and halves, Bamblett has played halves and hooker.
Interesting pick ups Han; thanks for this
Cheers Ham, I was aware of the recruitment of Bamblett but trying to identify players that I’m not familiar with was near impossible. Is he related to Tallara Bamblett? Thanks for the tip on Carter. I think he went well.
As you said, very hard to identify players with no team list. Unsure if they’re related but they could be. Carter has had some wraps on him for a while. Both only in their first year of SG Ball eligibility
Ham, is Carter related to former Panthers 5/8 Steve Carter?