The Eels Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup squads are in trial action today at Lidcombe Oval.

I’ll be cutting it fine, but the plan is to make the dash from the SG Ball Cup match at Eric Tweedale Stadium to Lidcombe to bring you score updates from the two trials.

It’s likely that I won’t have team lists to work from, and the coverage won’t be the same as our usual live blogs. However, if I can identify players I’ll do so, and I’ll also try to describe any scoring plays.

The matches are due to kick off at 5pm and 7pm respectively.

Jersey Flegg Cup

 

First Half

 

An explosive start for the Eels as #8 (maybe Stevenson Hala?) bursts through the line from the kickoff return! The Eels roll downfield with momentum but end up running it on the last and are wrapped up by the Tigers. Still a cracking start from the young lads!

Great kick pressure from the #9 – Hudson I believe – and it leads to a rushed kick from the Tigers. Really good intent early on from the Eels on both sides of the ball. #8 Hala and #6 both close to scoring before Hudson burrows over from close range to put the Eels on the board first. Hudson has been very busy to start this trial.

 

Try scored by Jack Hudson. Conversion unsuccessful.

Eels lead 4-0

5min gone

A couple of errors from the Eels around their red zone and the Tigers take the opportunity to cross in the left corner.

Conversion unsuccessful

Eels 4 Tigers 4 with 22 mins remaining first half

Teams trading sets here. Eels just overcooked a last tackle kick to give seven tackles now it’s a penalty to the Tigers.

Parra hold on as the Tigers drop it five out.

More pressure now as the Eels fumble rucking out in their red zone. Great defence but Tigers force a drop out. Parra go short and wide with a hooking drop out towards the Tigers left wing and there’s a Tigers fumble.

 

Eels to their kick but are penalised a couple of tackles later. Wests advance to Parra’s red zone and attempt a big left side push but the tap on dribbles out of the wingers reach.

Forty/20 from Parra and it’s successful but they are awarded a penalty 30 out for a late shot. Not sure if that’s a better advantage. Oops – Parra fumble early in the count. Well there you go, the Tigers return the favour with a lost ball early in their set.

Quality territory and possession here for the Eels. A tricky grubber from Parra is fumbled by the Wests fullback next to the posts and one of the Eels chasers (our half?) has grounded it.

Conversion successful.

Eels 10 Tigers 4 with four minutes to the break.

The Eels spine is now looking very sharp. A great kick and chase off some enterprising attack earns a drop out. Pressure for Wests here but they can’t hold on. Hudson cracks them open as the siren sounds and in scoring his second try improves the position for the conversion, which Hunter dutifully adds as the Eels go to the sheds with a 16-4 lead.
Half time – Eels 16 lead Tigers 4

Second Half

Eels kick off and Tigers receive an early penalty but it all comes undone with a Tigers error 30 out from Parra’s line.

Awkward tackle from the Tigers as Parra advance play into their half and Parra cough it up.

Penalty to Parra now. Good driving play through the middle early in this set and Wests are pinged for a strip. More power play from the forwards as they drive towards the line and it’s all too easy when the Tigers have to stop one charge too many. It’s an awful angle here in the Lidcombe stand and I can’t even see the jersey number of the try scorer as he grounds the ball next to the posts. There are a number of interchange players now out there so it could have been one of them.

Hunter converts

Eels 22 Tigers 4 with 32 minutes left.

Tigers in possession. They head left and the Eels attempt to jam – unsuccessfully and it’s a stroll to the corner for a Tigers try.

Araz Nanva coming off the field with what appears to be an ankle injury.

Conversion unsuccessful

Eels 22 Tigers 8 with 29 minutes remaining.

Parra get possession as the kick off draws a Tigers error on the sideline. They advance play to the quarter and it’s a massive shift right that comes unstuck badly with a fumble on the wing. Wests break away from the pick up and are rounded up by Parra’s half. Wests again break down their left wing and this time their man is too quick and elusive in a 40 metre gallop to the posts.

Conversion nailed.

Eels 22 Tigers 14 with 24 minutes to go.

Plenty of momentum now for the home team as they set their attack in the red zone. They look to again catch Parra sort on the right wing but the harbour bridge pass sails over the sideline with a try begging.

Parra strike back now in their next visit to the Wests Red zone – and it’s all too easy as the number 19 gets over from dummy half.
Conversion successful

Eels 28 Tigers 14 with 18 minutes to go.

Errors from both sides over the next few sets starting with the Eels from the kick off. Now it’s one error too many as Parra throw an intercepted pass deep in attack and that Tigers winger goes from his own half to outpace the cover and score in the corner. Sideline conversion successful

Eels 28 Tigers 20 with 12 minutes remaining

Momentum is hard to get but it counts big time in footy. The Tigers right side now stream through – and the runner has a host of support players as he confronts the Parra fullback with the inevitable result. Converted try!

Eels 28 Wests 26 with ten to go

It’s all falling apart for the Eels as they concede yet another penalty from the kick off and the Tigers march downfield and score next to the posts. Converted

Tigers 32 Eels 28 Six minutes to go

Parra finally get decent possession and complete the set with a last tackle chip and chase on the Wests quarter that draws an error. Scrum to Parra.
Play is worked towards the posts and it’s again simple stuff with a charge from close range and the ball is grounded between the sticks

Conversion successful

Eels 34 Tigers 32 with a minute to go

Hang on it’s not over

Wests find touch from the kick off and play restarts centre field . The tackle is made just on the Eels left edge and the siren sounds as the ball is played and a big left side shift is on. The Tigers player is fairly flying to the corner with nearly the entire Eels side in pursuit and there’s a pile of bodies in the corner. No try!!!

Eels get out of gaol here.

Full time Parra 34 Tigers 32

 

 

NSW Cup (KOE Cup)

Late list made available

1 Austin Quast

2 Beau Newlands

3 Sam Loizou

4 Ryan Garner

5 Jordan Hill

6 Zac Hunter

23 Josh Lynn

8 Brock Parker

9 Meni Luke

10 Max Tupou

11 Felix Niutuli -Schmidt

12 Will Latu

13 Saxon Pryke

Interchange

14 Mitch Black

15 Kayne Kalache

16 Bill Salameh

17 Shalom O’Ofuo

18 Kruz Niutuli -Schmidt

 

 

First Half

Josh Lynn, Saxon Pryke, Brock Parker, Will Latu have all dropped back for this. Might be one or two others. A team list would be handy.

Strong start as the Eels attack with tremendous shape to advance play to the red zone. If that’s Latu in 11 (it was Felix Niutuli -Schmidt) he’s causing big issues for the defence from the start. Left shift and it could be the left centre Ryan Garner who scores.

Conversion misses

Eels 4 Magpies nil after two minutes.

Couple of sets completed after the kick off and Eels get a penalty early in yardage.

Set completed with a challenging kick right on the Tigers try line but the ref finds an Eels error.

Wests advance to the Eels 20 and get a penalty.

Solid defence from Parra and the set ends through a Magpies error.

Break down the left now from the Magpies and their centre gets through the cover to score in the left corner. The ball seemed to bounce away but it’s given the all clear. Massive sideline conversion in the windy conditions!

Wests 6 Eels 4 after 14 minutes

They enjoy playing old Magpies team songs here for the crowd here at Lidcombe. The spectator facilities are a long way from the field and it’s hard to believe this passed as a top grade venue but it’s a friendly vibe here.

Great right side shift to Newlands from our own side of halfway and he streaks into open pastures and kicks ahead. Josh Lynn wins the race to the ball and its try time.

He converts his own try

Eels 10 Wests 6

I’ve just been updating a team list whilst the play has been relatively uneventful but with just five minutes to the break the Magpies have again had some joy down the left wing, with a wide shift in the red zone finding the overlap for the winger to score in the corner.

Conversion misses

Eels 10 Magpies 10 with four minutes to go to the break

Repeat sets here for Wests to end the half on the back of a penalty and then a dropped Eels intercept. The Eels hold on well

Half time Eels 10 Wests 10

Second Half

Lights on here but it’s still dim and it’s tough to identify any player. Quite cool and very windy.

An ordinary kick on the last from the Magpies in their first set of the half as the ball bounces backwards towards the sideline 30 out. Parra’s kick from Lynn is much better next set earning a line drop out. Wests are then are caught in front of the kicker.

Eels explore both sides of the ruck. Number 19 is on for the Eels and I don’t have him on my list. He’s on the left wing and gets the ball with a bit of space but cover defenders charging across. He dives for the corner but the ball comes loose. No try.

The teams are trading errors now as play gets scrappy. Penalty to the Magpies on Parra’s quarter. They make the Eels pay for their last error with a try out wide on Wests left.

Conversion unsuccessful

Magpies 14 Eels 10 with 28 minutes remaining.

There are definitely more players involved than I have listed on my team sheet

That was a beautifully constructed try. The Eels move the ball quickly to the left. As they go through hands there are bodies in motion running different lines and it’s created space for the winger (now Newland?) to score in the corner. Number 7 misses the conversion.

Eels 14 Magpies 14 with 22 minutes remaining

As I’m checking something the Eels have managed to cross over on the right wing. I apologise as It’s now impossible for me to identify players in these conditions and without all players listed. If you’re watching on a stream you are probably better placed to identify players.

Conversion unsuccessful

Eels 18 Wests 14 with 18 minutes to go.

Parra are penalised for a late tackle on a kicker so Wests start this set inside Parra’s red zone. The try comes soon enough with a crash play beside the posts

Converted

Wests 20 Parra 18 with 13 to go.

Theres a ground announcer here who also can’t name a single try scorer, especially for the Eels. He’s not even providing a player number for Parra tries.

Eels earn a line drop out. Now a penalty in front of the posts. If this wasn’t a trial they’d take the two. Instead it’s a tap, and now really quick hands right but the last pass goes behind the winger.

Another set soon after for Parra and this time the left side shift produces an awful pass for the winger on that side. Two squandered chances there.

Great take by Newlands who flies to haul in a bomb then bumps off defenders but the ref blows a penalty for interference on a chaser.

Wests penalised now for obstruction with less than two minutes remaining. 90 metres for an escape. That won’t be happening as the ball goes down to the delight of a couple of vociferous Magpies fans. Wests go on the attack and the siren sounds as they are tackled a couple of metres out.

Full time

Wests 20 defeat Eels 18

 

 

Eels forever!

Sixties