The Eels male Junior Rep teams are again at home this week, with Eric Tweedale Stadium hosting the clashes with the Penrith Panthers.

Unusually, Penrith aren’t setting the world on fire in either grade, winning just one game in each, but they can be expected to lift against the Eels.

As for the Eels, the Matts are coming off a bye and have struggled to find winning form this year. A last second win in the opening round has been followed by two disappointing losses. They need to address the errors and poor completion rates that have plagued their game this season.

The Eels SG Ball team remain undefeated, but after the get out of gaol wins over the past two weeks, they too will be looking to make their task easier with improved completions.

Action kicks off at 4pm today with the Matts followed by the Ball at 6pm.

Harold Matthews Team List

 

1	Riley Davis
2	Cobi McCloskey
3	Cyrus Bloomfield
4	Chris Moala
5	Daniel McBride
6	Talen Risati
7	Zain Alameddine
8	Steven Nunn
9	Billy Fanene
10	Chaise Attard
11	Michael Nauer
12	Kasinga Noa
13	Samuel Polley
14	Hayden Bell
15	Curtis Brown
18	Mark Peterson
17	Jermayne Faafiu
21	Santiago Uata (con sub)

 

Match Updates

First Half

Big crowd today. Eels kicking off running south.

Panthers error on their 40m. Eels scrum feed.

Try time baby! Davis joins in the sweep from the scrum. He cuts through the defence then feeds the ball to Cobi McCloskey who races to the corner.

Magnificent sideline conversion from Alameddine.

Eels 6 lead Panthers nil after three minutes

Eels get to the last tackle kick around halfway and hoist a mid field bomb. Eels scrum.

Parra pepper the line and earn a penalty on the last tackle. Risati goes close with a stepping run. They set for a crash play to Nunn but the pass is too hard.

Panthers complete their set then the Eels receive a penalty in their next set. That’s not good – they fail to find touch. Panthers error now on Parra’s 30.

Scrum win to Parra now six again as they drive into Panthers half. They need to make use of this run of calls. But they don’t as the ball is lost on the quarter line. Penalty now to Penrith.

The hooker picks up and runs right to Parra’s posts with Attard clinging on and he’s just stopped. Simple hit up on the last and it’s a hand over on the Eels line and a drinks break.

Eels penalty straight away for offside.
Parra get to the kick and Alameddine finds touch on the Riff quarter.

Penrith drive through the middle on their set and get to the kick which McCluskey fields on his line. High tackle! Eels penalty ten out.

Back to back penalties now. Big carry from Nauer puts the Panthers on the back foot and they’re in trouble with a quick play the ball. Left now and quickly to either McBride or Bloomfield for a try in the corner. It’s officially McBride apparently. (Edit – NSWRL got it wrong as it was actually Bloomfield)

What a conversion from Alameddine!

Eels 12 Panthers nil after 19 minutes.

Parra error early in the kick off set and the push and shove is on. Officials conferring here. Warnings given. Panthers scrum.

Panthers go left and their centre gets the attention of both Moala and McCluskey and it’s an open passage for the winger when the pass is thrown. He improves the angle.

Conversion successful

Eels 12 Panthers 6 after 22 minutes

Panthers penalty for a high shot early in this set.

Panthers get to the Eels line and opt to run it on their set last but the Eels shut it down.

Parra penalty. Into the red zone now and a left side shift but the pass is called forward.

Another Eels penalty for a high shot.

Great carry from Polley to get play into the red zone. The Panthers shut down a left side play from Parra on the last. Oh huge defence from Parra this set. Now another big tackle jolts the ball free. Last shot at points goes to Parra. Hang on something has happened in the tackle after Parra recover the ball. Penalty to Parra in front and with the clock ticking down the decision for two points for Alameddine  is an easy one.

Half time Eels 14 Panthers 6

 

Second Half

Penrith kick off deep.

Poor pass to Alameddine on the last and he fumbles before scrambling back for what was a great kick to the corner.  Penrith penalty soon after. Parra’s defence line is passive in this set and the Panthers go close when they are held up. Last tackle kick earns a drop out.

Thats a huge result as Penrith let the ball bounce and it finds touch around the quarter.

Eels scrum and they work play through the middle over half way. Another high shot penalty. How many before the bin is used?

The play is worked towards the posts. Polley receives the ball on the right of the ruck. He steps right then weaves his way through defenders to score beside the right upright.

Conversion from Alameddine

Eels 20 Panthers 6 after 37 minutes

That’s a bad error from the kick off as the Eels don’t catch it cleanly.

Last tackle kick to the left corner and it’s ruled dead off the chaser.

Seven tackle set. They’ve kicked early for some reason and find touch five out but it’s a Panthers ball. Penrith go through the centre now and knock on.

Parra scrum 40 out. Hayden Bell makes a terrific dart out of dummy half as he steps defenders. He’s brought down a metre out and Steven Nunn goes close next ball. They run it right on the last and Penrith handle it with ease as the pass to Risati grubbers along the ground and slows up the play.

Penrith now make them play as they break down the left wing then follow that up by hitting the narrowest of blinds from the play the ball and streak away for a try in the corner. Conversion unsuccessful.

Eels 20 Panthers 10 with 15 minutes remaining

Drinks break taken. Eels now kicking off after the try.

The Panthers drop the ball about 25m out and gift Parra possession and the chance to immediately strike back. Hang on. Another scuffle and now a Panthers player has finally been binned.

Eels on the attack against 12 players. They shift right and Risati gets on the outside of his man and hares towards the corner. Try time!

Conversion unsuccessful

Eels 24 Panthers 10 with 12 minutes remaining

Hayden Bell is creating havoc out of dummy half and he opens the Panthers up twice in this set ultimately earning a six again call. To the posts now and the ball comes right to Risati, and his footwork leaves defenders mesmerised as he steps through them to ground the ball beside the upright.

Conversion by Alameddine

Eels 30 Panthers 10 with nine minutes remaining.

Penrith chip kick on the last tackle and Davis charges forward to catch it and break clear but the ref has found a late Parra tackle or a block.

Panthers now ten out. Oops – there’s a bad drop as they attack left and Moala picks it up. He’s away! The chase comes but he kicks out of the tackle and goes the distance to score in the right corner.

Conversion misses.
Eels 34 Panthers 10 with five to go.

savage Panthers tackle gets possession from the kick off and they look to strike immediately but throw a forward pass

The Eels hit their left side this time and put McBride into space. He gets to the fullback and with support streaming through grubbers ahead. The ball bounces perfectly for him as he regathers and streaks away for the try.

Conversion from Risati misses.

Eels 38 Panthers 10 seconds to go

Full time. Eels 38 defeat Panthers 10

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SG Ball Team List

 

1	Nathan Howlett
2	Dominic Farrugia
3	Andes Johansson
4	Corey Leigh
5	Lorima Rokosuka
6	Lorenzo Talataina
7	Lincoln Fletcher
8	Beau Lucien
9	Lachlan Coinakis
10	Ryda Talagi
11	Jezaiah Funa-Iuta
12	Trace Beattie
13	Max Popo
14	Tom Summer
15	Wesley Pakoti
16	Elijah-Shane Tapau
18	Kai Wilson
17	Aidan Kebourian
20	Phoenix Tauasa

 

Match Updates

First Half

Penrith Matts not here to cheer on their Ball team as they take the field. Eels Matts players have stuck around to form the tunnel.

Penrith kick off running towards the north end

Both Teams complete their first set and Parra get a penalty after fielding the Panthers last tackle kick.

Disaster now as the Eels head left late in the set and the intercept is taken. I didn’t see who threw the pass as a group of people walked past right at the key moment. The Panthers player runs over 50 metres to score untouched ten in from the right corner.

Conversion misses

Panthers 4 Eels nil after five minutes.

Six again in the kick off set to the Riff. They put through a short attacking kick on the last and it looks like an Eels penalty for a tackle in the air.

Bit of a nothing kick at the end of the set and Penrith soon cross halfway. Stoppage as Lucien is treated after copping an injury in making the tackle.

Not much happening as the teams trade completed sets between the quarter lines.

That now changes as a loose pass is thrown by the Panthers on their 40 and Dom Farrugia swoops to run the distance to the line and keeps his cool as his body gets spun around in the tackle causing him to slide feet first over the line.

Sideline conversion misses

Eels 4 Panthers 4 after 14 minutes.

Well the teams have traded interceptions tries but the Eels look to change that as they shift the ball right in their own half to Farrugia. He chips ahead as the defence converges and it looks like Fletcher has regained. Quick play the ball but it’s dropped on the 20 by Funa-Iuta.

On Parra’s next set they get a penalty then six again. Into the red zone now and quick hands to Leigh then Farrugia. He palms off his opposite and powers through the fullback to score!

Conversion from Fletcher just misses

Eels 8 Panthers 4 after 21 minutes

Wow that’s some carry by Funa-Iuta. He refuses to be tackled as he carries defenders for big post contact metres . Six again.

Big centering run from Popo and it’s followed up by a grubber from Fletcher that earns a drop out. Panthers go long and Funa-Iuta fields it. Left now. Big shift as the Eels back line clicks into gear and the try is finished with the dive by Rokosuka into the left corner. Conversion misses.

Eels 12 Panthers 4 after 26 minutes

I’m still typing as the Eels strike again. Talataina goes to the line and dummies. The support streams through and he finds Rokosuka for the try double!

Conversion by Fletcher

Eels 18 Panthers 4 after 28 minutes

Big catch by Howlett. Interesting refs call as he rules knock on as the fullback is driven back in the tackle with the ball rolling out backwards and Howlett regaining possession.

Panthers penalty now. They go right and the defender falls off the runner as the ball is forced  about ten in from the corner.

Conversion misses

Eels 18 lead Panthers 8 with 90 seconds to the break.

That’s not a good play. At the end of the set the Eels attempt a charge down. The ball takes the deflection and of course bounces perfectly for the chaser and its six again with less than twenty seconds on the clock as they are tackled on the left edge. Big shift right and it’s on now. Quick hands to the winger who dives over as the siren sounds

Let’s hope they don’t regret that decision to attempt a charge down with literally seconds on the clock.

Conversion misses

Half time Eels 18 lead Panthers 12

 

Second Half

Panthers get a late count penalty in this first set. Grubber kick into the in goal. Howlett looks like he’s been dragged back after getting into the field of play but ref calls drop out.

Amazing play as Eels go shortish and high on the drop out and Howlett flies through the air to take it out of a Panthers players hands and he starts to take off. The tackle comes quickly but he’s gained possession. Parra march downfield and go left to Rokosuka who dives for the corner but loses the ball over the line. Penrith pick it up and streak away but the touchie has his flag raised.

Penrith make an error in their quarter and Parra take a centre field scrum. They fairly pound the Riff line this set and somehow Penrith hold. Big left now and Johansson will do it himself as he slices through to score

Conversion kicked

Eels 24 Panthers 12

Eels drop the ball in contact from the kick off. Penalty now to Penrith. Last tackle bomb to Farrugia who flies high but is driven back in goal. Drop out.
Penrith field the contested kick. Massive hit by Talataina to shit down a dangerous right side shift. The last tackle kick is a shocker. Seven tackle set to Parra.

Parra get to the last tackle kick and Funa-Iuta does the chasing to immediately tackle the fullback five out. Big hit jolts the ball free to Parra. Tom Summer on the crash play and he’s over. No the ball has come free

Panthers work downfield and force a drop out. Parra go short and earn a drop out but the ref has actually given them a penalty for offside touches from Penrith.

Penalty now to Parra.

Coinakis almost gives away an obstruction penalty as there’s confusion in front of the posts with his runners. He kicks cross field rather than running and it looks too wide. But hang on, Farrugia goes the full length dive and tap back and Leigh dives to catch it for the try. No the ref has called the tap back as going forward. Seven tackle set to Penrith.

They get to the kick which finds touch ten out. Parra advanced play towards their forty and earn a penalty. It all comes apart with obstruction by Talataina as he runs most obviously back behind the ruck.

Back to the ref zone for Penrith and they opt to pressure the middle. Simple crash play now and the Panthers middle has somehow rolled out of four defenders to plant the ball between the sticks.

Conversion successful

Eels 24 lead Panthers 18 with 13 minutes to go.

Eels penalty in their next possession.

Well that was something out of nothing. Talataina refuses to be tackled as he attempts to create something in front of the posts. He fights and spins out of a tackle then weaves to the right. He draws a defender and passes to Summer who dives over for the try.

Fletcher converts

Eels 30 Panthers 18 with eight minutes remaining

Now just like clockwork the set after points can’t be completed. Riff scrum forty out.

They get to the last and grubber and Parra clean up. Drop out.

Talataina chases the high drop out and drills the catcher. Big right side shift. Rokosuka goes for the intercept but the pass finds the winger who scores.

Quick conversion misses.

Eels 30 lead Panthers 22 with four to go.

Big metres by Penrith but they cough up the pull forty out from Parra’s line. Oh that’s not good as Parra now return the favour with 90 seconds on the clock.

Penrith hoist the bomb and Rokosuka fields it under pressure. Big run from Johansson and now a penalty to Parra allows them to kick for touch and play out the clock.

Full time Eels 30 defeat Panthers 22

 

Eels forever!

Sixties