The Eels Round 7 male Junior Reps action comes to you from Lidcombe Oval, one of the traditional homes of the Wests Magpies.

I have my excuses ready for this live blog, as Lidcombe is not a good ground to blog from. It is an older oval with a cycling track around the field itself, putting spectators a long way from the action.

The Eels Matts team sits on the edge of the top 8, with two wins and three losses. Their form has been inconsistent and they need to find a win to stay in contention for a finals place.

In contrast, the Eels Ball team remain undefeated with five wins and a draw from their six games. Can they maintain their unique ability to find a way to win?

The Matts commences at 10:30am today with the SG Ball to follow at midday.

Under 16s Development Squad Match

The Eels and Balmain are currently engaged in a Dev squad match which kicked off at 9am. When I arrived the Tigers were leading 12-8 but then Parra scored after a last tackle grubber kick towards the line. The Eels are now defending their line with time ticking away. Plenty of try saving tackles but the Eels have turned over possession a couple of times in their red zone. Hang on, there are no conversions but the Tigers have just kicked a field goal and the siren has immediately blown. Odd ending but it’s just a practice match.

Tigers 13 Eels 12

 

Harold Matthews Team List

 

1	Riley Davis
2	Cobi McCloskey
3	Cyrus Bloomfield
4	Christopher Moala
5	Santiago Uata
6	Talen Risati
7	Caleb Leiataua
8	Steven Nunn
9	Jireh-Trey Stewart
10	Kasinga Noa
11	Michael Nauer
12	Zac Withers
13	Samuel Polley
14	Hayden Bell
15	Chaise Attard
16	Strantz Schaumkel
18	Curtis Brown
20	Epapara Tahu-Apiata
17	Jermayne Faafiu

 

Match Updates

First Half

Eels kicking off running towards the southern end. Early error from Wests on their forty metre line. Big chance here for Parra. Injury here so there’s a delay.

As play resumed the has awarded Wests a penalty from the incident. Eels get the ball back via another error. Eels hit the red zone and go right to McCloskey but the winger goes into touch ten out. Tempers flare here as the ref tries to settle the teams down.

Eels penalty on their next possession and find touch forty out.  They explore left to Nauer now back right. Moala slices through and backs himself to score. Good decision as it’s try time in the corner.
Conversion unsuccessful

Eels 4 Magpies nil after 7 minutes.

Licky escape from Wests as they make a meal of Parra’s last tackle grubber. Drop out follows. They go long but Parra are back in the red zone in two tackles. Back to the well as they go right and this time Wests make the tackle sending McCloskey into touch in goal.

Seven tackle set but Parra defend it and they have the ball back on their 20m line. Oops – an error on the second tackle hands Wests prime position for a raid.

Six again in Parra’s red zone now an Eels hand  knocks down the pass on the last tackle. Another Eels hand and few tackles later for a Wests scrum ten out.

Wests error and they immediately counterattack. Uata breaks down the left wing to take play into Wests half. They go right and there’s an Eels penalty on the quarter for a late shot. Outside inside play to Riley Davis who cuts through next to the ruck and scrambles over next to the posts. Risati converts

Eels 10 Wests nil with 13 minutes left in the half

Eels commit an obstruction early in the set after  points. Wests earn a drop out. Now six again is called. Wow what defensive resolve as Parra hold out. Well they’ll have to do it again with an error ten out!.
Another six again!
Oh that’s magnificent try line defence as Parra hold the Magpies up time after time.

Oh no! Another Eels error inside their red zone!

Six again. Wests drop the ball and Risati is off for the prize. What! The ref rules an Eels knock on. I didn’t see it but at least he calls it Wests first error. A penalty to Parra relieves the pressure.

Another incomplete set. The completion rate must be awful as Wests get the feed forty out. Come on he’s called six again in the red zone yet again. The Magpies player goes from dummy half and looks like scoring. But he’s tackled into touch.

Forty seconds to go and I’m calling out don’t pass. But what do I know. They shift left just outside their quarter and Risati slices through. He finds McCloskey in support and just as the cover is trying to drag him into touch he loops the ball back inside to Riley Davis who sprints away from the defence to score as half time sounds.

Risati converts

Half time Eels 16 lead Magpies nil

 

Second Half

Apparently completion rate was below 60% in the first half. Parra receive the kick and complete their first set with McCloskey chasing a wide bomb and being tackled on the quarter line.
Uata drops the ball and the ref allows play to roll on though it looked like Wests got a hand to it. Hang on he’s now ruled a knock on. Wests scrum ten out.
It’s a case of giving too many opportunities as Wests finally break the Eels defence and score to the left of the posts.

Conversion misses

Eels 16 Wests 4 with 24 minutes remaining.

The errors continue now as Parra’s kick off sails out on the full.

Line drop out now as the Magpies kick forces Parra to tap it dead. Short drop out. More possession with a six again call. Now a Magpies penalty late in the count for a crusher.

The pressure is ridiculous. The red zone tackle count would be crazy. Again it’s just too much possession as the Magpies runner breaks the line and scores between the sticks.

The goal is added

Eels 16 lead Wests 10 with 18 minutes remaining.

Parra need to control their errors. Wests break the line and the Eels cover get him 25 out. The ball comes free. You know what’s coming! Penalty!

More red zone defence here. Somehow Parra survive the last tackle kick. Hit up from McCluskey and that’s surely a high tackle. The ref calls it too. Eels penalty 25 out from their own line.

Terrific set through Parra’s forwards as they drive play into Wests quarter. Wide and right to McCloskey on the last and he kicks ahead forcing a drop out.

Back into the red zone and Parra hits the left edge. The ball goes down a couple of metres out.

Another Eels indiscretion has been found by the ref and the Magpies are back in the red zone. Sneaky drive from dummy half on the last but Parra are wise to it.

Great charge from Nauer. Last tackle kick and the Wests winger fumbles it backwards and is tackled ten out.

Big run from Bloomfield as he gets around the Wests winger and skirts the touch line into Wests half. He cuts back in field but is driven into touch. Thought it might have been a second attempt.

Parra get the ball back from a Wests play the ball mistake. Parra work back into Wests half. There’s a dropped ball in the ruck but the ref calls it Parra’s way this time and gives them a penalty. Into Wests quarter now. Right to Moala. He slices through and feigns to pass to his winger. He cuts back infield and drags the last defender over the line.
Conversion successful.
Eels 20 lead Wests 10 with five minutes to go.

Parra field the kick off around their 20 and are quickly back into Wests half. A pass is knocked down by Wests and picked up by Bloomfield who looks to link up with the right side players. Moala gets the pass and this time finds McCloskey who charges through for the match winner.

Conversion misses.

Eels 24 lead Wests 10 with three minutes to go

Big play from Uata as the winger leaps to catch and shut down a Wests chip kick on his own 4etre line and he’s off for the prize. He’s brought down about ten out and it’s a huge shift to the right wing as the Erls have Wests for numbers but Moala is held up.

Back left again as the siren sounds but Wests defend the play.

Full time Parra 24 defeat Wests 10

Well that was a tougher than it should have been. The penalty and six again count must have been significant and Parra’s error count as high. But when they complete their sets this team can play some great footy.

SG Ball Team List

 

1	Cameron Bamblett
2	Dominic Farrugia
3	Lachlan Vella
4	Nathan Howlett
5	Aidan Kebourian
6	Lorenzo Talataina
7	Lincoln Fletcher
8	Elijah-Shane Tapau
9	Lachlan Coinakis
10	Ryda Talagi
11	Jezaiah Funa-Iuta
12	Christopher Petrus
13	Max Popo
14	Tom Summer
16	Beau Lucien
17	Trace Beattie
19	Isaac Jim
18	Lorima Saukuru
22	Dylan Pryor

 

Match Updates

 

First Half

Wests kick off running to the north.

Eels complete their first set with a kick by Fletcher to the Wests quarter.

And the penalties start early here with a penalty  in their first set. Into Eels red zone. Parra defends well and Wests last tackle kick rolls dead.

Parra penalty after the tap restart. Superb charge from Talagi as he gets the ball about 15 out and hits full stride off his right foot and crashes through defenders to score near the left corner. Fletcher nails the angled conversion.

Eels 6 lead Magpies nil after six minutes.

Eels penalty in the set after points. Another huge run from Talagi takes play into Wests quarter. Big shift right to Farrugia but Wests slide well. Now another big shift but it’s to the left on the last and Bamblett chimes in but the Magpies survive

Magpies penalty but Parra defend it by holding up the last tackle play over the line. Wests are back in Parra’s red zone in their next set but they drop the pill about ten out.

Ok I don’t quite know how to describe that Eels try. The last tackle kick from Fletcher is short and high. Howlett catches it and dribbles the ball back along the ground as he’s tackled. Some quick hands and Bamblett chip kicks the ball back to the left where Kebourian chased and grounds it.

Another magnificent conversion from Fletcher.

Eels 12 lead Magpies nil after 15 minutes.

The teams trade sets. Last tackle kick to the left corner from Fletcher looks way too big but it’s got back spin and the Eels are first there but lose possession in contact.

Bit of push and shove now in Wests next set. Cautions to players from both teams and Wests get the penalty 25 out from their own line.

Wow that was some try as the Wests fullback chimes into their backline and accelerates. He’s got some pace too as no Eels player can get near him in a sprint to the right corner.

Conversion misses

Eels 12 Magpies 4 after 20 minutes

The Eels get a penalty and work play into the red zone. Coinakis goes for a dart and is caught just short of the line. A bit of push and shove at the ruck and the ref rules lost ball against Parra. The Eels try to muscle up to keep Wests pinned on their line but the ref rules they have jumped early. Wests now make an error on halfway to give a scrum feed to Parra.

Back to the red zone and Parra quickly take advantage with fast hands to Kebourian who dives over in the corner.

Conversion misses

Eels 16 lead Magpies 4 after 28 minutes

The teams again trade sets and the Eels break the pattern after receiving a penalty. A caution is issued to a Wests player.

Magical stuff! Talataina gets the ball around 20 out and dazzles defenders with both his footwork and acceleration and plants the ball between the posts. Easy conversion for Fletcher.

Eels 22 lead Magpies 4 with a minute to play first half.

The seconds count down as I again suggest a conservative approach in possession. But that’s not in their DNA as they go all out attack on a left side shift with a kick chase added. The scramble from Wests and a fortunate bounce of the ball is the only thing that prevents a try as the siren sounds half time.
Half time Eels 22 lead Magpies 4

Second Half

Been a bit of an arm wrestle for the first ten minutes of this half as both teams are looking for ascendancy. Wests have probably had the better of the territory and chances. Big six again for Parra as a pass takes a deflection when they advance into Wests half late in the tackle count here.

First genuine attacking shot in the red zone coming up. Left to Talataina who finds Fletcher. The Eels half accelerates through a narrow hole in the defence and he races to the corner.

Terrific sideline conversion of his own try.

Eels 28 lead Magpies 4 with 20 minutes remaining.

The Eels go back to back now as they advance play to Wests red zone again and Lincoln Fletcher sends a great inside ball to Popo who then fires a return pass to Fletcher who also goes back to back with tries as he scores next to the posts. He converts to make it 12 personal points in three minutes.

Eels 34 lead Magpies 4 with 17 minutes remaining.

Eels error in the kick off set but Wests return the favour inside Parra’s 20.

Eels complete their next set, now the Magpies receive a penalty 30 out from their own line.
It’s just not happening for Wests today as they have another scrambling end to their set in Parra’s quarter.

Obstruction against Fletcher as he runs behind his forwards late in the Eels next set. Wests find touch about 50 out. Another penalty goes their way for a player tackled on suspicion. They finally get success and not surprisingly it is scored by their fullback as he chases a grubber into the in goal and does well to ground it. Conversion is successful

Eels 34 lead Magpies 10 with seven minutes remaining.

Yet another Magpies penalty in the set after points. They get to the Eels quarter and they spread it left where they have Parra done for numbers. They’ve inexplicably kicked the ball instead of going through hands and the ball goes dead for a seven tackle set to Parra.

Eels error late in the next set after they work play into Wests red zone. Scrum to Wests. It’s getting scrappy here as Wests make an error themselves and both teams come together for more push and shove and a quick caution. Eels scrum feed.

The Eels work play through the forwards towards Wests quarter and the last tackle kick finds touch. Hang on Wests drop the ball and Parra scoop it up and go close to scoring in the left corner but the pass is loose. Wests scoop that up and throw another loose pass. The ball is kicked out and that should just about do it.

Full time Eels 34 defeat Magpies 10

 

Eels forever!

Sixties