The action continues from Leichardt Oval as the Lisa Fiaola and Tarsha Gale fly the flag for the Eels. The Lisa Fiaola have an intriguing match-up against the Central Coast Roosters – a team they didn’t face through the regular season. Can they bounce back from their last start loss to the Bulldogs to now overcome the Chooks? They do have the cushion of a Top 4 seed so a loss isn’t the end of their story but like the SG Ball, a win punches their ticket to the grand final qualifier.

The Tarsha Gale find themselves in a sudden death shootout against the team that derailed their momentum all the way back in Round 5. The Cronulla Sharks delivered an old school ambush in that game and put Parramatta’s season temporarily on the skids. We saw some of the best from the Gale last week though in their gritty and desperate win over the Bulldogs and now they come forearmed and forewarned with what the Sharks will throw at them. Winner takes all here.

 

Lisa Fiaola Team List

 

1	Irae Savea
2	Sienna Bonello
3	Georgia Wansey
4	Cody Tuimaseve
5	Freedom Crichton Ropati
6	Sharon Latapu
7	Temieke Withers
8	Mere Sivo
9	Bailey Ma-Chong
10	Isabella Bell
11	Kaizen Morgan-Pritchard
12	Mitszy Cairns
13	Catea Duff
14	Alissa Misa
15	Anika Penitani
16	Olivia Saba
17	Evelyn Kuwendu
18	Kaveinga O’Callaghan-Ahio
19	Deja Vaivela
20	Laylah Tafili
21	Rylee Cash
23	Hine Rikiti
25	Hayloh Talagi

 

Match Updates

 

First Half

 

Eels fielding the ball to start this game.

Looking for a better result compared to their brothers in the Ball and Matts.

Strong opening set as the middle forwards carve out big swathes around the ruck and Freedom Crichton Ropati puts the exclamation mark on the set with a big kick chase and tackle.

Oh no, Freedom undoes her own good work at the end of the defensive set when she makes a meal of the kick clean-up. Just got caught with the crocodile arms there and the ball slipped through. Chance for the Roosters to claim first points.

Yep as with the fellas earlier – the errors are proving to be backbreakers as the Roosters use hands to strike down their right edge. Parra caught a player short there and it allows Marley Gristwood to plant the ball down in the corner. Big conversion from the sideline as well.

 

Try scored by Marley Gristwood. Conversion successful by Meg McPhail.

Roosters lead 6-0

5min gone

 

Now the Eels are struggling to wrap up the big middles of the Roosters. It leads to a near carbon copy play for Gristwood – although the Eels barely manage to hold on and they survive the attacking kick back to the posts. Well, survive is a matter of perspective I guess as they cough the ball straight back up and again the Tri-colours focus their efforts down their right. The Eels hold on only to knock on in the contest for a grubber kick on the last.

They will do brilliantly to hold on here.

Centrefield scrum as the Roosters play right. Wansey makes the tackle on her opposite. But while they manage to repel that initial raid, the Eels have no answer two plays later when again they are stripped for numbers down their left. It is a dummy and go instead of a pass to an unmarked Gristwood as Berryman plows her way over.

 

Try scored by Talia Berryman. Conversion successful by Meg McPhail.

Roosters lead 12-0

11min gone

 

Yeah, it is shaping up as that sort of game. The Roosters are too big, too strong and too quick as the punch holes through the Eels en route to a barge over try for Mia Vaotuua. Not much more I can say here with the game fast slipping away for our girls even this early on.

 

Try scored by Mia Vaotuua. Conversion successful by Meg McPhail.

Roosters lead 18-0

14min gone

 

The Eels finally get their hands on the ball for what might be their second proper set of the game if my count is right. They scrap their way to 10m short of halfway before Bailey Ma-Chong tries to heave a clearing kick downfield by the Roosters still end up close to halfway when all is said and done. The klaxxons are firing here as the Roosters wind up for another tilt at the Eels’ goal line.

What do you know? They hold on. Well done by Crichton Ropati after she handled a wicked bounce on the attacking grubber kick.

Oh that is a rough call. I do not agree there as Temieke Withers is pulled up for a gorgeous cutout pass to Sienna Bonnello. I do no think that went forwards but it is called and the ball goes back to the Roosters. Very contentious involvement from the touch judge.

Big tackle by Catea Duff as she forces an error from McPhail on the goal line.

Mere Sivo wears a violent shot from Aaliyah Temete before Ma-Chong gets away a brilliant kick that traps the Roosters 1m inside the field of play. For the first time today the Eels gain the ascendancy in defence but it all falls apart as Irae Savea – usually safe as houses under the high ball – makes a complete meal of the clearing kick. Just pain all around at Leichardt today.

Tough work in defence from Freedom Crichton Ropati as she holds up her opposite for long enough for cover defence to arrive and drive her into touch.

Geez we are struggling with simple kicks here as Freedom Crichton Ropati grasses her second kick of the game. The big game nerves are clearly an issue here because we saw nothing of this all year prior to today.

A rare break for our girls as the Roosters lace a heavy kick off the boot and the grubber rolls dead in-goals.

A penalty comes after the 20m restart as they find big metres through the middle. Gee I think Withers read that wrong. She gets the drop out still as a result with the grubber but the wide angle showed an overlap to my eyes and hands probably sees the Eels cross out wide.

Good scramble defence from the Roosters as they track down Georgia Wansey out wide after some crisp ball movement from the Eels. The Eels try to catch their rivals out on the last as Duff gets the crash ball but she is repelled for the turnover.

Damaging offloads from the Roosters as they have one final crack at Parramatta. Our girls do well to hold on before Savea jumps high to claim the attacking bomb in what can hopefully be a shot in the arm for her confidence. Ultimately, the girls did well to stymie the bleeding after the Roosters raced out to a 18-point lead within 14-minutes but they now have a mountain to conquer in the second half.

 

Half Time

Central Coast Roosters 18 lead the Parramatta Eels 0

 

Second Half

 

Eels to kick off.

An early error in the play-the-ball from the Roosters give the Eels a chance to carve into the 3-score deficit. Latapu runs it on the first. Duff up next. More work through the forwards as Kuwendo is pulled down in front of the posts. On the last the Eels play two passes back to the left to find Withers and step stabs a sharp crossfield kick to Sienna Bonnello who races down the sideline to secure the ball and dive over for the crucial first try.

 

Try scored by Sienna Bonnello. Conversion unsuccessful by Temieke Withers.

Eels trail 4-18

33min gone

 

Shortish kick from the Roosters. It boosts the Eels and their quest for field position as they work their way into the Central Coast’s half with tackle to spare. Withers kicks down the left again on the last but the Roosters do a much better job cleaning it up this time around.

Some rhythm for the Eels now as they cobble together a good defensive set that allows Freedom Crichton Ropati to make a bust through the ruck. She is eventually brought down at the last line but the Eels continue to build before they draw a penalty for interference from the markers as they play at the hands of the dummy half.

Time off for an injured Rooster. Not great signs there given she has been down for a minute or two here with a couple of trainers attending to her. It might be the fullback here as she walks off under her own power but leaves the Roosters with a void to fill at the back.

Tap and go for the Blue & Gold. Big wind up from Evelyn Kuwendu as she is barely brought down shy of the line. Withers dances and weaves her way back to the posts before the shift right sees Latapu send the big backrower Kaizen Morgan-Pritchard back underneath. There is a twinkle of daylight between defenders and she seizes on the opportunity as she storms over under the posts and breathes even more life into the murmurs of a comeback!

 

Try scored by Kaizen Morgan-Pritchard. Conversion successful by Temieke Withers.

Eels trail 10-18

39min gone

 

No matter how often you see it in the Junior Reps it is always amazing to see how much teams can get energised on the back of a little slice of momentum. The Eels have clicked into top gear now as they make big in-roads through the Roosters and nearly make it back-to-back scores with a big right edge shift on the last. It takes some tremendous cover defence to barely bundle Freedom Crichton Ropati into touch at the last gasp because otherwise we would be within a single score here.

But does the pendulum swing the other way? A penalty late in the count gives the Tri-colours an extended run in possession and they find some avenues for second phase ball down their right edge. The Eels scramble well in response but a second penalty – this one for a push in the ruck by Withers – sets the Roosters up for a prolonged raid on Parramatta’s goal line.

Oh my, after some strong early work on their goal line it is completely undone as the line speed completely evaporates. It allows Pesalili-Star Combo to trundle around some arm-grabbing defence and crash over right of the posts. Disappointing effort and potentially snuffs out hopes of the comeback.

 

Try scored by Pesalili-Star Combo. Conversion successful by Meg McPhail.

Roosters lead 24-10

46min gone

 

So close! Latapu slides through in Parramatta’s next possession but just can’t find Savea on her left at the last line. The Eels are fortunate in picking up a penalty on the back of that play as the Roosters leave fractionally early to try and dive on an open ball at dummy half. It is a crucial call as well as Isabella Bell shows power and determination in spades from the tap restart to thunder her way over next to the posts! Bailey has a poor strike from the tee and is waved way.

 

Try scored by Isabella Bell. Conversion unsuccessful by Bailey Ma-Chong.

Eels trail 14-24

50min gone

 

Strong carry from Misa. Gee that was impressive as she fought her way through a violent hit for big metres. Just as it look like the Eels have something cooking down their left on the last the big pass between the halves goes awry and Withers grasses it with options to her left. They probably needed a result there sadly.

Big counterpunch from the Roosters as they use short passes through the middle to suck in defenders and create space. Wansey does brilliantly on the last to secure a grubber kick and put the Eels back on the attack.

Dueling errors lead to the Roosters getting the ball back inside Parra’s half with the clock ticking towards 6min left.

Courageous stand inside their red zone from the Eels. There is still enough time to for the required two scores but they have to go now as they force a turnover on tackles with swarming defence.

Misa again impresses with her leg drive as she puts the Eels inside their opposition’s half. Last now as they run it down the left and fire a cut out pass to Bonnello. She heads back infield and tries to loop an offload to support but it trickles into touch and that probably puts the lid on this one.

A nasty high shot on Georgia Wansey there. She is deadset clothes-lined fielding a chip kick from the Roosters. Probably a bin but the referee doesn’t even put it on report.

Ma-Chong nearly sparks something with an offload to Savea but the Roosters converge on the goal line to save the day and that was the best shot the Eels fire that set as Isabella Bell is brought down on the last for the turnover.

Under a minute left here as the Roosters produce another mistake and the siren rings out before a scrum can be packed. Their blistering opening flurry secured the win and while our girls showed of spirit to comeback like they did – it wasn’t quite enough. Like the SG Ball however, they get a second chance courtesy of their Top 4 finish and face the Panthers next week.

 

Full Time

Central Coast Roosters 24 defeat the Parramatta Eels 14

 

Tarsha Gale Team List

 

1	Dallis Graham-Withell
2	Sualo Lafoga
3	Sammy-Lee Gunn-Tauai
4	Mariah Fasavalu-Faamausili
5	Avena Racoma Ngata
6	Khyliah Gray
7	Aaliyah Soufan
10	Tess McWilliams
9	Ava Jones
16	Taylah Falaniko
11	Fontayne Tufuga
12	Matoisha Kalepo
13	Ryvrr-Lee Alo
8	Armarni-Lea Auvae
14	Rory Muller
15	Lilieta Pouli
17	Alana O’Loughlin
19	Anahera Paekau
18	Shire Thocolich

 

Match Updates

 

First Half

 

Eels to kick off. Dangerous start from the Sharks as they threaten to blow the Eels open through the middle. Parramatta do manage to hold on thankfully and it leads to the Sharks getting mixed up between their half Brookfield and one of her forwards as the ball is knocked on.

Big contact on tackle one. Think it was Fasavalu-Faamausili in the middle of that. A late penalty for the Eels – off the back of a Ryvvr-Lee Alo carry – sets them up for an early attacking set. Alo heavily involved early in this set as the Eels work to their right where Kyliah Gray has a 50/50 moment that could have been points either way as she drifts into the line and passes. The ball ends up tipped and dropped by the Sharks but that easily could have been a try for either team pending an intercept or clean miss.

Oh my goodness that is pure class. Ryvvr-Lee Alo slips an outrageous offload through heavy contact. Sublime footy skills and it finds Tess McWilliams in support as the bookened dives over for first points. That might be the first time the Eels have scored first today at Leichardt Oval as well.

 

Try scored by Tess McWilliams. Conversion successful by Dallis Graham-Withell.

Eels lead 6-0

5min gone

 

Sharp work around the ruck now as the Eels punish offside defenders and earn the penalty. Kalepo with the run that picks up the whistle there.

Damn, it quickly unravels though with a lapse of concentration at dummy-half that leads to an error. What a let off for the Sharks.

And now a penalty against the Eels for crowding as the Sharks resume play 15m inside Parramatta’s half.

Bit of a scrap here now as Fasavalu-Faamausili and Tarnee Ingram lock horns. Nothing comes from it though and we resume play.

Neat second phase play paves the way for the Sharks to dive over in the corner and strike back on the scoreboard.

 

Try scored by Kirrawahn Ducket. Conversion unsuccessful.

Sharks trail 4-6

10min gone

 

Big result from the kick off as Graham-Withell angles her restart and finds the grass before the sideline for a Parramatta scrum feed. Clever kick.

Right from the scrum win with Falaniko. Slow build left from there but the Eels force it too early to the sideline allowing the Sharks to press them and Sualo Lafoga can’t secure the ball before a defender is in her face. Getting too lateral here – our girls would be better served punching it through the middle and looking for options on the back of that.

Oh dear, again errors prove to be the bane of the Eels. A sloppy play-the-ball gifts the Sharks possession near halfway and from there they are able to put the Eels on their heels leading to a goal line stand at the end of the posts. Their line speed is lacking on the final play of the set as they are caught standing passive it allows the Cronulla forward to step off her left foot and find a little channel to attack as she dives over for a soft try.

 

Try scored by the Mona Taleo. Conversion unsuccessful.

Sharks lead 8-6

18min gone

 

The Eels produce a second result from the kick off but can’t capitalise as they lose their way through the set culminating in Gray dying with the ball on the last bereft of direction. The Sharks are feeling very obliging though and immediately cough the ball back up.

An over-correction from the Eels now as they get lost in just trying to hammer their way over from short range. A penalty against the markers on the last tackle is very timely but again the Eels struggle to post a multi-faceted attack against the Sharks. Ava Jones is able to salvage a line drop-out with a testing grubber kick on the last as the pressure continues to simmer away but can the Eels convert here?

Yes they can! All it took was spirited charge from their talismanic lock forward RLA! The weight of possession wins out and Alo takes it upon herself to punch a hole in the steely Cronulla defence with a superb charge.

 

Try scored by Ryvvr-Lee Alo. Conversion successful by Dallis Graham-Withell.

Eels lead 12-8

25min gone

 

A penalty for Parramatta now as they get the chance to pour on the pressure ahead of half time.

Nice run from Soufan as she links up with her fullback. Auvae gets into the ruck now and get out of the way from there because Ryvvr-Lee Alo has exploded onto the ball next tackle and eviscerated the ruck defence of the Sharks. She leaves forwards strewn in her wake as she dots it down under the posts to put the Eels further ahead!

 

Try scored by Ryvvr-Lee Alo. Conversion successful by Dallis Graham-Withell.

Eels lead 18-8

29min gone

 

I appreciate sticking to the up-tempo footy and the Eels definitely had the Sharks rocking on their heels but the error in the pass from Soufan to Ryvvr-Lee Alo gifts the Sharks a chance to narrow the gap before half time. Thankfully their defence stands up to navigate the handful of tackles afforded to Cronulla before the siren rings out and at the break the Eels have a 10-point lead.

 

Half Time

Parramatta Eels 18 lead the Cronulla Sharks 8

 

Second Half

 

Eels to receive the ball.

Brutal carry from Kyliah Gray as she thunders over a Sharks defender and takes the Eels into Cronulla’s half. Soufan completes the set with a nice bomb and the kick chase pins Cronulla deep in their own half.

Brilliant hit from Mariah Fasavalu-Faamausili as she unloads on her opposite with a punishing tackle.

Alana O’Loughlin continues to impress off the interchange – she has been heavily involved since getting thrown into the game. The Eels keep the ball alive on the last as Gray offloads to Graham-Withell who in turn finds her halfback Soufan. Aaliyah sends the kick towards Lafoga and she gets a chance to play at the bouncing ball but just can’t reel it in and a try goes begging.

A penalty late in the following set gives Cronulla a sniff as they work into Parramatta’s territory by playing down their right. The switch of play sees Avena Racoma Ngata emulate the effort of her centre Mariah with another bone rattler.

6-again for the Sharks on the last when Auvae plays at the grubber kick and it then leads to a penalty for a high tackle one play later. Big run of possession for the Sharks. Parramatta will do very well to hold on.

Line speed to is far too passive now but the Eels get a huge reprieve when Isemonger, the Cronulla lock, loses the ball over the line on the very first tackle of the next set.

A penalty then aids the Eels coming out of their own quarter – that was for a clear high shot.

More quality work from Ryvvr-Lee Alo as she offloads to McWilliams in the midfield. It takes the Eels deep into Cronulla’s half where Soufan completes the set with a grubber kick at the posts. Just as it looks like the Eels will capitalise on a drop from the kick as they scoop the loose ball up and score the referee blows his whistle and indicates the kick chase was offside.

Will this best a costly mistake? It looks like Parramatta have easily secured possession at the end of the following set but a late hit on the kicker has handed the Sharks a gilded opportunity to strike. Will this escalate further? The referee calls out Fasavalu-Faamausili but it appears to be a caution only – no indication of a report either. Still a huge chance for the Sharks.

And they pounce. Simple stuff in the end as well as their big bookend Felila Fakalelu rumbles through the left edge of the Eels. The lower player wins in terms of leverage and she had all the power in that contact as she burrows over.

 

Try scored by Felila Fakalelu. Conversion unsuccessful.

Sharks trail 12-18

43min gone

 

Good bit of sporting play now as Ryvvr-Lee aids a Shark to stretch out a bad cramp at the conclusion of the next kickoff set.

We get back underway eventually as the Eels ruck it out. Good run from Alo now with McWilliams following up with a good run and offload. O’Loughlin wreaks some havoc on the back of that platform and earns a penalty.

Full set from 25m out here.

Sharp tap and go from Gunn-Tauai down the left. Rory Muller nearly crashes over from dummy-half but it held up. To the right now but an unforced error lets the Sharks off. Parramatta definitely caught up going sideways before they earned it there.

Well the Sharks return in kind with a concentration drop coming out of their own quarter. Chance for the Eels to secure a critical two-score lead now.

Big charge from Fontayne Tufuga as she centres the pill. Gray has a run herself now but chooses not to offload. Beautiful hands down the left from there! It was bubbling away for a while now and it comes via the work of Soufan and another slick offload from Alo to put Lafoga over in the corner!

 

Try scored by Sualo Lafoga. Conversion unsuccessful by Dallis Graham-Withell.

Eels lead 22-12

50min gone

 

O’Loughlin into the breach once more. Another bustling charge for the interchange forward. She even comes back on the third for another carry. The Eels roll into Cronulla’s half as McWilliams trucks it up and Gray completes the set with a bit of an awkward kick. Good set nonetheless.

Stinging defence from the right edge now as they make sure to get their shoulders into the meat of the attacker. Cronulla have to throw caution to the wind chasing points and Lafoga pounces with a great read on a cutout pass to snatch it out of the air for the turnover.

The Eels make sure to drive the dagger deep from there with some brilliant second phase ball down the right edge. Falaniko sorties wide right and offloads to Kalepo who finds Racoma Ngata and the winger cleanly dives over in the corner!

 

Try scored by Avena Racoma Ngata. Conversion unsuccessful by Dallis Graham-Withell.

Eels lead 26-12

55min gone

 

It looked like the entire right edge of the Sharks was offside from the short kickoff attempt but play is allowed to go on. The ball drops short of the 10m mark but bounces kindly for Cronulla but Sammy-Lee Gunn-Tauai does a good job to secure the pill. Ryvvr-Lee Alo goes down heavily left play in what looks to be a bad crusher tackle. She is in some strife here as play is called off and this could be a sickening blow for the Eels with the game in essentially garbage time. The penalty is called but the real concern here is Ryvvr-Lee herself with multiple trainers attending her on the ground.

She finds her way to her feet after a lengthy break and walks off – hopefully she is not injured in any serious manner. The crowd give her a deserved round of applause in coming off – she has been the best player on the field by some margin (and that includes some cracking efforts from other Eels).

Good work from Falaniko as she holds on to a difficult short ball. Soufan takes play to the left and gets away a slick offload back inside to Lilieta Pouli who burrows over for the late try! Wonderful work from the halfback there.

 

Try scored by Lilieta Pouli. Conversion successful by Dallis Graham-Withell.

Eels lead 32-12

58min gone

 

I will have to wrap up my live blogging here because my dog is telling me off something fierce and I think he needs to be attended to. What a quality effort from our girls here and they stand alone as the only Eels team to win today – punching their ticket through to a game against the Panthers in two weeks.

 

Full Time

Parramatta Eels 32 defeat the Cronulla Sharks 12