Grand Final Qualifiers. That is quite literally the name of the game today for the Parramatta Eels as the Lisa Fiaola and Tarsha Gale Cup teams step into sudden death showdowns with the Canterbury Bulldogs. The Dogs have been the gold standard in both these grades in recent seasons and loom large as formidable road blocks for Parramatta’s grand final aspirations – but there is plenty of reason to believe the Blue & Gold can make something happen today.

The Tarsha Gale stunned the then undefeated Bulldogs back in Round 9 with a 20-18 win in what became a flag-planting victory for the team. It was a different story for the Lisa Fiaola who copped a heavy 46-10 loss against their excellent opposition but armed with a focused game plan this week they will anticipate being able to disrupt their fancied rivals.

Action today kicks off at 10:00AM for the Lisa Fiaola Cup with the Tarsha Gale Cup following at 11:30AM. I will bring you all of the updates from both games while Sixties will provide coverage for the Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup in a separate blog!

 

 

Lisa Fiaola Cup 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	Alissia Misa
16	Olivia Saba
17	Evelyn Kuwendu
18	Kaveinga O’Callaghan-Ahio
19	Deja Vaivela
21	Hayloh Talagi
23	Hine Rikiti

 

Match Updates

 

Hine Rikiti has come into the starting back line for Sienna Bonnello who is out today in a late change to the line-up. Olivia Saba will start in the front-row with Mere Sivo shifting back to the interchange.

 

First Half

 

Eels are kicking off.

Bailey Ma-Chong gets us underway. Powerful charge from the Bulldogs on the first carry of the game. Geez the Bulldogs are a massive line-up and they rumble into Parramatta’s half enroute to hoisting an attackig bomb. Irae Savea does very well to defuse the danger whilst under immense pressure and the Eels will get their first possession.

A good, tough reply from the Eels here as they punch it back over halfway against a huge Canterbury pack before Ma-Chong completes the set with a clever kick on the last that finds the carpet.

Again though the Bulldogs’ pack is just so big and powerful as they carry the ball over the ad-line every tackle of the next set. The Eels are bending but not breaking though as they force another kick that Savea cleans up before the Blue & Gold win the opening penalty of the game for a leg pull.

The first penalty is followed by the first error through as Olivia Saba gets jammed underneath the ball and loses control. The Eels can’t afford those kind of lapses against their formidable opposition and they are made to pay almost immediately as the powerful centre Asha Taumoepeau-Williams comes infield and brushes through some flimsy ruck defence and dives over under the posts. Alas, the Eels will play from behind today.

 

Try scored by Asha Taumoepeau-Williams. Conversion successful by Emacyn-Eden Ieremia.

Bulldogs lead 6-0

6min gone

 

The Dogs now pick up a late penalty in their kickoff set – the pressure gets ratcheted up to 12 on a scale of 1-10 for the Eels. Thankfully they hold as as Freedom Crichton Ropati makes a clutch tackle to save a try in her corner.

Alright! An error from the Dogs in their next possession as they are charged for a forward pass near halfway. Can the Eels get stuck into them here? A good charge from Isabella Bell puts them inside the attacking quarter but a shift to the left afterwards is a bit too slow to catch Canterbury short. Temieke Withers does an excellent job on the next play to force a line drop out and keep the Eels on the attack.

Bell has to head back to field the dribbling restart that splits catchers. Sivo has a good carry mid-set as Savea nearly finds a seam down the right. She is barely dragged down but fights to her feet for the quick ruck and you know what that means! Ma-Chong pounces on the chance as she knifes out of dummy-half and plows over down the right edge to put the Eels right back into this contest! Tough attempt for Bailey to convert her own try. Set wide to the right but she strikes it sweet and raises the flags!

 

Try scored by Bailey Ma-Chong. Conversion successful by Bailey Ma-Chong.

Eels lock the scores up at 6-all

13min gone

 

Oh no. The nightmare result from the kickoff as Bell is hammered from the restart and loses the ball. Just like that the Bulldogs are back in front as again an error has directly led to points for a Dogs team that is simply too big and too good to give those sort of looks. They shift the ball from right to left and find the Eels a player short for the easy put down in the corner.

 

Try scored Lala Vaea. Conversion unsuccessful by Emacyn-Eden Ieremia.

Bulldogs lead 10-6

16min gone

 

The metres are flowing freely for the Dogs from the kickoff set but a strong tackle late in the set jolts the ball loose. Gee did the Eels need that but equally they need to contain their own errors.

Rikiti and Bell take the first charges of this set. Duff takes play over the halfway mark before offloading to Latapu but she is swarmed by the peeling defence. Savea has a superb run late in the count! She busts tackles around the middle and links up with Ma-Chong who weaves to the left looking for support. Her pass to those supporting players is batted down by a defender and it gives the Eels a full set from a scrum to try and hit back.

They only need one play! Latapu drifts right from the scrum win as she causes a momentary hesitation in the defensive line. It gives Cody Tuimaseve the half-step she needs to find the gap and she explodes onto Latapu’s pass to scream over under the posts from 20m out! What a play, the Eels aren’t just holding here – they are about to take the lead!

 

Try scored by Cody Tuimaseve. Conversion successful by Bailey Ma-Chong.

Eels lead 12-10

21min gone

 

Bit of redemption for Bell this time around as she rumbles into the defence with a good run that wins a penalty. Quick tap from Bailey as she pinches 15m. Simple, solid stuff for the Eels from there before they win another whistle late in the count for offside defenders. Huge chance now with a full set in their hands inside the attacking 20m.

Tap and shift to Kaizen Morgan-Pritchard but has she lost it? Yes she has as the referee immediately signals a lost ball on the first tackle. What a let off. Now the focus switches back to defence but the Eels are offside from the scrum and hand their rivals a piggy-back downfield.

Once more, despite bleeding early metres – the Eels stiffen up their defence later in the set as Morgan-Pritchard provides a strong hit that produces an error. Before I can finish my update though, Parramatta cough it up on tackle one as Georgia Wansey can’t maintain control of the ball with a strong shoulder making contact under her grip.

Huge goal line stand now. The Eels are desperate early in the tackle count as they hold the Dogs out on a number of crash plays. Canterbury look to switch the point of attack as they venture down their left but again Parramatta throw some heavy shoulders into their tackles. It culminates with an error on the last! Brilliant effort there from the entire team.

A good, industrious set gets the Eels back to halfway and again Savea provides a seriously impressive carry at the end of the set. She has left a Bulldog strewn in her wake and time is blown off as the referee does the right thing for a downed player. Withers completes the set with a tidy kick that is marked out around 25m off the Bulldogs’ line.

Some damaging offloads from the Dogs here. No outright linebreaks result from it but the metres do flow. They get too keen to keep the ball alive though and can only manage a meek knock-on in the big transition from right to left edge.

Good run Sivo! Takes the Eels to halfway as the siren rings out next play and I will tell you what – the Eels are beyond into this one! While the Bulldogs are making damaging metres with their huge pack and backs – they have shown vulnerability to Parramatta’s ball-playing and play-makers and it has resulted in a 2-point lead for the Eels at half time!

 

Half Time

Parramatta Eels 12 lead the Canterbury Bulldogs 10

 

Second Half

 

Bulldogs kicking off.

The opposite way the Eels wanted to start this stanza. After some good opening charges the ball gets left behind by Sivo for an error. Hard to tell if the pass was on the mark from the angle I have but it gifts the Dogs the chance to take back the lead. A penalty follows shortly after for holding down in the ruck but there is an error in the ruck from the restart of play! Wow you take those ones.

Crichton Ropati and Tuimaseve work hard early in this set before the ball is shifted left to Cairns. Nice little sortie by Withers down the left as she shimmies and dummies her way over the midpoint of the field. Latapu completes the set with a bomb that is well taken by the Dogs.

Canterbury catch the ruck defence of the Eels out and make a half break before Parramatta are called out as offside on the next play. Another tough defensive set incoming.

Once more the offloads are wreaking havoc as the Eels barely scramble in time to make a save. While they get the job done in front of the posts, it has sucked in defenders as a result, the Dogs seize on this chance with a shift to their left where a simple block play pulls in the final edge defender and allows Asha Taumeopeuau-Williams to nab her second try of the game.

 

Try scored by Asha Taumeopeuau-Williams. Conversion unsuccessful by Emacyn-Eden Ieremia.

Bulldogs lead 14-12

35min gone

 

A penalty against the Bulldogs while in possession! A turning point in this game maybe?

The Eels get the ball on halfway as a result. Good hands lead to a strong run from Morgan-Pritchard before the Eels venture right to Tuimaseve. She is crunched in a late hit by a tertiary defender but not whistle comes. That was very border line. Alas, the set concludes with Latapu caught over-processing her play on the last as she fumbles the ball in the transition to a kicking option.  While that chance is squandered – the Dogs duly turn the ball back over coming out of their own half. Little drop on the ground about 10m shy of halfway.

WHAT AN EFFORT! The scrum play is crucial for the Eels once more! Set to the right, the scrum lets Withers wander to her left as she drifts, not unlike Latapu earlier this game, before finding Savea. The fullback hits top gear early and then passes to Hine Rikiti who hits the gas against the sliding defence. She blasts down the left sideline for 38m before a cover defender arrives at the last gasp to try and halt her progress but she fights through the tackle to score outwide! This see-sawing contest continues!

 

Try scored by Hine Rikiti. Conversion unsuccessful by Temieke Withers.

Eels lead 16-14

39min gone

 

The mandate has to be to get to the kick this set. Bell and Savea give some good purchase through the middle late in the set and indeed the set is completed! Withers punched the ball downfield by it is cleaned up tidily by the Dogs. Still a good set.

A huge focus by the Dogs to run it up the middle this set as they fatigue the Parramatta markers with repeated efforts out of dummy-half. It leads to climax moment as Evelyn Roberts wins a penalty taking a scoot and is able to then take the quick tap and storm through the retreating defence to score next to the posts. Brutal sequence there for the Eels but making a tackle on that quick tap meant a certain sin bin and likely a try to follow.

 

Try scored by Evelyn Roberts. Conversion successful by Emacyn-Eden Ieremia.

Bulldogs lead 20-16

44min gone

 

Huge metres for the Dogs as their centre Taumoepeau-Williams makes a half break. The Eels hold on as Withers field a grubber kick in the front line before Crichton Ropati wins a huge penalty for Parra. She taps and goes and splits the front line! She is in the clear but hasn’t got the legs to go the full 65m to the line. Left now as Withers looks to catch the Dogs short but her pass to Wansey is dropped but the ref was playing advantage! Penalty Eels.

Right early next set as Crichton Ropati and Morgan-Pritchard have fair cracks at the line. Back to the left where an extravagant cutout pass catches the hand of a defender. Another set for the Eels.

Carins nearly powers over on the first tackle. Short ball to Bell but she is repelled. Right as the spine combine to feed Freedom who is dragged down a metre short. Latapu has a run and is denied. Last now as the Eels have spread them out. Withers with options here! Run, kick or pass! It is the run and dummy as she glides through! Summed it up brilliantly! She puts the Eels back on level pegging with the shot at goal from wide-ish left! Bailey can’t tack on from that position so we are locked up.

 

Try scored by Temieke Withers. Conversion successful by Bailey Ma-Chong.

Eels lock the scores up at 20-all

50min gone

 

Good run Bell! Lowers the boom there. Kuwendu has a huge collision next tackle. Huge shot, powerful run as players are strewn all around on both sides. Bell sets up the kick on the last as Withers sends up the bomb and the chasers swarm through to trap the Dogs on their 20m line.

The tension is thick enough to be cut with a knife here. Can the Eels find one more big play in them?

Canterbury still have plenty of running in them though and continue to hammer away in behind the ruck. The Eels hold on and Rikiti secures the ball back with a good take under pressure.

Tuimaseve and Savea provide through the middle with Irae again breaking tackles and whirling through contact. Ma-Chong completes the set with a kick from dummy half but the Dogs are equal to the challenge and catch it cleanly.

Phew! The Dogs look like they got lost on the last and run it via a bookend. It is still a damaging carry but the defence hold on thankfully.

Savea is having a monster game here with another bustling carry and offload that eventually leads to tackle reset when the Dogs bat a pass later in the same tackle. A penalty for offside markers comes next and the Eels take the tap via Bell. Under 5min left now as Bell plows downfield in a tough run.

O’Callaghan-Ahio delivers more of the same before Bell wins a penalty for a flop! 20m out and shaded to the right of the posts! This is a key moment in this game and yes the referee points to the uprights – the Eels will take a shot at the lead here. Bailey sets up the tee as the clock bleeds. Under 3min left as she begins to step back and line up the shot. She realigns the ball before finally stepping in. She strikes the left upright! Chaos! But it ricochets in! The Eels are in front with 2min to play!

 

Penalty goal attempt successful by Bailey Ma-Chong.

Eels lead 22-20

58min gone

 

Bell rings out another run. Huge game from the front rower. Morgan-Pritchard and Duff take the Eels to halfway before Savea takes them into opposition territory. Ma-Chong runs it on the last but she is trapped by a marker. Huge set now for the Eels.

Withers makes a big tackle early on as the Eels pour in on the next tackle – Sivo leading the way. The ball hits the deck next tackle – just an errant pass – and the Eels swarm to make another tackle. The Dogs kick early now and regather but the defence make the tackle. Six again the call – was there a hand? Final goal line stand now. Dogs work left before offloads create space back to the right. They have the numbers – oh no is the dagger coming? IT DOES COME BUT IT IS GEORGIA WANSEY WHO DELIVERS IT! A sensational cover tackle forces the ball out and it has clearly gone forwards! WHAT A TACKLE! WHAT A GAME! The Eels have delivered an almighty upset to book a spot in the big dance! WELL BLOODY DONE GIRLS!

 

Full Time

Parramatta Eels 22 defeat the Canterbury Bulldogs 20

 

 

Tarsha Gale Cup Team List

 

1	Dallis Graham-Withell
2	Sualo Lafoga
3	Alleya Scrivens
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
18	Shire Thocolich
19	Anahera Paekau

 

Match Updates

 

Not sure how to reset after the emotional roller coaster that was the stunning Lisa Fiaola Cup victory but we done have another huge game to cover as the Eels and Dogs clash again in the Tarsha Gale.

No changes for the Eels ahead of kickoff.

 

First Half

 

Eels kicking off in the Tarsha Gale.

Dallis Graham-Withell to get this game going. Dogs field the kick on the bounce and get to work around the ruck. Good opening set for Canterbury as they drive into Parra’s half before hoisting the bomb. Nicely taken by Lafoga though as the Eels get their first set. Gee unlucky not to draw a penalty with some serious extra-curriculars delivered to Alleya Scrivens. The call comes a play later though as the Eels find touch inside the Dogs’ half from the penalty touch finder.

Fasavalu-Faamauisili has a nice run to start the set. Kalepo follows her up before the ball hits the deck next tackle forcing Soufan to dive on it and clean it up. Tess McWilliams gets things back on track with a good run to the posts but the Eels cough it up running it down their right on the last. The Dogs leap on the dropped ball from Graham-Withell and surge downfield in the following three plays. A huge set here for the Dogs as they have all the momentum but a sloppy play-the-ball undoes all the pressure. Phew, huge let off!

Big runs from Tufuga and McWilliams here before Alo and Falaniko combine back inside the ruck. Alo gets a carry of her own next to round out a very good set as Soufan goes to the skies. The bomb is spilled backwards from the Dogs and the Eels have a shot at the scoop and score but Lafoga can’t reel the loose ball in and spills it forwards. A chance for first points missed there and the Dogs will have the scrum feed.

Some strong defence from the Eels here as they unload on the Dogs to pin them inside their own half. Lafoga fields the clearing kick and returns the ball to 10m shy of halfway for a net win for the Eels. Dallis ducks out of dummy half before Falaniko rumbles downfield. The metres are coming here for the Eels as Alo and McWilliams combine around the ruck. The Eels run it down their left on the last and catch the hand of a defender with the final pass from Scrivens. Six again!

A penalty comes a few plays later as Tess is held down in front of the posts and they don’t want the shot at goal – they want six damn points! They tap and go via Ryvvr-Lee Alo and she splits defenders with a powerful run that allows her to reach out and score under the posts! What a start for the Eels!

 

Try scored by Ryvvr-Lee Alo. Conversion successful by Alleya Scrivens.

Eels lead 6-0

10min gone

 

Good catch from Gray off the kickoff as she lets Falaniko tee off! The bookend has skittled a defender and the Eels punch it over halfway on tackle three as a result of that opening run. McWilliams is roaring to life here with another big run as Tufuga then gets a call down the left edge. Last now as Soufan rolls it along the grass and the Dogs are brought down 3m off their goal line.

Tufuga leads some swarming defence now. McWilliams heavily involved too. Dogs barely make it out to their 30m line before hoofing it down field as Dallis scoops it up on the bounce. Gray turns it to Falaniko mid-set as the Eels look to play outside-inside between Soufan and Alo next. Soufan sends the bomb up on the last as Scrivens gives chase. She arrives to the ball first and looks to make an aggressive catch and run but can’t bring it in cleanly and the Dogs will get the ball back.

Lokotui gives the Dogs a much needed big run as she weaves through the Parra right edge defence. Canterbury finally get some tackles inside the Eels’ half and convert the opportunity into a line drop out as Graham-Withell is driven back in-goals fielded a bomb on the bounce.

Some strong early runs has the Dogs on Parramatta’s line as they begin to work to their right. The Eels manage to turn away a short-range attempt from dummy-half near the posts but are caught short when the switch back to the left follows as the Dogs have the one player overlap and that is enough to dot down out wide.

 

Try scored by Simina Lokotui. Conversion unsuccessful by Shaquaylah Mahakitau-Monschau.

Bulldogs trail 4-6

18min gone

 

Dangerous set now. The Dogs are working the Parramatta ruck aggressively. A vanilla shift to the right allows the Eels to bring up the last where Canterbury looks to run it wide to their left. Parramatta have the numbers and slide and slide before a forward pass brings an end to the set.

Another big run for Tess McWilliams as she gets in behind the ruck and wins her way over the ad-line. A solid set for the Eels in the end before Soufan bombs it again. Once more the Dogs are not interested in challenging for the ball as Lafoga gets a clean crack at it but spills it sideways. Lineball call from the ref but he judges it a knock-on and I don’t think that is unfair.

Good work from Fasvalu-Faamausili as she awake to a shallow kick option from the Dogs and dives on the ball after flipping her hips quickly. Next play results in a penalty for the Eels as they find touch 20m off their own line.

Avena and Mariah get the early runs down the right edge. Soufan takes play down the left with a run of her own before Armani-Lea Auvae, fresh on the field, takes a charge. Gray completes the set with a cheeky little kick in behind the left edge of the Dogs. It finds open space as Racoma Ngata flies through to claim the ball on the bounce. She weaves past the first defender before offloading to Ava Jones back inside as the dummy half races away to score! Out of nowhere the Eels have tacked onto their lead with some clever work from Kyliah Gray and Racoma Ngata!

 

Try scored by Ava Jones. Conversion successful by Alleya Scrivens.

Eels lead 12-4

25min gone

 

Good settler from Tufuga here before Dallis Graham-Withell gets involved cutting back off her right. Alo unlucky not to draw a penalty for some extra effort from the defenders in the ruck but the set is concluded with another bomb from Soufan as her kick chase follow it up nicely to make the tackle. Solid set after points.

A decent defensive set gives the Eels nice field position as Lafoga and Scrivens get early runs. Jones has a moment at dummy-unfortunately as the ball gets caught in her hands and she grasses it while looking to pass left. Let off for the Dogs as they finally get some field position with 90sec left on the clock.

Big shift from the scrum for Canterbury as they go to their left. The Eels hold on but bleed metres before conceding a penalty next play for a high tackle. Under a minute left now. Big set in the complexion of this game. The Dogs shovel the ball out with desperate offloads but the Eels scramble. Big focus on playing down their left and there should probably be a penalty for burrowing through the marker but since the Eels make the tackle the referee has ruled play on. One last play now as the Dogs spin it to their right but a crunching tackle from Alo or Tufugua there has dashed any hopes of Cantebury eating into the deficit!

A very good opening half for our girls as they head into the sheds with an 8-point lead.

 

Half Time

Parramatta Eels 12 lead the Canterbury Bulldogs 4

 

Second Half

 

Bulldogs to kick off.

Nice work from Soufan as she races up to field a midrange kick off that breaks back to the Dogs. Alo steams in for a big run as the Eels work right to Auvae and then Kalepo. Good opening set as Soufan goes to the skies again. Scrivens is right there for the contest but knocks it on into a defender.

She is right back into the contest for the ball with a timely intercept that allows the Eels to work downfield and find touch at the end of the set with a kick from Soufan.

The Eels blink first in the tense exchanges of the second half unfortunately when Soufan grasses a tough pass on the last 35m off her own goal line. The Dogs find themselves in the box set to score first in the second stanza as a result.

A penalty for offside defenders extended their trip inside Parramatta’s half. Huge set incoming.

Good start here for the Eels as they read the short options for the Dogs. Canterbury shift right and look for a very early kick but Ryvvr-Lee Alo does brilliantly to trap the grubber kick and secure the ball without knocking on!

Nice kick from Soufan at the end of that set as she swings behind the ruck to find the right angle on her clearing kick. We are back into the arm wrestle now with the Dogs plugging away. They spark to life out of nowhere as their rotation dummy half Shafenior Lui catches the ruck defence of the Eels slipping for big metres before firing a pass out to her left edge. The Dogs roll on from there and end up crossing out wide to put themselves right back into this contest.

 

Try scored by Tia’ane Tavita Fesolai. Conversion unsuccessful by Shaquaylah Mahakitau-Monschau.

Bulldogs trail 8-12

40min gone

 

Wind in the sails for the Dogs here. The ruck defence of the Eels is reeling before MFF makes an important tackle down the right edge. Still massive metres for the Dogs but they get it all wrong on the last and run it limply into the defensive line for a soft turnover. You take those ones for sure.

Rugged defence from Canterbury now. They can feel this is a pivotal moment in the contest but they go too far! A penalty for the Eels as Muller taps and goes. McWilliams is back on and she lets her presence be known with another dominant run that punches a gaping hole in the ruck defence of the Dogs. Auvae goes close two tackle later before the Eels try to play right but the pass between Muller and Gray is errant and ends up knocked forwards. The Dogs were squarely on the backfoot there and odds are we score with clean ball I reckon.

The Eels respond with a sound defensive set as Dallis Graham-Withell tidies up a tricky bounce of the ball from the shallow Canterbury kick. Lafoga breaks tackles en route to a big 25m gain as Falaniko steams in next. Right to Gray who turns Alo underneath. The Dogs are fraying here but that brings up the last and Kyliah loses the ball again – this time from a clean pass. That said I am 99% sure that was clearly lost backwards and the ref made a very tough call against the Parramatta five-eighth.

Dogs threatening now with a sharp short side play down their right. Good scramble defence from the Eels saves the day. Left on the last for Canterbury where again Graham-Withell does tremendously well to clean up a very difficult kick. She was under immense pressure to catch a deflected grubber kick and put her body on the line.

Metres are tough now for the Eels but Aaliyah Soufan eats an ugly shot on the last as she looks to drive the ball downfield. There is no way this is not a penalty and indeed the referee waits for the ball to touch down onto the grass before signalling the hit will be penalised and go on report.

Play resumes 5m shy of halfway as the Eels take the tap restart. Falaniko is bundling over defenders here before Alo runs and offloads to Gray who surges into the retreating defensive line. Great run as Falaniko then doubles up. McWilliams passes to Soufan who turns Tufuga back inside as the defenders are penalised for not getting back to their goal line.

Tap and go two passes right to Lileta Pouli before there is a huge crash over attempt from Falaniko. The ball has come out right on the goal line and the referee indicates it is a knock on and not a strip as the Dogs survive. The try next to the posts there probably goes close to shutting the door on Canterbury.

Just over 10min left now as the Dogs work it from their 10m line. Good opening tackle from the Eels as the Dogs look to work the short side next. Some aggressive passing from Canterbury back to the middle where there is a huge collision between Alo and Maeya Talamaivao of the Dogs. Both players are down and while Ryvvr-Lee gets to her feet after a brief period on the ground, Talamaivo is really banged up here.

Alo is in the thick of everything now. The resumption of play sees the Dogs send a bomb up from their own half and she calmly takes it over her right shoulder on halfway. Heck of a catch from the lock there.

Simple stuff in this set from the Eels as they play to their kick where Soufan hoists it high again but the Eels slip up with a lazy high shot that does no harm to the runner but correctly results in a penalty.

Good shot from Falaniko as she looks to arrest the momentum the Dogs have in this set. Canterbury’s fullback Ieremia has a threatening run but is cut down in an important front-line tackle before Dallis Graham-Withell makes another beautiful catch at the back to defuse a dangerous kick.

Parramatta pick up a huge penalty to help them out of their own quarter and get to work around the ruck with sharp work from Ava Jones pinning the defensive line on the back foot. Right from there as Gray takes a run before the Eels run it on the last. Good vision from Soufan as she feigns the kick and finds Tufuga who turns to her backs but stellar cover defence from the Dogs prevents Lafoga getting over in the corner.

Under 5min to go now as the Dogs double down on attacking Parramatta’s middle. Bend but don’t break is the call as the Eels barely hold on before Avena Racoma Ngata makes a spectacular back shoulder catch on a swirling bomb!

Speaking of spectacular – Falaniko rumbles through defenders with a supreme charge that wins a penalty. Can the Eels close the books on the Dogs? Pouli takes the Eels into the red zone before Jones has a testing sortie down the right. The offloads are pouring out for the Eels now as the Dogs desperately scramble to hold on. They manage to stop the torrent of second phase play but that only brings up the last where Kyliah Gray sums it up brilliantly! She deftly stabs a grubber kick back to the posts that bounces up perfectly for one of Parramatta’s best today in Tess McWilliams! What a deserved try! What a ripper of a kick!

 

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

Eels lead 18-8

59min gone

 

Under a minute left now with 10-points the gap. The Dogs look for a little dribbler from the kick off. Right idea honestly with no defender near the tee but they get it all wrong.

Another run for Alo and another for McWilliams next. Huge games for both girls. Auvae goes next as Soufan feeds Tufuga down the left next. Jones wants more points as she has a cheeky dart down the left but she is barely held out. Last tackle as Soufan looks to roll it back to the posts but the Dogs trap it and get the ball back. Some enterprising play allows them to make a break down their left but the cover defence comes from each one of the seven hills as the siren rings out and Parramatta make it a spectacular one-two against the Bulldogs in the Junior Representatives!

 

Full Time

Parramatta Eels 18 defeat the Canterbury Bulldogs 8