The second placed Eels are playing the sixth placed Bulldogs in this round 10 NSW Cup game being staged at Tamworth.

Parra have enjoyed a terrific season to this point, dropping just the one game. That said, there are some key changes to the team, including most significantly the in-form spine pairing of Ronald Volkman and Joash Papalii.

With such key players absent, and they aren’t the only ones out of action, the Eels arguably come back to the field. That said, there are some exciting elevations from the Jersey Flegg team including Zach and Matthew Hunter (not brothers), and Richie Penisini (who was called up for the previous round).

The action commences at 3:00pm

Team List

First Half

Eels kick off and the Dogs are lucky to not be called for a lost ball on the first tackle. The Dogs get to the last and the Eels are in yardage. Stoppage is called as the Dogs half looks worse for wear following a tackle and he’s coming off the field – HIA?

Big kick from Hawkins on the last. Good Eels chase brings him down ten out but it’s a penalty to the Dogs next tackle.

Dogs deep in attack from the touch finder. They go right in a big shift. The winger beats Tago but Hunter gets there to cause him to lose it over the line. Seven tackle set but Parra cough it up mid set and then concede a penalty.

Close call again as the Dogs player loses the ball just short of the line. Eels scrum now a penalty.

Nice set from Parra with Hawkins and Hunter very involved. Dogs catch the last tackle kick in goal so a seven tackle set coming up. They complete the set but are caught offside on the kick chase. Eels penalty.

Great play as Matt Hunter works a left side with Nanva who breaks downfield. Inside ball to Zach Hunter who finishes the try down near the corner.

Hawkins a fine conversion from out wide.

Eels 6 lead Bulldogs nil after 12 minutes

Eels complete the set after points. The Dogs are making good metres in yardage with a bit of second phase footy. Awkward last tackle kick with good chase but Parra clean it up. Geez that’s a long kick from Hawkins on the last and it is only a metre or so away from being perfect as it just rolls dead.

Seven tackle set to the Dogs and they butcher a try. The interchange forward goes to Hunter, ignores his support and Hunter does enough to trip him up and he’s stopped a metre out. Parra scramble well for the next three tackles and then concede a Bulldogs run it on the last with the ball sailing into touch from a wayward pass!

Eels penalty in their next possession for a high shot on Newlands. Kick finds touch on halfway. Hunter puts Tago down the left wing and he’s brought down in the red zone. They work back towards the posts then swing back left through Matterson, Latu and Nanva who gets a bouncing offload to Tago who dives over next to the corner post.

Hawkins hits the left upright with his conversion and it’s waved away.

Eels 10 Bulldogs nil after 21 minutes.

Eels penalty. The Eels work back to the red zone and they are finding some second phase footy. Latu finds himself at dummy half on the last, he skips out of a tackle and grubbers ahead. The fullback fields it half a metre out and is immediately tackled by Latu.

Eels get another penalty after they field the Bulldogs last tackle kick. Back to the red zone and they hit the left edge again. Now right and oh that’s some Carty party magic as Cartwright gets an offload to Zach Hunter and the fullback sprints the ten metres for his second try.

Conversion misses.

Eels 14 Bulldogs nil after 26 minutes.

The Eels get to their kick at the end of the set and the Bulldogs do well in reply with their set. They run it on the last and some Eels defenders are found wanting through the ruck. The Dogs keep the ball alive and streak away to score close to the right corner. Taafe converts from the sideline.

Eels 14 lead Bulldogs 6 after 30 minutes

Bulldogs penalty in the set after points.

Just like that the Eels lead is almost wiped as the Dogs stroll through the Eels ruck defence and score between the posts. Conversion successful.

Eels 14 lead Bulldogs 12 after 35 minutes.

Oh that’s awful as the Eels re-start sails over the dead ball line on the full. Dogs back to the red zone. The Eels are self destructing as Hutchinson surges through on the left edge to score.

Conversion successful

Bulldogs 18 lead Eels 14 after 38 minutes.

This has been a rank ten minutes from Parra. Non existent defence to concede 18 points in quick time.

Now it gets worse as the Eels go short right. The pass from Cartwright is put down by Newlands around halfway and the Dogs are off for the prize and score in the corner. Taafe converts from the sideline.

Half time. Bulldogs 24 lead Eels 14

Let’s be honest. The Eels need to be embarrassed about the last 12 minutes as they conceded 24 points to not only throw away a 14 point lead but fall away to a ten point deficit.

Second Half

Dogs kick off. Time for redemption Parra. Eels complete the first set with a kick and the Dogs are in yardage. They kick from halfway. Eels backs do the early work. Hawkins kicks from 40 out but it’s a shortish bomb that the Dogs handle well. Dogs penalty a couple of tackles later. Wow, Zach Hunter makes an amazing leap to fling the penalty kick back in field. Eels have a bit of a scrappy set before the ball is reefed back to the Dogs quarter. The winger just hauls it in but they soon make a mess on their own ten with an awful pass. Eels scrum.

Well things haven’t improved. It’s an average set before a pass to Penisini from Hawkins hits the ground and Newlands can’t clean it up. Dogs now return favoured with an error. Back to the red zone. The ball comes right to Penisini again. It finds the mark this time but they soon make Dogs knock down Richie’s pass to Newlands and it’s six again as they conceded ball goes left and Kalache is tackled close to the line. Crash ball left as Hands slightly delays the pass to Latu who crashes over for the try.

Hawkins converts

Bulldogs 24 lead Eels 20 after 50 minutes.

Eels penalty in the set after points. Back to halfway after two tackles. Up to the quarter. They run it on the last but it’s a poor pass from Hands that hits the ground in front of Hunter. Latu picks it up and kicks ahead. It deflects to Nanva who offloads to Tago for an unexpected try in the corner.

Conversion misses as it’s now five tries to four.

Eels 24 Bulldogs 24 after 54 minutes.

Geez almost something out of nothing on the last as Hawkins chip kicks, regathers, passes to Cartwright who tips on to Alderton but they soon make tackle is made ten out.

Dogs get to their kick. Hunter fields it ten out. Hawkins kicks high and wide on the last. Newlands taps it back and it’s a second kick by Hawkins but they soon make Dogs catch it ten out.

Great kick and defensive set from the Dogs follows and Hawkins has to kick it on the last on his own 2030. Awful ruck defence from Parra on the fourth tackle as the Dogs dummy half literally strolls through the middle of the ruck. Right shift now on the last and the Dogs winger gets outside Tago and finishes with a big dive in the corner. Parra again pay the price for falling asleep near the play the ball.

Another massive side,ine conversion from Taafe.

It’s five tries apiece but they soon make Eels trail by six.

Bulldogs 30 lead Eels 25 after 62 minutes.

These momentum swings are crazy today as Parra concede the penalty after the kick off and the Dogs are immediately back in the red zone. Yep. Try time, this time through good hands to the left corner. Defence is not a priority today.

Conversion unsuccessful

Bulldogs 34 lead Eels 24 after 65 minutes

Hunter fields the last tackle bomb. Good charge from Mataele. Hawkins kicks deep on the last. The winger does well with an awkward catch. Taafe drops the ball on the quarter. Eels scrum. Six again mid set. Now the Dogs knock down the pass. Scrum ten out. Penalty for inside the ten. Penalty first tackle. Latu close with a big charge but he’s stopped about a metre out. Left now and  Zach Hunter throws a wide cut out to Tago who dives over in the corner.

Hawkins misses the conversion. Six tries apiece again

Bulldogs 34 lead Eels 28 after 71 minutes.

Well that’s a coach killer as Kalache drops the ball on the second tackle. Dogs scrum on the 30.

Unfortunately the Eels red zone defence continues to be non existent and the Dogs hit their left edge for the try. Conversion successful

Bulldogs 40 lead Eels 28 after 77 minutes.

Short kick off as Penisini knocks on trying to tap back. Eels now get their hand to a Dogs pass and it’s a scrum on halfway. With only seconds left on the clock the Dogs knock over a 30 metre field goal.

Full time Bulldogs 41 defeat Eels 28

Sixties

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