The Cumberland Throw

Live Blog NSW Cup Round 11 – Eels vs Knights

After a very disappointing loss against the Bulldogs in Tamworth, the Eels NSW Cup team are again on the road, travelling north to Newcastle for the curtain raiser to the NRL match against the Knights.

There are two big ins for this match, with both Joash Papalii and Ronald Volkman taking their usual places in the spine.

Wiremu Greig also returns from suspension whilst Charlie Guymer drops back from the NRL team. In another significant move, Matt Doorey has been included in this team with Ryan Matterson called up for NRL duties.

I’m expecting the Eels attack to be a bit more cohesive with the inclusions, but it was in defence that the troubles began against the Dogs. Conceding 24 points in the ten minutes before half time was quite frankly embarrassing, even allowing for the number of changes forced on the team.



Team List

1 Joash Papalii
2 Jake Tago
3 Araz Nanva
4 Richard Penisini
5 Samuel Loizou
6 Ronald Volkman
7 Dean Hawkins
8 Wiremu Greig
9 Brendan Hands
10 Ryan Matterson
11 Charlie Guymer
12 Bryce Cartwright
13 Dan Keir
Interchange
15 Joey Lussick
16 Kayne Kalache
17 Brock Parker
17 Will Latu

First Half

Eels kicking off. Knights complete their first set but then give away the penalty for a high shot on Papalii. Eels find touch just outside their quarter. Nice work from Carty to create space down the right for Loizou. Scrappy left shift now and Eels get a penalty.

Into the red zone and some decent work through the middle but the shift right is handled. Kick on the last is well taken by the Knights who get a penalty soon after. Into Parra’s quarter and there’s a big right side shift and the try looks on but the last pass misses the mark and rolls into touch.

Another Eels penalty and the set starts just over halfway. It’s an ordinary set that comes to an end with a forward pass to Tago. Parra needs to simplify here as there are opportunities through the middle.

Knights get to their kick which is fielded by Loizou. Hands kicks on the last from about 40 out from his line and the Knights get into yardage work from their quarter. Another penalty, this time to the Knights for a high shot. Find touch 40 out from Parra’s line.

Good set here and Hastings threads a kick into the in goal which Papalii cleans up. Good run from Keir in this set to back up an earlier strong run from here. Eels get to the last tackle kick.

Knights likewise get to their kick which is fielded five out as the Knights continue to win the territorial battle. Parra run it on the last down a narrow short left side. Tago flings the ball back in field and Volkman hoists a kick. Great chase from Keir forces an error from the fullback. Eels scrum inside the quarter.

Parra line out deep to the right but the play goes to Tago on the narrow left and he wins the race to the corner. Try time! Papalii misses the conversion.

Eels 4 lead Knights nil after 16 minutes.

Great set after points as they March play back over halfway. The bomb goes up and the fullback knocks it back just inside his quarter. Cartwright does a clever tap back off the drop but Hands fumbles it. Knights scrum.

Big tackle from Loizou dislodges possession from the Knights runner 30 out from Parra’s line. Another strong from Keir this set. More clever stuff from Carty as he holds off a defender to offload to Penisini, but he then loses the ball in the tackle on the quarter. Yet another penalty is blown, this time to the Knights. Stop start stuff here.

Six again to Newcastle 30 out. Another late in the set restart. Ten out. Top defence from Parra and the Knights cough up the pill five out.

Keir again! This time he’s put into space on halfway and he finds Hawkins in support and the Parra half runs 20 metres to the posts. Papalii converts.

Eels 10 lead Knights nil after 26 minutes

Another top set after points with Parra getting to the kick which the Knights field just inside their 20. Arthur kicks out of dummy half for the Knights and Tago has to field it ten out. Parra complete their next set and the Knights start their set from the quarter line. Tago takes their kick right on the try line. Eels again in yardage. Hawkins kicks it on the last from just on his side of halfway to ten out from the Knights line. Knights hoist an attacking kick on their last but Papalii takes a fine catch. Play stops now as Doorey is off for a HIA.

Eels penalty after play resumes. Volkman finds touch 30 out. Great try Parra. They first of all explore the right with Loizou brought down ten out. They then centre it before quick hands to the left side sees Volkman release Tago for the diving finish in the corner. Conversion falls short.

Eels 14 lead Knights nil after 36 minutes.

This first half score feels eerily familiar!

Superb stuff in the set after points. A late offload from Cartwright puts Penisini into space. The kick back infield finds Papalii and the Eels fullback races away to score! Conversion successful.

Eels 20 lead Knights nil after 38 minutes.

More expansive footy in the set after points. It’s on again on the right but Papalii’s pass sails over the head of Loizou and into touch.

Knights advance play to Parra’s quarter. Volkman takes their kick right intercept. He races downfield but is being run down. He kicks to the left wing but the bounce is not kind for Tago and goes into touch. Maybe he should have taken the tackle but Volkman has had a great first half.

A couple of tackles for the Knights and it’s half time.

Half time Eels 20 lead Knights nil.

Second Half

Knights kick off. Lussick on at dummy half. Parra complete the set. Knights in yardage from their quarter. They crack Parra on the edge on the fifth as the runner gets to the Eels quarter. Left now and the kick into the in goal. Line drop out. It fails to go ten. Knights ball from the ten. Late count penalty in front of the posts. Eels defend well but the Knights run it on the last and get the Eels for numbers on the left and the winger scores. Conversion misses.

Eels 20 lead Knights 4 after 45 minutes.

Knights put in a grubbering kick at the end of the set and it’s an awful bounce for Papalii. The ball comes loose and the Knights score. No it’s a knock on by the Knights in the contest.

Volkman gets a kick away into open pastures to end Parra’s set. Knights in yardage from their 20.  They kick from Parra’s quarter – great catch from Papalii who immediately beats chasers in a 15 metre run. The Eels hoist a kick and Loizou wins it. He takes on the fullback ten out and he pulls out of the tackle. He thinks about the pass but goes for it. He’s brought down two metres out.

Big break from the Knights and Papalii makes the tackle ten out. Hastings decides to run on the last but is held up. Lucky escape there.

Lussick goes for a 40/20 but the bounce is kind for the Knights. Newcastle error in yardage!

Eels into the red zone. Parra go left and Papalii sends a cut out to Tago but it’s a shocker that’s called forward.

Newcastle get expansive but the centre loses it around halfway. The ball is tapped up for Papalii and he finds Cartwright but the pass is called forward. Eels scrum for the Knights drop.

Parra penalty. Into the red zone and right to Cartwright. He pops an offload which hits the turf. Knights knock on. Scrum to Parra 15 out. Latu goes close as he’s pulled down half a metre out. Greig now pulled up right on the line on a crash play near the posts. Right now and Papalii chimes in and puts Loizou into a narrow passage down the sideline to score untouched.

Conversion from Volkman misses.

Eels 24 lead Knights 4 after 59 minutes.

Eels penalty in the kick off set. Eels find touch 45 out from the Knights line. Play moves easily to the red zone. Big run from Greig, followed by Guymer. It’s all too simple as Lussick goes from dummy half from Guymer’s play the ball to score beside the right upright.

Volkman converts.

Eels 30 lead Knights 4 after 63 minutes.

Knights bat back the short kick off but the Eels clean it up. Into the Knights half and Guymer is very busy. Right side shift as Cartwright surges into the line and flicks a ball out the back to Penisini but the ball goes down.

Knights penalty and they’re into the red zone. They go left and ask questions. Now right and get six again. Held up over the line. Back right again now back to the left but the pass goes down. Good Parra defence.

Parra complete the set and end it with a high spiralling bomb which is fielded by the winger on his quarter.

The Knights hoist it on the last and 5he ref has missed a blatant knock on. A second kick from the Knights and The Eels survive by conceding a line drop out. Short drop out and Parra wins the ball. Six again in this set but Parra surrender the ball in a right side shift. A good set from Newcastle ensues as they firstly get to Parra’s quarter, then hit their left with a try ten metres in from the corner. Conversion successful.

Eels 30 lead Knights 10 with 7 minutes remaining.

The knights run it on the last and the winger throws in a chip kick cleaned up by Volkman cleans it up. Parra gets to their kick but the Knights have done a good job in defence in the set so the kick barely gets into their half. They put up a short bomb towards Loizou on the last but he takes it with ease. A so,I’d set follows with an attacking kick to the right corner. Penisini with a good chase and tackle ten out.

Parra back on the attack in their next set. A kick towards Loizou’s wing. It bounces and he’s got it ten out. The defence have him going over the sideline so he throws it back over his shoulder. The rolling ball evades everyone except a Knights player and they break down the left wing. Papalii makes the tackle. Big right side shift on Parra’s quarter line but the last pass goes forward annd hits the ground and the try goes begging.

Full time.

Eels 30 defeat Knights 10

Sixties

 

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3 thoughts on “Live Blog NSW Cup Round 11 – Eels vs Knights

  1. B&G 4 Eva

    Some obvious knock ons and forward passes, actually more from the Knights that the ref just missed or was undecided. Didn’t get much help from the touchies, close games don’t need these decisions in Cup. Thought Kalache again played well, Centres also looked likely which is good given they are both Flegg eligible.

    Halves and fullback again prominent, how much has Hastings regressed, not anything noticeable to look at poaching from the Knights.Hard to judge much given how ordinary the opposition were when in possession.

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