In a massive community day at Kellyville today (June 21), the Eels and Bulldogs will be squaring off in trials in both the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership and the NRLW.

The HNWP effectively serves as the reserve grade competition for the NRLW, with players signed to both HNWP contracts, and those not selected for NRLW duties in a given week up for selection.

It promises to be an exciting season for the Eels in the NRLW with the team on the cusp of finals football in 2024, and the team expected to develop further with that extra experience gained by the emerging talent. It will also be the second season under the guidance of Steve Georgallis, a coach highly respected throughout the rugby league world.

At this stage there are no team lists so my intention is to provide match notes as best as I can, with score updates and try descriptions where possible.

 

HNWP

 

First Period

No team lists so it’s a bit tough to identify players. Looks like a number of Gale graduates. The Eels have a made a mistake in their first set. The Dogs have possession in the red zone as a result. The play goes right and the Eels are done badly for numbers as the try is scored near the right corner. No conversions today.

Bulldogs 4 Eels nil after three minutes.

Dogs force a scrum in the set after points. The Eels fullback has been smashed in getting driven in goal and is ruled to have lost the ball in the field of play. She’s in a bad way and is replaced. The Dogs get the ball from the scrum. They go left and their winger powers through the tackle to score.

Dogs 8 Eels nil after 6 minutes

A couple of penalties to Parra gives us field position but the attack lacks all cohesion and the error is inevitable.

Dogs return the favour with an error of their own on Parra’s 30. The Dogs physicality is impressive and the Eels struggle to make ground. The last tackle kick from the 6 finds touch inside the quarter.

Dogs penalty and they are deep in attack. Another penalty for a strip. One tackle later the ball is dropped again but it’s ruled lost this time.

Eels trying to ruck it out from their quarter and the last tackle kick is swallowed by the Dogs fullback on her 40. Back to Eels red zone. Big right side shift on the last but the pass goes into touch.

Eels penalty but the ball doesn’t find touch. The Dogs winger catches it but fortunately the Eels chasers drive her into touch. The siren sounds for the first break.

Dogs 8 lead Eels nil after 20 minutes.

 

Second Period

Eels kick off. Dogs earn a penalty. The plays moves to the red zone and Parra do well to hold out the attack. The kick goes dead. Seven tackle set to Parra. The last tackle kick comes down on the quarter and the ref rules no knock on from either team so turnover.

Another Dogs penalty but a loose pass on Parra’s quarter is scooped up by the Eels and they complete the next set with a high kick in the quarter. They look to have got possession but are tackled.

Dogs complete their set with a kick and the Eels fullback returns the ball at speed. She’s dispossessed in the tackle but it’s ruled a strip and knock on. Eels scrum.

Another kick at the end of the set and the Dogs change things up by running it on the last bit are shut down. Eels penalty at the start of their set. Another penalty follows.

A half chance on the left edge with a tackle break on the Dogs quarter line but the pass goes astray. The winger (Bell) recovers the ball and the play is centred. A kick goes up towards the right wing and Parra’s centre gets hands to it first but knocks on.

Eels fullback catches the Dogs last tackle kick and a penalty is blown soon after. Parra make a basic error just into the Dogs half and then they give away a penalty. Another Dogs error is then followed by an Eels error just short of half way. Scrappy stuff.

The Eels now pay the price for their error as the Dogs advance to Parra’s line. The last tackle kick takes a deflection and one of their players picks up the scraps to score just to the left of the post.

Siren sounds.

Dogs 12 lead Eels nil

 

Third Period

So far the Dogs have far more cohesion in attack and greater physicality in defence. The Eels have done well to hold on for such a long period after the first two tries.

The Dogs are straight into the attack as one of their big middles breaks the line and goes into the red zone. Left now and a long cut out pass to the winger is well forward but somehow is given the all clear as the winger powers over in the corner.

Dogs 16 Eels nil after 44 minutes.

The Eels complete a set without threatening. The Dogs dummy half now carves up the ruck defence and beats the fullback to score.

Bulldogs 20 lead Eels nil after 49 minutes

The Dogs are now carving the Eels at will. They hit their right edge and the back rower splits the defence before offloading in the fullback’s tackle and the support runner touches down between the posts.

Dogs 24 lead Eels nil after 53 minutes.

No mercy from the ref who blows a Dogs penalty in the kick off set. They turn over possession early in the count but the Eels unfortunately can’t threaten the line. The last tackle kick is good and the Dogs fullback is tackled a metre out.

A good set from Parra following a great kick return from the fullback. Left side shift late in the set to Bell on the wing and she kicks ahead. The ball is cleaned up by a Dogs player and they again start this next set from a metre out from the line.

The Eels are back on the attack in the red zone now and they look dangerous this time. Left side shift and a Dogs player knocks down the pass. Hang on the ref calls it an Eels error.

 

The Dogs get what should be the last possession of the game and get to their kick. Parra field it as the siren sounds.

Full time Bulldogs 24 defeat Eels nil

This was a comprehensive victory by the Bulldogs who were bigger, faster and more physical. It looked like a lot of younger Eels in this clash.

NRLW

 

1	Abbi Church (C)
2	Zali Fay
3	Rory Owen
4	Lindsay Tui
5	Martha Mataele
6	Cassey Tohi-Hiku
7	Rachael Pearson
8	Elsie Albert
9	Taneka Todhunter
10	Ruby-Jean Kennard-Ellis
11	Chloe Jackson
12	Paige Travis
13	Breanna Eales
Interchange
14	Rueben Cherrington
15	Chelsea Makira
16	Rysh’e Fa’amausili
17	Mia Middleton
18	Armani-Lea Auvae
19	Jessica Kennedy
20	Paige Knapp
21	Yasmine Baker
22	Matisse Bettridge
23	Josephine Lenaz
24	Matoisha Kalepo
25	Aaliyah Soufan
26	Dallis Graham-Withell
27	Alana O’Loughlin

 

First Half

Great first set from the Eels which ends with a kick from Pearson. Albert chases and tackles her a few metres out.

Another top set in the Eels second possession. Rueben Cherrington has started at dummy half and is very busy already. Pearson again kicks to the corner and the chase is superb.

Dogs penalty late in their set and they’re down to Parra’s red zone. They’re brought down late in the set close to the line. There’s a huge hole left to the right of the ruck and their dummy half takes the obvious run to bring up the first try.

Bulldogs 6 lead Eels nil after six minutes

The Dogs get to their kick in the set after points. It’s a high one to Mataele who puts it down under pressure. Dymock swoops for the Dogs and scores. Preston converts

Dogs 12 Eels nil after 9 minutes

The Dogs cough it up in a tackle from Albert and Eales. Good field position for the Eels but Church loses possession early in the set. Dogs scrum.

Dogs again get to their and Church takes it cleanly. Eels penalty follows. Rueben goes the blind side late in the set to Tohi Hiku and her pass is knocked down on the quarter. Eels scrum.

Questions asked this set including a great line from Jackson but the Dogs defence is outstanding. Eels penalty late in the set but we drop the ball early in the count next set then follow it up by giving away a penalty for a flop. The Eels do a great job to defend the set.

Great dart from Church and she earns a penalty. Not good from Parra as Eales throws a pass that Albert wasn’t expecting and then the Eels give away the penalty.

Dogs error this set and Parra complete their next set with another testing kick from Pearson.

Tremendous Dogs kick at the end of their set goes over Church’s head and she has to bring the ball back from inside the ten. Pearson’s kick is from inside her half and the Dogs have won this territorial battle. A penalty goes their way and they quickly make the Eels pay by splitting them through the middle and the offload finds a support player who scores between the posts.

Conversion successful

Bulldogs 18 lead Eels nil after 25 minutes

Another Dogs penalty after the kick off but they fail to find touch. Good set in attack including a strong carry from Kennard-Ellis. The Eels last tackle kick has great depth but the Dogs centre somehow gets back into the field of play. The Dogs soon turn it over and Parra again get a set inside the red zone. This time they force a drop out.

Great charge from Mataele off the kick. Now left through hands and Owen slices through to crash over the line.

Conversion misses.

Bulldogs 18 lead Eels 4 after 31 minutes

What a run from Jackson as she steams onto a Pearson pass 40 out and breaks into the back field. She has great leg speed and is finally brought down five out. Left again and this time Owen gets the ball to Fay who is over in the corner.

Pearson converts from the sideline.

Dogs 18 lead Eels 10 after 34 minutes

One last set before half time. They get to the last just into the Dogs half. Chip kick from Pearson with a great chase but the Dogs clean it up.

Half time Bulldogs 18 lead Eels 10

Second Half

Eels kick off. Dogs last tackle kick is fumbled twice by Church but it goes backwards. Pearson with the last tackle kick puts it into the right corner and almost predictably the ref finds a penalty early in the Dogs set. Albert steals one on one and the ref calls play on but there must have a touch judge call for penalty. Down to the Eels red zone but they fumble mid set. Eels scrum.

Terrific post contact from Cherrington and the ball flies out in the wrestle. Ref says all ok. Dogs scrum. Last tackle kick is fielded in goal by Fay. She races out for the quick tap and hands off to Church who gains about 20 metres. Last tackle kick finds a Dogs leg but the ref rules not played at!

Dogs kick on the last and Church is hit hard and arguably early. The ref shows he can point the other way as he awards Parra a penalty 22 metres out from their line. Church needs attention but plays on. A couple of big plays from Albert this set including an offload and a big surge infield from Mataele. A bad pass to Pearson on the last and she lets the ball hit her legs before picking it up for a grubber that the Dogs clean up. Now a great defensive set and an error from the Dogs. Not so good this set and Albert coughs it up late in the set.

Solid set from the Dogs and Church takes the kick ten out. Parra fail to complete the set but the Dogs the favour. Six again to Parra as they pepper the Dogs line this set and the Dogs knock down a pass for an Eels scrum. Parra ask questions both sides of the ruck before the ball goes right to Jackson who stands in the tackle to offload to Tui who passes to Mataele for a try in the corner.

conversion misses

Bulldogs 18 lead Eels 14 after 54 minutes

Up tempo footy from Parra as they drive play to the Dogs posts. Late set penalty to Parra. The Dogs defend well and the Eels drop a pass to give the Dogs a scrum.

Lots of substitutes on now as a host of players are replaced. Great dart from Tohi Hiku out of dummy half as she splits the defence and is eventually brought down by the fullback 40 out. Parra mess things up late in the set but then the Dogs err early in their set. Eels penalty follows and Parra are in the red zone. Wait! It’s a turn over as the ball is played five out without a dummy half.

Oh no an awful error ten out from the Eels and the Dogs don’t need many tackles to score beside the posts.

Conversion successful

Bulldogs 24 lead Eels 14 after 66 minutes.

Eels get the ball from the kick off. Into the red zone and the play is in front of the posts. No it’s a simple dropped pass and the pressure is released.

Parra’s next possession starts 40 out from their line. They drive play back into the Dogs quarter.  Right side shift to Middleton who pulls free of a tackle to score in the right corner just in the shadows of full time.

Conversion unsuccessful

Full time Bulldogs 24 defeat Eels 18

Four tries apiece and the Bulldogs great start sets them up for this win. Encouraging hit out for the new club. As for the Eels a bit of rust early on with costly errors but when they settled into a bit of rhythm they had the better of the game. Both clubs can take some positives and some learnings out of the trial.

 

Sixties