After byes across both lower grades last week, the Eels are back in action at Kellyville Park today as they take on the Rabbitohs in Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup.

Souths are struggling across all grades this season with a devastating injury toll in the NRL side impacting team selections in Cup and Flegg.

The Eels themselves have had their own troubles with injuries and suspensions. They’ve also stretched their own resources by allowing the likes of Matterson, Hands and Ofahengaue to make mid season moves, along with Shaun Lane standing down from playing.

Parra has resisted the temptation to play Dylan Brown in Cup, despite Isaiah Iongi and Kelma Tuilagi being unlikely to play for the rest of the season.

The decision of Matt Hunter to accept a three year deal from Newcastle sees him drop from Cup back to Flegg. As a consequence Lorenzo Talataina gets his first shot at open age football.

 

Despite this, both of the Eels lower grade sides remain in strong contention for finals footy.

The action kicks off at 1pm with the Jersey Flegg clash.

 

Jersey Flegg Team List

 

19	Cooper Fuller
2	Lorima Rokosuka
3	Araz Nanva
4	William Lewis
5	Mohamed Alameddine
6	Matthew Hunter
7	Josh Lynn
8	Beau Lucien
9	Patrick Spence
10	Ryda Talagi
11	Domenico De Stradis
12	Jezaiah Funa-Iuta
13	Max Popo
Interchange
14	Raffaele De Stradis
15	Lachlan Coinakis
16	Damascus Neemia
17	Ieti Samuelu
18	Trace Beattie

 

First Half

Parra kick off running north and South’s complete the first set. Eels advance to the thirty in reply and their kick lands a couple of metres out and is taken well by the fullback.

Souths kick from the 30 after a great defensive set by Parra. Parra threatening this set firstly with a good run by Rokosuka and then Hunter threads a grubber that Souths have to take dead. Drop out.

Power plays through the ruck now a short ball from Spence to the left edge and Nanva crosses. Try converted by Lynn

Eels 6 Souths nil after 6 minutes.

Eels drive play towards Souths quarter in the set after points but there’s a play the ball error 22 out late in the set. Souths scrum.

Souths tap back the last tackle kick but they’re wrapped up 30 out. Hand over.

Talagi is proving a handful through the centre. Lewis almost creates a passage for Rokosuka on the right. The ball is hoisted on the last. Another drop out earned. Pressure applied through the middle and the left this set. Big harbour bridge pass from Lynn to Rokosuka on the right on the last tackle but he slips ten out.
Souths penalty early next set but they fail to find touch.

Great set as the Eels drive play back towards the red zone. Quick hands to the right and Lewis unleashes Rokosuka and the debutant finishes it off in spectacular fashion with the acrobatic dive in the corner.

Conversion misses

Eels 10 lead Souths nil after 15 minutes

Another great set after points as the Eels are back in Souths half but the ball comes flying out of Dom De Stradis hands in contact in the wet conditions. Souths scrum 40 out.

Souths throw a dangerous kick up on the last and get the spoils. Quick hands from the right corner to the middle and a Parra hand spoils what was shaping as a try.

Souths scrum and now a penalty. They look sharp as they explore left and Rokosuka knocks down the pass this time. Scrum. Another set of defence in the red zone coming up. Another knock down in the tackle from Parra and another scrum – but was it this time!?!

Another scrum and another penalty follow. Left again and Rokosuka jams hard 20 in from touch. It looks spectacular but the pass is away.  Try time for Souths after an endless series of red zone sets.

Conversion hits the post

Eels 10 lead Souths 4 after 23 minutes

Souths complete their set with a deep kick on the last and Parra get a penalty soon after. It’s good territory for Parra now but their play is scrappy. They get a fortunate six again from a Souths hand and are then lucky once more in an awful left side shift where the ball is almost passed into touch by Hunter. They hoist it on the last and Souths drop it in front of the posts. Eels scrum but Fuller drops it from the first pass.

Both teams exchange sets. Now six again for Souths in their next set. South’s drop it in the red zone. But wait, the ref finds an offside penalty!

Souths got both edges this set but Eels defend well. Last tackle kick is drilled low but Lynn cleans it up superbly. Eels penalty for offside.

Great play down the left wing and Nanva breaks into the clear, and finds Lynn backing up  on the inside. He brings the ball closer to the post for his own conversion.

Kick successful

Eels 16 lead Souths 4 after 36 minutes.

Funa Iuta winds up big time with a charge on second tackle but he loses it in contact. The Eels have to avoid conceding a try only two minutes before the break. No, they can’t do it as they grubber into the in goal and Fuller fumbles the ball. Souths fall on the ball for the try. If you don’t complete the set after points this merely invites the opponent back in not the contest!

Conversion misses as the siren sounds

Half Time: Eels 16 lead Souths 8

Second Half

Teams trade sets to start the half. Parra break down the left around halfway in their second set  and Nanva clears into space. He finds Alameddine who in turn sets up Funa-Iuta in support for the try in the left corner.

Lynn converts

Eels 22 Souths 8 after 44 minutes.

Its on here as Souths are penalised for something in the play the ball and now players run in for a bit of push and shove. Samuelu gets a caution as does a Bunnies player. And now we finally resume.

Eels find touch in Souths half. They head down the right edge mid set and Lewis takes play into the red zone. Now left and Souths almost take an intercept. Eels scrum. Back right to Lewis who again creates havoc before offloading to Rokosuka who finds another big finish in the corner.

Conversion unsuccessful.

Eels 26 lead Bunnies 8 after 50 minutes.

Alameddine is tackled high after the restart – penalty. Eels into Souths half. Left to Nanva who cuts back on an angled run to split the defence. He’s palming of cover defenders before being brought down 15 out. Quick shift right and you guessed it, Lewis cracks the defence to score himself this time.

Conversion misses.

Eels 30 lead Souths 8 after 53 minutes.

Short kick off and Souths get the ball and then a penalty.

Play drives into the red zone and the Eels defend a dangerous right side shift. Left now and an Eels defender slips over and the overlap comes for the winger who dives over in the corner. Huge conversion!

Eels 30 lead Souths 14 after 57 minutes.

Souths penalty after the kick off. Play moves to Parra’s 30 and there’s a soft penalty at the play the ball along with a caution.
Souths go left but a stray pass rolls into touch. Ref ignore a high tackle and slow play the ball. From that the Eels put in a touch finding kick but wait for it, the ref finds a down town penalty. This is hitting the absurd now!

The footy gods help as Souths stuff up early in the set. Eels scrum. The ref ignores defenders in front of him early in the set despite protestations from the crowd. It matters little as Hunter digs into the line before offloading in contact to Fina-Iuta who offloads to Fuller – great hands from Filler as he’s brought down in the red zone. Big right side shift and yes once more Lewis gets the better of the defence before unleashing Rokosuka for his third diving finish of the game.

Conversion misses

Eels 34 lead Souths 14 after 63 minutes.

Souths knock on in trying to regain the ball from the kick off. Eels penalty in the following set. Back to the red zone. Right to Hunter who slips a beautiful ball to DeStradis then backs up for the return pass. No the ref doesn’t like it and calls forward pass as Hunter dives between the posts.

Now a Souths penalty late in their set. The rain is teeming down as they hit the red zone and spill the pill!

Sis again this set around half way as a Bunnies hand deflects a pass. Down town the quarter line two tackles later. Lynn drifts left across the line and finds Raf De Stradis steaming into the pass and there’s no stopping him here as he’s brought down plants it between the sticks.

Conversion successful.

Eels 40 Souths 14 after 70 minutes.

Another short kick off. South’s tap back but Coinakis wins the race for the ball and the Eels will start the set inside Souths half. They’re quickly into the red zone and pick up a penalty followed by a six again. Souths can’t possibly hang on and they don’t as Hunter receives the ball on the left edge and slices through to score.

Conversion misses

Eels 44 lead Souths 14 after 74 minutes

Souths go deep on the kick off and Hunter can’t take the awkward catch. The drop out is a shocker going out on the full. Full set in the red zone coming up but they don’t need it as they find an overlap on the left and score in the corner. Conversion missed.

Eels 44 lead Souths 18 after 77 minutes

Penalty to Souths from the kick off as the ref rules Parra in front of the kicker. Souths lose the ball after the tap and Raf De Stradis goes on a 50 metre gallop pulled down 15 out. Coinakis has a dart himself a couple of tackles later and scores between the posts. No wait, the ref rules he’s lost it? But hang on it’s a scrum to Souths ten out and not a 20m restart. This is getting quite confusing but who knows. Maybe something happened before the line. Souths kick on the last and Fuller cleans it up.

Full time: Eels 44 defeat Souths 18

 

NSW Cup Team List

 

1	Apa Twidle
2	Jake Tago
3	Richard Penisini
4	Bailey Simonsson
5	Haze Dunster
6	Lorenzo Talataina
7	Ronald Volkman
8	Wiremu Greig
9	Joey Lussick
10	Toni Mataele
11	Jordan Samrani
12	Kelma Tuilagi
13	Dan Keir
Interchange
14	Meni Luke
15	Brock Parker
16	Saxon Pryke
17	Tyrese Lokeni

 

First Half

Souths kick off running to the southern end. Eels work play into Souths half and run it on the last. Kelma drops the ball in contact.

souths penalty early in their set. Big tackle from Woody jolts the ball free early in the set. Play advances to the red zone and it’s a high kick to the right corner on the last. Penisini taps back and Dunster is there for the spoils.

Twidle converts from the sideline.

Eels 6 lead Souths nil after 5 minutes

Parra complete their set then Souths throw a forward pass 25 out from their line. Eels scrum. Play moves right in the early tackles. Left now as Volkman links with Talataina but his pass is put down by the edge runner.

Souths scrum now a penalty. Now six again in a run of calls. Souths hit their right in the red zone. Big left shift but great defence from Penisini drives the runner into touch.

Eels penalty but they fail to find touch. Souths back into Eels territory. The last tackle grubber is perfectly weighted as Twidle grounds the ball.

Souths get possession from the drop out but they cough it up on about the third tackle.

Eels penalty. The rain is absolutely bucketing down here! Another Eels penalty 20 out. Six again as Woody is brought down a metre out. Quick hands left and Dunster claps on the pace for the diving finish in the corner. Huge start to this game from him.

Sideline Conversion is a ripper from Twidle

Eels 12 lead Souths nil after 16 minutes

Parra fails to complete their set set after points as the ball is dropped on half way.

Souths are looking all at sea because it is almost an inland sea. They cough it up on Parra’s 40.

Great run from Twidle and he receives a penalty for ruck interference. Mataele goes close off a clever pass from Lussick and then Souths get their hand to the ball next play. Scrum and look out. An inside

from Volkman and Talataina slices through the Bunnies defence at top pace to score on debut!

The crowd goes nuts!

Twidle converts

Eels 18 lead Souths nil after 22 minutes

Great set from the Eels. Dunster gets their hand Bunnies on the back foot with a great surge on the opposite edge to where he plays then two big involvements from Volkman. Firstly with a weaving run and then a perfect grubber that Tuilagi toes ahead into the in goal then forces down in the right corner.

Conversion just misses.

Eels 22 Souths nil after 26 minutes

Eels can’t complete their set set set after points and spill it 40 out from their line.

Souths six again the following set. Now they drill a kick into the Eels defender but ref rules six again. Now six more for a ruck infringement.  Souths held up over the line on the 4th. They run it on the last and Simonsson forces an error and picks up the loose ball. Play drives over halfway and a Souths play is injured. Time out is called. Well, he’s able to take his feet at marker. Parra put up the bomb on the last and Penisini again gets their hand Bunnies tap back. Twidle chips ahead and gets a Souths error. The ball comes right from the scrum and Tago is there from the left wing and goes close. Back left now to stretch the defence then back to the posts as Talataina is brought down about a metre out. That’s all Lussick needs as the defence is not set and he crashes over from dummy half.

Twidle converts

Eels 28 lead Souths nil after 32 minutes

Parra get to their kick and Penisini chases hard again but the ref rules he’s knocked on in the contest. Souths in possession from a scrum ten out. The clearing kick on the last is deflected and Keir cleans it up. Eels will start this set near half way. The set is ordinary but they get six again from a Souths hand on the fifth. They push some passes in the red zone and the ball goes down mid set.

Souths now fumble inside their quarter with a minute left. Eels set up for a scrum play. The ball goes to Talataina but instead of him passing out the back he throws a cut out to Simonsson who scores in the left corner.

Twidle converts  from the sideline.

Half time: Eels 34 lead Souths nil

Second Half

That first half was impressive across the park as far as Parra is concerned. Many punters here to watch Lorenzo Talataina and he hasn’t disappointed with a number of big plays and looking comfortable with the physicality of Cup.

Eels kick off.

Souths get a penalty for contact with the kicker at the end of the first set. Now ten out. They run five crash plays then kick the ball dead. Seven tackle set to Parra.

Simonsson ends up with the ball late in the set and kicks ahead into the Souths quarter. I don’t think it was the last. It looks like he’s on the wing as hyphen fields Souths last tackle kick. Yes he’s playing outside Tago.

Six again off the last tackle kick around halfway. Wow. Talataina nearly does it all himself as he accelerates, bobs and weaves and is brought down cms out from the posts. Left now and a huge tap on (Volkman?) features as the ball finds its way to Simonsson who goes airborne for the try.
Conversion misses.

Eels 38 lead Souths nil after 46 minutes.

its getting difficult to keep pace with describing the play here. I’m still typing up the last try as Tuilagi breaks into open pastures and finds Penisini in support for the try out on the left wing.

Conversion misses

Eels 42 lead Souths nil after 49 minutes.

Eels scrum 30 out. Play advances to the red zone. The Eels go right and they set for the left shift. Twidle takes them that way and finds Talataina and it’s all too easy for this SG Ball graduate as he provides the open passage for Simonsson to score. Conversion misses.

Eels 46 lead Souths nil after 55 minutes

Talataina is on fire here.

Great set after points culminates in a line drop out. The Eels ask plenty of questions in the red zone but Volkman’s last tackle kick is plucked out of the air by a Bunnies player who scoots 40 metres. Talataina fields the Rabbitohs last tackle kick and beats a couple of defenders in cross field gallop. Downfield to the red zone as Meni Luke splits them. Back towards the posts but the ball goes down.

Next possession for the Eels begins around half way. They work through the middle and now a right side shift out to Simonsson. He breaks the line and as the cover converges he gets his hands above his head and basketballs the pass inside to Twidle who outpaces the defence to the line.

Volkman converts.

Eels 52 lead Souths nil after 63 minutes.

I probably haven’t described the work of the Eels forwards enough as you don’t win games in the wet without the pack doing their job, in both the tough yards and in defence.

Souths get the ball in Parra’s half when the Eels fail to complete he set after points. They run it on the last and split the defence but Twidle comes up with a spectacular low tackle.

Souths knock down late in Parra’s next set. eels scrum 40 out. They march quickly into Souths half but Tuilagi comes up with an error on the 40.

Souths look to run on the last then grubber ahead. Keir competes for the ball and forces the error. Parra go left mid set as Tago carries the pill to the 30. Last tackle kick sees the Bunnies trapped in goal but the ref rules the chasers offside.

Souths get to the kick and the Eels are great in yardage through Dunster, Tago and Mataele but Woody loses the ball on half way. Play moves into the red zone and the Bunnies work their left edge. It’s close to Parra’s line and one of their players refuses to surrender and fights his way out of multiple Eels defenders to score.

Conversion unsuccessful

Eels 52 lead Souths 4 after 74 minutes

Souths have come to life and split the Eels left edge to take play ten out. Back to the posts on the fifth. Now a grubber on the last takes an Eels deflection but the next Souths kick goes dead. Seven tackles coming up. Not much doing this set though and the kick at the end is poor. An Eels error trying to get the bat down gives Souths possession and they again break down their right. This time the kick ahead comes and as Twidle cleans up the Souths chaser pushes Dan Keir who was also competing for the ball. Penalty. It’s now Parra breaking down the right and the kick ahead comes too. Twidle chases and tackles the fullback in goal as the siren sounds.

Full time Eels 52 defeat Souths 4

 

Sixties