It’s getting to the pointy end of the Junior Rep Preseason, and that means the commencement of trials.

Over the course of the summer, three trials are held for each of the Rep grades, one before Christmas and two in January. The first two trials are critical as they are used to trim the summer squads.

The Eels are the reigning premiers in both of the girls grades, and would therefore enter this season with high hopes. Girls rugby league is growing strongly in the Parra district, and the competition for places in the squads is increasing.

This live blog might take place without team lists. I’ll do my best to at least give numbers that we can put names to later.

Lisa Fiaola Cup

 

Sorry, I’m working without team lists

First third

The Eels survive an early scare after an error from the kick off set gives the Sharks a scrum feed and a set in the red zone. The Eels fullback takes the last tackle kick superbly and Parra get a penalty soon after.

No kicks for touch today. Big charge from the 8 gets Parra on a roll and deep into Sharks territory. They hit the red zone late in the count but the right side shift comes undone with a poor pass.

Massive break from the Eels 4 next set in possession and she finds the fullback in support and she’s brought down in front of the sticks. Eels penalty for something in the tackle. Right side shift again and this time fast hands to the Eels 4 who delivers the money ball to the 5 for the try.

Eels lead 4 nil no conversions (prob after 5 mins)

Eels make terrific ground in the kick off set. Left side shift this time and the Eels 2 steamrolls the Sharks fullback to score

Eels 8 Sharks nil after about 7 minutes

The Eels open a passage down their right late in the kick off set then a cross field kick looks perfectly placed but it avoids all players and the Eels 2 eventually picks it up running backwards and is easily shut down.

Sharks complete their set with a good kick and the Eels cough the ball up early in the set. Sharks scrum 35 out. Penalty mid set. Knock on missed. Sharks go for the power plays with successive crash balls and come up trumps beside the posts.

Eels 8 Sharks 4 after about 14 minutes

Sharks error from the kick off and the Eels 13 swoops and drives into the red zone. A couple of hit ups to the posts now the shift right and the Eels have a two player overlap but a pass goes astray and the try goes begging.

Sharks get to their kick and the Eels 5 drops it on the 30 as the siren goes to end the first 20 minute third?

Eels 8 lead Sharks 4

Second Third

The Eels are in gold jerseys and the white numbers are tough for my old eyes to read in the dullish conditions.

Eels kicking off. New referee. Looks like mass changes too.

Good size crowd making plenty of noise as the Sharks run the ball on the last for a simple turnover 30 out.

Eels complete their set with a nicely placed bomb and the chasers smash the Sharks winger.

Great kick pressure from Parra forces a shocking kick that the Eels field on the Sharks side of halfway. What a charge! I’m not 100% on the number, it could have been the 10, as she charges 20 metres through the meat of the ruck carrying defenders on her back to score

Eels 12 lead Sharks 4 after about 5 minutes of the second third.

Skipping forward a couple of sets as the Eels get a penalty just 35 out from their line. They drive powerfully through the middle and are quickly in the red zone. Right side shift to the 14 who is either at centre or right edge. She steps off her right and pushes past defenders in a 15 metre run to the line.

Eels 16 lead Sharks 4 after about 10 minutes of the second third.

The Eels make easy ground from the kick off but it comes undone with a poor pass from dummy half on the Sharks quarter.

Late in the count penalty to the Sharks. The visitors get to their kick but the chaser is offside. Eels penalty but they make an error soon after.

The Sharks make the Eels pay as a left side shift mid count sees a sequence of well timed passes create the space for their centre to score out wide.

Eels 16 lead Sharks 8 after about 17 minutes of the second third.

Eels next set sees them overcook the last tackle kick to give the Sharks a seven tackle set.

Early error from the Sharks and the Eels hit their right edge but the siren sounds as the tackle is made inside the Sharks red zone.

Eels 16 lead Sharks 8

Final Third

More changes to both teams as the players all get their chance to impress. A couple of errors to open this period of play. The Sharks then go close running it on the last as the Eels hold them up over the line.

The Eels get a penalty late in the count in front of the Sharks posts. Right side shift to numbers and it looks like the 6 has scored playing out in the centres. Honestly the white numbers on gold jerseys are impossible to see in this light.

Eels 20 lead Sharks 8 after about 5 minutes final quarter.

Jumping forward a couple of sets again. Eels hitting their ball up off their line. Nice vision from the 28 who makes a half break down the left but her offload was not expected. Eels maintain the ball and then the Sharks touch an Eels pass for the scrum.

The Sharks make a mistake coming off their line. Parra’s forwards are making short work of them as possibly the 13 scores. Honestly who can tell with these numbers!

Eels 24 lead Sharks 8 after about 13 minutes

Skipping forward again as the Sharks press Parra’s line with a full set in the red zone. Parra’s pack handles the attack with ease. The Sharks run it right on the last and their centre stands up her Eels opposite to score.

Eels 24 lead Sharks 13 after about 17 mins of the final quarter.

Succession of Sharks penalties here. They move play into Parra’s half but the siren sounds

Full time

Eels 24 defeat Sharks 12

 

Tarsha Gale Cup

First Third

The Eels survive early pressure on their line then trade sets with the sharks. Their next set is power laden and the Sharks do well to defend their line but they might pay the price with an error in their red zone.

Luckily for the Sharks the Eels are gracious enough to make a mid set mistake themselves to release the pressure valve.

I apologise now because the dim conditions now make it completely impossible to read Eels numbers and though I assume there are many familiar faces in the Eels team that too is a challenge to make use of, especially without team lists.

The Eels and Sharks are spending these early minutes trading mistakes, though the Eels easily look the most dangerous in attack.

Yet another Eels lost ball on the first off a scrum in the red zone. More pressure relieved.

The Eels back 3 are on fire with their work in yardage. The Eels advance play via their fine work to the red zone where the Sharks make yet another early tackle error. Full set in the red zone coming up.

An Eels player drifts across the goal mouth (can’t see the number) and floats a pass to the number 5 who has a clear passage to the line.

Eels 4 lead Sharks nil after 19 minutes

The errors continue, this time in the play the ball after the Eels player catches the kick off and charges into the defence. Saved by the bell  as the first third ends.

Eels 4 lead Sharks nil

Second Third

Some team changes and the Sharks kick off.

Second tackle error hitting the ball up off the ruck.

Sharks scrum 25 out. The Sharks make the Eels pay with quick play the balls leading to a sharp try mid set.

Eels 4 Sharks 4 after three minutes of the second third.

Big hits from the Eels in defence in the kick off set and the Sharks provide the obligatory mid set error. Eels scrum 40 out. The Eels take play into the red zone then butcher the try with a poor pass to the winger a couple of metres from the right corner.

Again great physicality this set from the Eels and the Sharks kick from 35 out from their own line. The rain is getting steady and the Eels again cough the ball up mid set.

The Sharks make no territory as they make a play the ball error again mid set.

Parra’s centre drops the ball in the first tackle! Now the Sharks advance play to Parra’s quarter and make yet another play the ball error.

The Eels dummy half splits them from about 30 out and appears to step the fullback who somehow gets hold of her. A flip from a second defender draws the penalty and you guessed it – the Eels drop the ball in contact first tackle.

Sharks penalty so that will count as a set completion for them. Piggy back penalty now means another completion. But the completions come to an end with a knock on, second tackle, 35 out from Parra’s line.

Eels error mid set follows as the player stumbles in the play the ball. Sharks scrum on half way. They keep it simple this set as the forwards surge to Parra’s posts. Last tackle grubber kick is cleaned up but the mistake comes soon after on the quarter line. The Sharks again keep it simple in the Eels quarter and run it on the last. It’s easily defended by Parra and then they get a completion credit via a penalty ten out.

Parra works play down their right edge and surge into the Sharks quarter. The dummy half takes the short side option late on the set and sends the centre on an unstoppable charge to the line as the siren sounds. It was a bright way to finish an error riddled period.

Eels 8 lead Sharks 4 end of second third

Final Third

Eels kicking off. The teams complete their first sets but the Sharks come up with an error just outside their quarter. Parra asking some good questions this set via their dummy half. The ball is with one of the forwards on the last and she runs across towards the posts before executing a dangerous cross field kick that runs through the in goal and somehow evades all chasers.

Sharks complete their set with a sloppy last tackle pass. The Eels dummy half earns a penalty with a dart that catches out the markers. They advance play to the quarter and an unstoppable 20 metre surge from one of the Eels middles earns a well deserved try.

Eels 12 lead Sharks 4 after 11 minutes of the final third.

Parra fails to complete the set after points. The ref then misses a blatant knock from the Sharks  but they lose possession next tackle as the rain gets heavier.

Parra’s dummy half continues to cause the Sharks all sorts of grief as the Eels set up camp in the Sharks red zone. Play comes right but the Eels player holds onto the ball a bit too long as she attempts to set up her centre for the try and the obstruction is called.

Last tackle kick is fielded by the Eels winger (2) who is playing at fullback and she beats half the team and sets sail for the line. The cover defence just rounds her up ten out. A try looks inevitable but another error spoils the party.

Sharks error late in the set, 30 out from their line. Now an Eels error at the scrum base. Yes this is a trial in wet conditions so the mistakes are not good but not entirely unexpected.

Sharks break down their right but the player is tackled into touch.

Eels on the attack in the Sharks red zone and a Sharks hand gifts them a scrum 20 out.

Yet another error follows, this time for Parra, and as the player slumps to the ground a Sharks player snatches up the ball and runs 40 metres. They take play past the halfway but the siren sounds to end proceedings.

Eels 12 defeat Sharks 4

 

Sixties