Welcome to the second weekend of Eels Junior Rep trial matches.
Each season the team plays three trial matches before kicking off the season at the start of February. The weather has been kind with cooler conditions. Hopefully it’s similar for the boys tomorrow.please note that in a late change the Matts game kicks off at 4pm
This Friday night instalment will feature the second of the night’s matches, the Tarsha Gale Cup. The Eels are the reigning premiers whereas the Bulldogs were the 2025 minor premiers. Whilst some players will have “aged out”, the respective squads will be bolstered by graduates from powerful Lisa Fiaola teams.
Unfortunately we were unable to cover the earlier Fiaola game tonight. The Bulldogs prevailed 32-20 (8 tries to 5) in a match which featured strings of tries for each side. Parra’s defence was passive at times which negated some of their enterprising attack.
We will be unlikely to have a team list for this blog, so I’ll describe the play as best I can.
First Quarter
I join you after some major technical problems with the Dogs leading 12 nil at the end of the first quarter.
The Eels have just had the opportunity to strike back but poor hands on a right side shift saw the ball go to ground.
The siren sounds
Dogs 12 lead Eels nil
Second Quarter
The Eels miss another opportunity early in this half with a drop on a right side shift. Dogs scrum. Aggressive defence this set and the Eels are straight on the attack via their back five. Superb yardage. Big shift left in the dogs quarter and a one handed offload looks to have created a problem for the visitors but the Eels have again knocked on.
Another big defensive set from Parra. They home team completed the set with a deft kick from their half and the defence traps the fullback in goal. A couple of close calls as the Eels are just held up short of the line in the next set. Eels penalty. Big shift right. The ball cuts out Tufuga (I’m sure it’s Fontayne out there) and the centre crashes over for the Eels first.
Dogs 12 Eels 4 after 30 minutes
Bog collisions in this kick off set as Parra works through the ruck. Tremendous set finished with a high kick fielded on the line by the Dogs but they get a soft penalty for something in the ruck.
Parra are now tearing through the Dogs defence. A brilliant kick return from Freedom-Crichton Ropati (I assume it’s her) sets up a great set as the Eels advance to the quarter. Big cut out from Bailey Ma Chong (?) to Ropati and she dives over in the corner.
Dogs 12 Eels 8 after 36 minutes
Thats disappointing. The Dogs get possession after the kick off and are quickly attacking Parra’s line. The try is a simple barge over from close range
Dogs 16 lead Eels 8 after 39 minutes
Siren Goes – half time
Third Quarter
An Eels error starts the quarter. Scrum. Another try that is quite disappointing as the Dogs simply power over between the posts.
Dogs 20 Eels 8 after 42 minutes
Eels penalty as Ropati gets hammered high. Ma-Chong (?) creates something out of nothing as she darts out of dummy half, grubbers ahead and then toes the ball past the fullback. Only scramble from the Dogs winger saved the day for them.
Wow what a try saver from the Eels left wong as the Dogs looked certain to score but the winger was driven over the sideline in the corner!
Eels penalty. Looks like Mitty Caurns hitting it up late in the set. The kick on the last draws a Dogs error. Scrum ten out. Parra immediately go left. The centre draws the defence and creates enough space for the Eels winger to crash over for the try!
Dogs 20 lead Eels 12 after 50 minutes
Solid set after points completed with a kick into the Dogs red zone. They get to halfway and kick but are penalised for being offside in the chase. Back to back penalties for Parra after a ruck issue. Ma Chong splits the defence to take play into the red zone. Left now and the Eels centre is brought down half a metre out. Big right side shift and the target looks to be Ropati and the ball finds her after a series of precision passes. She does what we expect as she crosses in the corner.
Dogs 20 Eels 16 after 57 minutes
Dogs get possession after the kick off but throw a forward pass. Parra rucking it out of their half but the error comes from them.
Siren sounds to end the quarter
Dogs 20 lead Eels 16
Final Quarter
Parra kicking off. Dogs get to their kick but knock on in trying to field it. Turnover. Fast play through the ruck in response by Parra but the knock on comes on about the 30 metre line.
Dogs scrum.
A penalty comes their way on Parra’s 40. They advance play to Parra’s 20 and there’s an injury stoppage. She’s leaving the field with an ankle issue. The Dogs now move the ball right but the pass goes down ten out.
Eels scrum.
Big juggle and regather this set allows the Eels to stay on a roll up the Dogs quarter. A trap and scrap sees the Dogs regain possession in their red zone. They go right late in the set and open the Eels but the cover shuts it down.
Eels straight back on the attack. Is that Ropati that just stormed into the ball through the ruck?!? It’s a spectacular try as she splits them and sprints about 40 metres to the posts.
Eels 20 Dogs 20 after 69 minutes
Big final ten minutes coming. Again fast play through the ruck from Parra. The Dogs can’t handle this pace and give away a penalty on their quarter. Parra go right and are brought down a metre out. Big gap beside the ruck and the player at dummy half sees it and takes it. Try time.
Eels 24 Dogs 20 after 73 minutes
The Eels are storming through the ruck and the dogs give away a penalty with a hand in the ruck. Oops. Forward pass from dummy half changes momentum. Parra needs to defend this. Now a Dogs penalty.
The Dogs mess it up with a play the ball error. Parra advance play to the Dogs quarter and just run it on the last. The siren sounds!
Full time Eels 24 defeat Dogs 20
Quick comment.
When the Eels executed, they were too fast through the ruck for the Dogs. Parra also looked fitter and finished very strongly.
Sixties
Big to get a win over the dogs even in a trial match