This weekend is the third and final round of trials for the elite pathways teams. It is also what is now a traditional trial between the Eels and the Panthers at Windsor.

 

Last night the girls teams had strong victories over Penrith, with the Lisa Fiaola being particularly impressive in attack with a 40-16 result after the teams were tied 10 all at half time. Though they might need to fix some first up contact in defence, the side really pressed the trigger in possession.

The Tarsha Gale girls had a closer result (24-14? I want to confirm that score) but it’s fair to say that they did miss a few scoring opportunities. Like the Fiaola team, they looked particularly sharp in attack, especially when they get a roll on through the middle and then hit the edges with shifts. There’s some pace out wide in both teams.

As for today’s trials, the Matts come in with a win and a loss against the Sharks and the Dogs respectively, whilst the Ball disposed of those clubs in imperious fashion in both trials.

This is the last opportunity for players to impress before final cuts are made to the squads. The action kicks off at 10am with the Matts.

No scoreboard functioning. No clock. No team lists.

Harold Matts

First Half

I take my seat literally as the teams run on. Eels kick off and the Panthers complete their first set. Eels error early in reply. Panthers into Eels red zone. Big shift right and the Eels seem to have it covered but a miracle offload from the Riff centre puts his winger over. Conversion misses

Panthers 4 Eels nil after four minutes

Another Eels error after Penrith complete their set I’d compounded by a Riff penalty. This time Penrith go immediately to their left and score in the corner. Horrid start from the Eels!

Conversion in off the upright

Panthers  10 Eels nil after 7 minutes

Panthers follow up a completed kick off set with a great defensive and Parra have to kick from inside their quarter. Opportunity now with a Panthers error just inside Parra’s half but the Eels again make an early error around halfway. That’s 3 incomplete from first four sets. Panthers help out with an error on Eels 40.

A couple of huge plays from Hayden Bell first with a surge into the quarter, then in a tackle to dislodge the ball from the Riff at the start of the next set. Penrith defend well to hold out the Eels but there were some awful passes from Parra in that set. Penrith then go the length in reply but are just held up over the line.

Massive improvement now from Parra as they again advance play to the Riff red zone but desperation defence in the left corner holds out the Eels.

Panthers have got some attack in them but the temptation was too great for one of their players as he goes over with a double movement.

My goodness another Eels error in the penalty set!
Riff scrum on the forty.

Multiple sets in defence for Parra now as they open up far too easily time after time through the middle. It’s all too soft now as a hit up towards the posts sees the Panthers forward almost fall over between the sticks.

Conversion successful

Panthers 16 Eels nil after 29 minutes.

Panthers error from the kick off in their quarter. Big chance for the Eels to strike before. They take play to the posts. Great ball from Bell to Curtis Brown and the prop is over for the first try just left of the posts.

Conversion successful

Panthers 16 lead Eels 6

Eels get expansive from the kick off. An error comes but the siren goes

Half Time Panthers 16 Eels 6

Second Half

What a start to the second half as the Eels receive the kick off and get play into the Riff quarter. And it’s that man Bell again who powers over beside the posts!

Conversion successful

Panthers 16 Eels 12 after 2 minutes

The tide has turned! I’m still typing up the last try as the centre Tyla Lama breaks away down the right wing to score in the set after points. Conversion successful

Eels 18 Panthers 16

The Eels kick early this set but the Panthers reply with repeat sets from penalties. Play works to the Eels red zone and the Riff spread left but cough up the pill in contact. Eels grab it and complete their set with a deep kick.

The Panthers are now the side making the errors as they again fail to complete a set in Parra’s red zone.

Eels penalty after Levi Perrett is tackled after he kicks. Into the Panthers red zone off the penalty. Eels left edge goes to work and that looks like Jackson Khan crashing over. Conversion misses

Eels 22 Panthers 16 after 15 minutes.

We can’t get back into that habit – the Eels drop the ball mid set to give Panthers a chance from halfway. Not sure what’s happening for Penrith as they drop it 25 out.

A penalty for Parra compounds the Riff error but then it’s a forward pass from Parra on a wide right shift mid set and 35 out from the Panthers line. Piggy back penalty for Panthers and they’re into Parra’s half. If you make errors you eventually pay for them and Penrith use their big middles to drive through the ruck. And it’s a big surge from their prop who crashes over the line. Conversion successful!

Eels 22 Panthers 22 after about 20 minutes

Boom! Panthers error. Eels centre it to the posts. A bit of second phase and now to the left edge with shape and I think it’s Tyson Pulietu scoring.

Conversion from Leonard Salter hits the upright.

Eels 26 Panthers 22 after 23 minutes

Eels fumble the ball in the kick off set. They defend then get a kick downfield. The metres are too easy for Penrith this set. They get to the quarter and kick ahead and ground the ball beside the posts.

Conversion is thrown over.

Panthers 28 Eels 26 after 25 minutes

poor defence from Parra from the kick off and the Riff get the ball straight back over halfway. They go back to the well with a kick to the in goal but it rolls dead.

seven tackle set, now six again. Penalty ten out for a high shot. Now that’s some effort. Thomas Jackson has hit the ball up towards the posts and refused to be tackled. He’s got a swarm of pink jerseys on him but he twists and swivels his way over beside the right upright. Conversion from Salter

Eels 32 Panthers 28 and I make it 30 minutes

Lucky break for Parra as an offload is dropped but the ref takes it back to the play the ball as he’s called tackle.

Panthers opt for a cross field kick to an unmarked winger early in the set and he looked offside to me. He reels it in and offloads but there’s a forward pass called that saves the Eels.

Parra penalty as the siren sounds. They take the kick for touchdowns then for some reason pass the ball towards the middle. Elijah Alhazim wisely tucks it unders his arm and takes the tackle

Full time. Eels 32 defeat Panthers 28 in a very entertaining trial!

SG Ball

First Half

Panthers kicking off.

Kick goes dead. Up to the Riff quarter following the penalty and Nunn goes close. Parra penalty. Big shift left but Bloomfield is put into touch.

Riff get to their kick but Parra are straight back into the Panthers half. Jirah Stewart kicks a grubber late in the set and gets the deflection for a six again. Panthers defend well but a crossfield kick from Bamblett on the last is tapped back spectacularly by Bloomfield to Apiata for the try.

Conversion unsuccessful

Eels 4 Panthers nil after about 5 minutes

Wow. Bamblett tippy toes on the dead ball line to stop the kick off from earning a drop out. The Panthers drive him back in goal and gets somehow offloads it as the Eels get into the field of play. Set completed with a kick and Panthers do likewise and Parra then do the same before the ref breaks the sequence with a  penalty to Penrith early next set.

Spectacular catch by Rokosuka in goal and he races out for a quick tap. He surges to the last defender and gets the one handed pass away to possibly Bamblett but as he streaks downfield he’s called back by the ref as the touchie calls forward pass.

The Eels now pay for the call as the Panthers find success with a shift to their right edge.

Conversion successful

Panthers 6 lead Eels 4 after about 14 minutes

Impressive attack from Penrith as they again shift right in the set after points and break the Eels defence for a long range try beside the posts.

Panthers 12 lead Eels 4 after 17 minutes

An Eels error early in their next set and the Panthers will have a scrum on Parra’s side of halfway. Drinks break taken.

Penrith complete their set with a bomb and Rokosuka takes it superbly. Unfortunately the Eels are driven back in goal next play. Short drop out and Bloomfield and Apiata do amazingly well to tap it back and keep the ball in play. They complete the set but Penrith’s kicking game is on song as they force another drop out in their next set.

Panthers grubber to finish the set draws an Eels knock on. Big shift left and a huge cut out pass might have drawn a deflection off Rokosuka but regardless it falls nicely for their winger who strolls over in the corner.

Conversion misses

Panthers 16 Eels 4 after about 26 minutes.

Penrith Penalty in the kick off set as Parra give too much possession and territory to their opponents. Piggyback penalty for offside follows. More red zone defence coming for the Eels but a Panthers prop drops the ball cold early and in front of the sticks.

Eels get a relieving penalty.

Up to the quarter and it’s a relatively simply try as Kotarac barges over between the posts.

Conversion successful

Panthers 16 Eels 10 after 33 minutes.

The Eels are gaining momentum but the siren brings it to an end.

Half time Panthers 16 lead Eels 10

Second Half

Parra kick off but Riff get a penalty on their line for a high shot. The kick fails to find touch as Davis catches it but one of the forwards fumbles the ball in contact on the second. 20 out.

Penrith complete their set with a chip and chase but Davis has it covered. Offload from Nauer almost creates something on the left edge. Panthers knock a pass down two tackles later and it’s an Eels scrum 20 out. Right now and Petrus sways away defenders as he proves too strong in his charge to the line.

Bloomfield converts

Eels 16 Panthers 16 after about 40 minutes.

Another Eels error about 20 out after the kick off. The Riff throw a loose pass which sails over the sideline. Pressure relieved!

Parra advance play to the quarter and Petrus threatens. Left now on the last as Bamblett bobs and weaves but the Riff hold him up beside the posts for a hand over.

Riff find touch with their kick on the last. Eels start this set 30 out. Simple hit ups then Davis attempts a risky offload that hits the deck. Now the penalty is paid as the Riff break away down their right, and not for the first time today they get the try.

sideline conversion goes wide.

Panthers 20 Eels 16

The Eels left side defence is again found wanting after the kick off. It’s a simple right side shift mid set and the Riff break down the wing with players streaming through in support. Davis is left stranded against those odds as they cross behind the posts

Conversion made

Panthers 28 Eels 16

Oh this could have been disaster as the Riff split the Eels up the middle from the kick off but the last pass goes tumbling out of the players hands on Davis’ tackle 20 out.

Parra complete the set with a shallow up and under to the quarter line which Rokosuka knocks on. Panthers do the same on their last but Davis can’t catch it. Panthers will start this set 20 out.

Is this more trouble for Parra? They get a drinks break to think about it.

Looks like Bloomfield and Apiata have swapped positions on the left. Bloomfield to centre. Eels defend the set and the sides trade completed sets.

A bit of of second phase play gets the Eels to the quarter. They go left now to Koina who’s roaming a bit wide and fires a pass that sets up Bloomfield to put Apiata over in the corner.

Conversion unsuccessful

Panthers 28 Eels 20 with about ten to go.

Steven Nunn. What a charge from the kick off as defenders bounce off him as he pummels his way to the 30. Eels now to the red zone and after completing their set they force an error.

Scrum feed ten out. It’s the 1-2 play as first Nunn bends the defence right of the posts. Now left to Koina who powers through space to score between the posts.
Conversion successful

Panthers 28 Eels 26

Eels again fail to complete their set after points.

Invitations issued to the Riff to attack. They go right inside the quarter but the ball comes free in contact a metre out.

Six again as the Eels roll fast through the ruck and the Panthers lay all over them. Oh that’s not good as on the first tackle an impossible pass is pushed on the 30 metre line. That could be the game there! Thats a coach killer.

Penrith get to the quarter and head right with a grubber kick that the Eels cover. Oh no. Lost ball next play. Six tackles coming inside the ten.

Have a guess where the Panthers go this set. Yes they set play up on the left then it’s a wide shift right with a two man overlap as the winger crosses in the corner.

Conversion is a ripper

Full Time – Panthers 34 Defeat Eels 26

Far too many errors from the Eels in this trial, and the coach will have some defensive issues to sort out. It’s a strong side so it should be sorted.

 

Sixties