We roll into Round 2 of the Junior Representatives with the Parramatta Eels hitting the road once again – this time to tackle the Cronulla Sharks across all four grades. Today sees the Lisa Fiaola and Tarsha Gale Cups in action at Ocean Protect Stadium (aka Shark Park) as the Fiaola look to tack onto an impressive Round 1 victory while the Gale are hunting their opening win of the season.
The action kicks off at 3:00PM in the Lisa Fiaola with the Tarsha Gale following at 4:45PM. Join the updates and conversation right here on TCT but don’t forget you can also catch the games on BarTV with a subscription.
Lisa Fiaola Team List
| 1 | Tegan Nicholas |
| 2 | Havana Cook |
| 3 | Georgia Wansey |
| 4 | Hine Rikiti |
| 5 | Ruby Enosi Tuipulotu |
| 6 | Rylee Cash |
| 7 | Temieke Withers |
| 8 | Kavienga O’Callahan-Ahio |
| 20 | Armanhi Cook |
| 10 | Ta’alili Tuivaiti |
| 11 | Sarah Alameddine |
| 12 | Kaizen Morgan-Pritchard |
| 13 | Isabella Bell |
| Interchange | |
| 16 | Hayloh Talagi |
| 17 | Taylah Meagher |
| 19 | Charlie Noble |
| 22 | Chelsea Falls |
| 21 | Sienna Manuo |
| 24 | Marlie-Jay Paranihi-Tagoai |
Late Mail
A change for the Eels at dummy half. Laura Gardiner is OUT. Replacing her in the starting role is Armahni Cook while Charlie Noble comes onto the interchange bench.
Match Updates
First Half
Sharks to kick off but the Eels have made a meal of the first transition! Regulation pass there to Tuivaiti I believe but she takes her eyes off it and grasses it. Sharks immediately on the attack as they split to their left. Carries for their rake Field and backrower Ma’ameivai before they come back to the posts. Parramatta were obliged to make a stand on their goal line after the error and they do! Holding out the Sharks and bringing about an error at the end of the set before Isabella Bell wins the first penalty of the game in the next possession!
Tap and go the Eels. Good run for Morgan-Pritchard to set the table for a raid down the right edge. Sharp ball playing from Rylee Cash as she releases Hine Rikiti! Hine is flying down the right sideline before drifting infield to try and find support but her pass is batted down at the last! It looks like it is being ruled a knock on against the Sharks.
Gee that is good footy from both teams now. The Eels are throwing plenty at the Sharks with rapid shifts either side of the ruck but Cronulla are plenty willing in defence. The set culminates with a bomb to from Temieke Withers to Rikiti on the last and it looks like she might have claimed it and fallen onto the ground in-goals but the referee announces it is Parra ball 10m out.
Decisive play from the restart! Cash commandeers play down the right edge short side and quickly finds her fullback Tegan Nicholas who rifles a beauty of a ball to Ruby Enosi Tuipulotu! Inch perfect play as the Eels claim first points! Withers lands a banger of a conversion from the sideline too boot!
Try scored by Ruby Enosi Tuipolotu. Conversion successful by Temieke Withers.
Eels lead 6-0
7min gone
Much better from Ta’alili now as she bulldozes through defenders for a powerful gain. Bell guides the Eels around the ruck as she tips on to O’Callaghan-Ahio as the Eels then earn a penalty for a long set. Kaveinga is back for another run as the the Eels work left next play from Cash to Withers. Cook settles into dummy half and shovels the ball out to Bell who simply careens through some flimsy goal-line defence to make it back-to-back tries for the Blue & Gold.
Try scored by Isabella Bell. Conversion successful by Temieke Withers.
Eels lead 12-0
10min gone
Dominance in the ruck here for Parramatta. Their bigs are just steam rolling Cronulla. The Eels drive into Cronulla’s half for the third straight possession but finally stall out as they run it down their right edge on the last and Rikiti loses the ball near the sideline.
Cronulla’s first possession in some time now. They will be desperate to establish themselves here and find some traction around the ruck with second phase play. And now out of nowhere! Their five-eighth Ngamiri Hughes slides through with a slick dummy and step but it met by Nicholas at the last line. She flings the ball inside to her fullback Edwards but the cover defence converge to save the day – even though it wasn’t needed since the referee indicates the ball traveled forwards.
The Eels aren’t out of the woods yet though. An error of their own has handed the home another change inside the red zone. Cronulla change gears by attacking down their right early this possession as they slowly build to the posts. Important tackle from Cook! She corrals her opposite from dummy-half to prevent a try near the up rights.The Sharks opt to go for the aerial option on the last but spill the ball forwards in the contest for the ball. 10m change over for the Eels.
Taylah Meagher is on now and rumbles through the middle. Withers takes an aggressive option on the last as she grubbers from centrefield for Cook! It is executed nicely and Havana regathers but she can’t find the support on the inside! Good tackle from Edwards I think it was but gee that was a real chance.
Speaking of chances. Heavy defence has jolted the ball free and the Eels are back on the attack immediately. Nicholas finds Cook on the first tackle for a great gain as Parra come back infield now. A penalty in front of the posts lets the reset with a full tackle count but they can’t utilise all of the banked tackles as Withers can’t find Cook with the looped cutout pass on the full and Havana gets a touch on the bouncing ball resulting in a knock-on.
Parra concede a penalty now as the Sharks get a much needed assist out of their own half. A second penalty follows and suddenly momentum swings as their halfback Weigand pinches some good metres with a swift tap-and-go. Stern goal line defence is needed and the Eels turn away both of Cronulla’s big bookend in Ah-loo and Mapa before Cash and Morgan-Pritchard combine to effect the turn over on tackles.
Gee I was about to say, that really should be a penalty as Meager gets shoved to the ground in a clear second effort. The whistle was delayed but it does come. Alas the Eels don’t get full value out of the extended set for the second consecutive occasion as Cook drops a tough ball thrown up high in a raid down the left edge.
The halfback Weigand again threatens but loses the ball trying to split Parramatta’s right edge. Rikiti provides a brilliant counter punch through the ruck and is followed by Bell before Cash and Nicholas try the classic outside/inside ball. Cronulla track it well though. Meagher brings up the last as Cash hesitates for a moment before driving it low through the front line. Edwards is on her goal line, ready for the kick, and cleans it up after shielding it with her legs initially.
Cronulla have worked their way back into this contest but inflict some self harm at the end of the next possession when they kick out on the full. Good field position for the Eels – just shy of halfway – as they get to the task. Kaizen Morgan-Pritchard has another good carry and perhaps another run that sets up points? No! A raised flag from the touch judge has put the kibosh of celebrations for a potential Tuipulotu double. I thought the pass from Rikiti looked alright from the broadcast angle but it was a quick, definitive call from the sideline official.
So close! Withers nearly conjures up a piece of magic at the end of Parramatta’s next set as she sidesteps pressure on the last and quickly hooks a kick out to Cook on the left. Havana scoops it up and is met by the defence a metre short of the line. She has a brief chance to ground it perhaps before she gets rolled over but the touch judge and referee are in accord that she couldn’t plant the ball. Not much in that one geez.
Cronulla work the ball out from there but the clock is expiring and we will go to the break with the Eels leading 12-0.
Half Time
Parramatta Eels 12 lead the Cronulla Sharks 0
Second Half
Eels kicking off. Cronulla let it bounce and for a moment it looked like Parramatta might have been able to pinch a possession. The Sharks barely fall on it in time but it makes little difference given they are pulled up for forward pass shortly after. Wansey gets the run from the scrum win as Sarah Alameddine centres the ball next and wins a penalty. Bell and Cash go next before Armahni Cook shows some guile out of dummy-half as she darts left while guiding runners underneath only to hold the ball for herself and barrel over!
Try scored by Armanhi Cook. Conversion successful by Temieke Withers.
Eels lead 18-0
33min gone
Meagher surges on the kick return as the Eels begin their set in ominous fashion. The roll-on continues into Cronulla’s half as Morgan-Pritchard frees her arm for a late offload but the pass from Cash to Rikiti isn’t handled cleanly and is lost forwards.
Cronulla desperately need to get a foot-hold in this game and must feel like they need points this set. They do well to work the ball into Parra’s red zone but the Eels show starch in defence once again as they drill Ngamiri Hughes on the last.
Good work from the right edge in reply. They carry the Eels over halfway with a series of strong runs before the set is completed with a midfield bomb.
Clinical kick! Withers has it on a string now as the Eels pin the Sharks on their own goal line at the end of Parra’s next set. It has just ratcheted the pressure up on the home team and sure enough the error on tackle two follows! Scrum set centrefield for the Eels, right in front of the posts. They break right and quickly find Nicholas gliding down that edge. She has the option to feed Enosi on her right but she dummies and cuts back against the sliding defence. Brushing past two defenders she meets Eden Edwards at the death and is able to fight past her and slam the ball down on the line! Withers barely misses the extras as she strikes the right upright.
Try scored by Tegan Nicholas. Conversion unsuccessful by Temieke Withers.
Eels lead 22-0
41min gone
Chelsea Falls rips in now. Charlie Noble getting a run too as she deputises for Cook at dummy-half. Excellent set after points. The Eels are mustering the ball right up the guts and it allows them to get to their kick and trap the Sharks on their goal line again. No cheap error in the immediate wake of the kick this time around but Parramatta are teeing off in defence. Punishing stuff here as they unload on the Sharks. They need a massive break here and somehow find one!
Their hurried kick out of dummy half doesn’t travel well but it does however draw an error out of Georgia Wansey I believe. The knock-on is elevated into a penalty for an offside reclamation of the ball.
Any comeback, improbable as it may be, would start here for the Sharks and they are finally able to crack the Eels’ vaunted goal line defence as their lock forward Laila Poto is able to isolate a defender around the ruck and crash over.
Try scored by the Cronulla Sharks. Conversion successful.
Sharks trail 6-22
46min gone
We bare witness to the classic second wind after points now as Cronulla sortie deep into Parra’s half from the kickoff set. Sharp work from Wansey on the last defuses a dangerous attacking kick thankfully and the Eels are back with the ball in hand.
No frills about this set. Tough carries up the middle until the Eels get their wires crossed on the last. Noble runs it out of dummy half and is tackled – but at least she made some good metres so the outcome is far from the worst.
After conceding their first points of the day, the Eels are able to reply with a much sterner answer this time around as they repel the Sharks once more. They trap the fullback Edwards on the last as she tries to find a seam and reclaim the ball.
Geez, Morgan-Pritchard is unlucky not to win a penalty there with a long hold in the ruck from the Sharks. The Eels kick on the next play to complete the set as Withers and Alameddine lead some surging defence down the left edge.
Lovely work from Cook and Rikiti sets the table early in the next set as their returns have the Sharks firmly on the back foot. Morgan-Pritchard rips in next as suddenly the Eels have gone just about the length of the field and can extend their lead.
Temieke Withers again reaches deep into her bag of tricks as she emulates her play before half time! She beats the rushing defence of the last and once more hooks a clever kick into the in-goals. Georgia Wansey and Havana Cook both give spirited chase but it is the centre Wansey who wins out to bag a try!
Try scored by Georgia Wansey. Conversion successful by Temieke Withers.
Eels lead 28-6
54min gone
Watch out! Second stint Ta’alili is here! Like last week she is flying onto the ball with her fresh legs. Despite the strong early running this set, the Eels eventually turn the ball over on halfway as the Sharks get a chance to minimise the damage to their points differential. Tegan Nicholas makes a clutch tackle on her opposite to save a try and the swarming left edge defence of the Eels is able to prevent the spread of the ball on the last to save a certain try.
Errors from both teams eventually sees Parramatta in plus field position with minutes left on the clock. Can they tack on here?
Tuivaiti gets her number called to start the set before Bell turns O’Callaghan-Ahio underneath. Right to the power Morgan-Pritchard who is dragged down a metre short of the line. Now some spectacular second phase play! Withers bullets a pass to Alameddine who someone unloads the ball in stunning fashion to Nicholas on the sweep as the fullback quickly finds Wansey in support to close out this game in serious style!
Try scored by Georgia Wansey. Conversion unsuccessful by Temieke Withers.
Full Time
Parramatta Eels 32 defeat the Cronulla Sharks 6
Tarsha Gale Team List
| 1 | Irae Savea |
| 2 | Kiana Vatubua |
| 3 | Sualo Lafoga |
| 4 | Jessamine Aloaii |
| 5 | Freedom Crichton Ropati |
| 6 | Sammy-Lee Gunn-Tauai |
| 7 | Aaliyah Soufan |
| 8 | Alana O’Loughlin |
| 9 | Ava Jones |
| 17 | Isabella Papaa |
| 11 | Billie Va’a |
| 12 | Fontayne Tufuga |
| 13 | Khyliah Gray |
| Interchange | |
| 14 | Bailey Ma-Chong |
| 16 | Leonia Vei |
| 20 | Shire Thocolich |
| 23 | Tia Matthews |
| 15 | Jayda Cook |
| 18 | Christine Tongia |
| 21 | Mitzy Cairns |
Late Mail
Isabella Papaa has been promoted to the starting front-row. Shire Thocolich drops back into the rotation as a result.
Match Updates
First Half
Parramatta to field the ball to open this game.
As with the Lisa Fiaola earlier, the Eels make a meal of the opening play of the game. Cronulla are in possession and on the attack and have crossed in the blink of an eye. Their fullback Tegan Boyce is able to put Parramatta’s left edge in two minds and as splits Aloaliiand Vatuabua enroute to barely getting the ball down on the line. Parra’s cover defence nearly got there in time but the razor thin margin does the way of the Sharks are the Eels find themselves behind out of the gates.
Try scored by the Cronulla Sharks. Conversion unsuccessful.
Sharks lead 4-0
2min gone
Parramatta have forced an error – a much needed play for the Blue & Gold – as they gain the ball back inside Cronulla’s half.
Gunn-Tauai digs in on the first and is followed by O’Loughlin before Tufuga nearly splits the defence open. Gray is used to centre the ball as the Eels work left via Soufan and Savea. That brings up the last as Soufan stabs the ball towards the posts. Clever kick as it strikes the uprights and Kyliah is in hot pursuit but the lock forward can’t quite drag in the ball off her ankles and knocks on over the line.
The Eels then concede a penalty in defence as the Sharks get a ride out of their danger zone.
Nice tackle from Lafoga there as she cuts down the threat challenging Parra’s right edge.
Parra are back in possession and Freedom Crichton Ropati explodes through the middle with a massive carry that flips the field. She can’t find support and takes the tackle deeps in Cronulla’s half. The Eels press to their right as they try to strip the Sharks for numbers. The double down on that edge sees the ball get back out to Freedom but she is left with little space to work with and is bundled into touch.
The home team keeps the door ajar as they cough up the ball on halfway to put Parramatta back in favourable field position. Aloalii gets the run from the loosehead. Solid gain. Gray directs her fellow forwards through the ruck as she uses O’Loughlin underneath but just as the Eels build towards a potential crescendo the short ball from Sammy- Lee is dropped as Lafoga looks the carve through on an unders line. Better intent but the Eels are still just off at the moment.
Speaking of just off! The Sharks just hand it right back to Parramatta. Our girls need to cash in here. Soufan and Va’a take early runs. Aaliyah is jammed on tackle three and her pass gets misdirected as a result but the Eels clean up in the nick of time. Credit to Cronulla’s defence here. They have disrupted this set and it ends up a completed possession off the boot of Gunn-Tauai but the Sharks field the grubber kick comfortably in general play.
Watch out! Freedom Crichton Ropati is on the rampage again! She reels in a midfield bomb and sweeps past the kick chase as she notches her second line break of the game! She is pulled down from behind but that is a dreadfully slow ruck and sure enough the official is all over it! The penalty comes and the Sharks will be down a player for the professional foul. Game changing moment perhaps.
Steady now girls. They have the ascendancy here but don’t need to overplay their hands. The game slows down due to an injury. Think it might be a Shark that copped a knock here. The break will no doubt allow the defence to suck in some deep breaths but it could also help Parramatta re-calibrate.
We are back as Alana O’Loughlin plays the ball. Right to Sammy-Lee who feeds Tufuga. Good hands from Soufan next tackle to save an errant pass but the Eels have come out of the break of play stilted. They try to run it on the last as Gray links up with Jones who cuts it out to Aloalii but the Sharks stay composed and bring about the turnover on tackles.
Lafoga drops the midfield bomb from the Sharks at the end of their reply set and suddenly the home team will be able to chew up some serious clock on their player disadvantage. They win the scrum set inside Parra’s half and play to their right. They build slowly back to their left but quickly come undone with a cold drop from their centre Caine. A let off for the Eels but it has still eaten up precious time on the clock.
Jessamine takes the opening charge next set. Va’a follows but confusion reigns for a moment before it is made clear play has stopped for a penalty. Crusher seems to be the call there.
So here we go, Jessamine Aloalii up again. Va’a in her wake. Carbon copy of last set. Next is O’Loughlin over halfway. Right to Gray who dummies and nearly bursts through! Good run. Back left as Soufan directs and then runs herself. Gunn-Tauai takes the ball om the last and kicks for Crichton Ropati. It is shallow off the boot but Freedom takes it and fights for an offload to Lafoga but the cover defence closes in rapidly to bring an end to the raid.
Reasonable set of defence here as the Sharks find themselves restricted to a 30m gain. They kick on halfway as a result allowing Vatubua to make a tidy return before she is reeled in by offside defenders. Naturally that results in a penalty as the Eels resume play centrefield. Aloalii at work again. Gray on the third through he middle before Shire Thocolich nearly bulldozes her way over with the fresh legs! It unravels from there though. Soufan struggles with a low pass and the ball spills out backwards as the Sharks pour through and dive on the loose pill. Another chance goes begging for the Eels.
Gee Vatuabua and Crichton Ropati have been money on their kick returns. It is Kiana with another massive start to a set this time around – can the Eels convert their tremendous work into points?
Another break in play. Presumably for an injury. Va’a will set the ruck as Parra use Leonia Vei on the right. Thocolich is up next as Soufan then uses Va’a wide to the left. She nearly sheds the defender but is eventually dragged down. A little slice of that sweet, sweet lucky pie is doled out to the Eels now as Soufan stabs a grubber kick towards the posts. The Eels pour through in chase but it catches a defender in the front line. Reflexively, Kyliah Gray is able to toe it ahead and then win the chase for the second kick as Parramatta finally get on the board! Unfortunately, Ava Jones has a bit of a Barry Crocker off the tee leaving the scores level.
Try scored by Kyliah Gray. Conversion unsuccessful by Ava Jones.
Eels lock the scores up at 4-all
28min gone
Good, clean take from Sammy-Lee on the kickoff. Gray continues to surge with another strong carry – winning a penalty. The Eels want a quick restart and seemingly get the greenlight to tap and go but we then come back to the mark. Odd. Soufan and Va’a nearly split the Sharks open on consecutive plays. Good footy. The ball is centred care of Thocolich as the right edge loads up. Tufuga sorties back against the grain to bring up the last. Jones gives it to her five-eighth Gunn-Tauai but her grubber kick is intercepted with sharp hands that leads to a line break for the Sharks.
Parramatta rally to make the cover tackle before Vei absolutely UNLOADS with a bell ringer of a hit. Cracking shot! Cronulla kick from right-to-left on the last, testing the dangerous Crichton Ropati who again is equal to the challenge but is finally hemmed in on her return.
The Sharks unleash a bell ringer of their own as Soufan is nailed in the transition of the ball. She is left strewn behind as the home team pounce on the lost ball. It creates a monster chance for Cronulla to strike against the run of play with nary a minute left in the half but Leonia Vei again rises up in defence with a heavy blow that knocks the ball loose. Gee that was important and it results in both teams heading to their sheds the same way this game started with the scores level.
Half Time
Parramatta Eels 4 locked up with Cronulla Sharks 4
Second Half
Parra kicking off. As with the first half a less than ideal start as they concede a penalty in the tackle. Thankfully some sloppy ruck work late in the tackle count relieves the pressure on the Blue & Gold as the ref uses a short whistle to indicate the error.
Nice offload from Vei in the following set. It generates some useful bonus metres down the right edge. Soufan goes to the air on the last as Kiana Vatubua looms large over her opposite to make a stellar catch but she is short of the goal line as the cover defence catch her before she can regain her footing.
Another shift in this contest potentially comes in a rare error from Crichton Ropati. Her kick returns have punished the Sharks today but she lefts this kick drift away from her at the last moment and reaches for it to produce the error. A penalty follows a few tackles later as the Sharks get a premium chance to take the lead. Punishing defence from Tufuga there! She doubles up next plat as well. Huge effort. The Sharks stall out on the penultimate tackle and Jessamine Aloalii absolutely engulfs the fullback Boyce on the last to complete a massive goal line stand.
Oh dear. All that fantastic effort potentially foiled by an error in the ruck. Play-the-ball not deemed to be straight. Parramatta seem to protest the call and it looks to have escalated the turnover into a penalty and the Sharks quickly elect to take a shot at goal in a contest where points have been difficult to come by. The kick is good and the home team take the lead.
Penalty goal attempt successful.
Sharks lead 6-4
39min gone
Va’a and Thocolich lead the kick chase with a strong opening tackle. Jones channels the same energy next play and the Eels win the ball back as a result. Aggressive defence producing the error. Sammy-Lee uses Lafoga on the first before Jones darts out of dummy-half. Unlucky not to win the penalty for the slow down there. Ditto for O’Loughlin as the Sharks desperately try to spoil the ruck. And again for Va’a! This is just egregious as the whistle is put in the pocket. What is the ref doing this set?
Time is off again for another nicked up Shark. Plenty of dead time in this game on account of minor injuries.
Gray will play the ball against the set defensive line. It is the last. Options either side of the ruck but Jones wants to use her forwards! Thocolich and O’Loughlin run in a battery formation to her right as Jones uses the wider option in Alana. The rugged prop forward spins through the tackle attempt and scores a critical try to put the Eels in front for the first time today!
Try scored by Alana O’Loughlin. Conversion successful by Ava Jones.
Eels lead 10-6
43min gone
Completing this set will be key. Good work from Gunn-Tauai again from the restart as she brings in the swirling kick. Nice hands from G ray as she unleashes Papaa for a massive gain. A second runs for Papaa comes later after the left edge shift to Aloalii and the set is capped off by an attacking bomb that is spilled by the custodian Boyce! Just like the wrote it up! Arguably the Eels best set of the game there and it comes at a pivotal junction.
Now they set the scrum in front of the posts. Sammy-Lee and Lafoga in combination again. O’Loughlin steaming in on tackle two as Gray directs play left to her half Soufan but Aaliyah’s pass hits the dirt behind her support wide left. The Eels regather and reset as they switch to the right but the Sharks hold on and bundle Crichton Ropati into touch.
Nice work from Savea there as she quickly responds to the threat of a shallow kick from the Sharks and puts the Eels in plus field position. Freedom storms through the ruck next play on a half break as the Eels begin to pour through. Papaa has another good run before O’Loughlin is released through the ruck with a clever pass from Gray. She spins and ricochets off defenders before linking up with support right but her pass is ruled forwards! Maybe a tough call there but hard to tell.
Savea again has to race up to respond to a shallow attacking kick. Cronulla are able to reclaim the ball but Irae immediately shuts down any other options on the play. That leaves the home team with a spare play in hand but the Eels are able to defuse the attacking kick that follows.
Khyliah Gray is in her element now as she marshals her fellow forwards through the middle corridor. It is keeping the Sharks on the backfoot and sets a platform for a booming attacking kick that draws yet another error out of the home team. It has taken them a while but the Eels look to be finally be in gear now.
Wait? Parramatta knock on? I am befuddled at some of these calls now. Either way the Sharks have possession. And possession again care of a penalty on halfway. Momentum has completely flipped on the back of the whistle now – can the Eels hold on?
Tufuga and O’Loughlin are able to nullify some dangerous second phase play and on the very next tackle the Sharks spill it on a spread. A penalty now for the Eels as Ma-Chong quickly goes and offloads to support for a nice gain.
Soufan turns Va’a back inside for a good charge as Bailey darts out of dummy-half. Gray combines with O’Loughlin looking to punish a lax defensive line. Alana storms over the goal line but is held up to bring up the last. That brings the ball ball 10m out as Soufan goes to the air for Vatubua but her kick is too heavy. Kiana does her best to compete for it deep in-goals but can only get a hand to it and knock it on.
A penalty for a late hit off the ball gives the Sharks another extended set. They will get a full set inside Parramatta’s half with a few minutes on the clock still to play. Savea is called into action to cut down the dummy half Brookfield as the Eels scramble to get back onside. Parra’s right edge repels the next shift of play but the Sharks get another look when Lafoga can’t pick up a tough grubber kick cleanly off her ankles.
This is likely the game now. One set either way.
The Sharks nearly split the Eels wide open on the first tackle as their fullback Boyce finds a seam to attack.Parramatta hold on though and the white line fever sets in for the home team. They have no interest in trying to work either edge of the Blue & Gold. Instead they keep hammering it around the posts and ultimately fold to the pressure of Parra’s defence as they spill the ball over running into the teeth of the Eels’ defence!
Calm heads and a no-nonsense set are all the Eels need now. A minute on the clock and a full possession in hand. They do just that through the first three tackles before Ma-Chong and Gray nearly pull apart the Cronulla defence. They plunder big metres though before Gray offloads to Soufan who is dragged down. Seconds on the clock left as Bailey sorties out of dummy-half and the siren rings out to confirm an extremely hard fought win for our girls! Regardless, they are on the board and now their premiership defence beings in earnest!
Full Time
Parramatta Eels 10 defeat the Cronulla Sharks 6
