We are now past the mid way point in the Junior Representative season, and all Eels teams are in contention for finals football.

For the girls academy teams, that comes from a Lisa Fiaola team that remains undefeated and a Tarsha Gale side that has won three on the trot after dropping the first round to the Tigers.

Both Eels teams enter today’s clashes with Souths at Redfern as very warm favourites. Nearly all of both squads have received game time this season without the performances missing a beat, which indicates that the depth is strong.

The action kicks off at 10:30am. Stand by.

 

 

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	Kaveinga O’Callaghan-Ahio
9	Armanhi Cook
18	Ta’alili Tuivaiti
11	Sarah Alameddine
12	Kaizen Morgan-Pritchard
13	Isabella Bell
Interchange
10	Taylah Meagher
15	Zara Khouri
16	Marlie-Jay Paranihi-Tagoai
17	Zhra Tautai
19	Sienna Manuo

 

Updates

 

First Half

Eels kicking off. Wow what a tackle from Alameddine to set the tone for the defence. Big run from a Souths player takes play nearly 50 metres downfield and that means the last tackle kick requires Cook to bring it out of her ingoal. Cash delivers the last tackle kick into Souths red zone and it’s more strong metres from Souths to get back to Parra’s quarter for the last tackle kick but the error comes in the play the ball.

Eels penalty for a lifting tackle. Big hit from Souths on Rikiti but Parra respond by working to the Bunnies quarter. Last tackle and the ball comes left to Withers who finds Nicholas and she throws a cut out to Cook and the Eels winger powers her way to the corner for the first try.

Conversion unsuccessful

Eels 4 Souths nil after 7 minutes

Powerful stuff through the middle from the kick off and Parra gets a penalty after getting past halfway. Into the quarter and plenty of questions being asked. Withers is held up over the line mid set. Parra again run it on the last and the defence does well to hold Wansey up short of the line.

Souths are penalised in possession next set and Parra move past halfway on the second tackle. Into the red zone a tackle later and Parra spread left but the pass is at Wansey feet and she knocks on.

Souths get a penalty for a high shot mid set and move into Parra’s half. Now another penalty to the Bunnies on the quarter line. Souths come last and the pass is a beauty putting the runner through untouched for a try.

Conversion successful

Souths 6 Eels 4 after 16 minutes

Souths are playing a brand of footy which defies their ladder position as they continue to take the game to Parra. They get to the last tackle and kick to Parra’s quarter. In reply the Eels work play back to the Souths quarter but Withers kick rolls dead.

Another Souths penalty. Souths get expansive as they move into Eels territory but a right side shift sees a forward pass called. Scrum on the 30 metre line.

Big runs from Meagher and Tautai sets play for a left side shift inside the Souths quarter but the defence scrambles to stop Wansey right on the line.

Another Bunnies penalty and Souths move back deep into Parra’s half. The penalty count is growing as the Eels are pinged for a strip. Souths go perilously close in the right corner but the end of the set would be disappointing for them as the kick gives a seven tackle set.

Six again late in the set as Tuipulotu picks up the scraps after a Souths touch. Play is centred straight away and it’s the Eels captain in Bell who powers over beside the posts.

Conversion by Withers

Eels 10 Souths 6 after 27 minutes

Terrific work from the Eels forwards who drive play to the Souths red zone. Now to the backs and it’s dejavu as Withers and Nicholas combine for the cut out to be thrown to Cook for a try in the corner.

Conversion misses

Eels 14 Souths 6 after 28 minutes

Another great set after points from the Eels forwards and this time they work a short right side play to Tuipulotu who beats a defender then gets her hands up for an offload. It’s touched by Souths forwards a six again call but there’s a late correction to an Eels knock on.

Half time – Eels 14 lead Souths 6

 

Second Half

Souths kick off and Meagher crashes her way into the chasers. That lays the platform for Tautai and Bell to follow. Into souths territory now and it’s a right side play to Rikiti who breaks the line and draws the fullback before passing to Tuipulotu who scores in the corner.

Conversion misses

Eels 18 Souths 6 after 32 minutes

Another superb set from Parra’s forwards following the kick off. Souths touch for six again. Now another knock down from them on the quarter line this time for a scrum. The Eels forwards are making life difficult for Souths through the middle. Right again to Rikiti who dishes off to Tuipulotu and the winger steps off her right foot to beat the defender and grab a try double.

Conversion misses

Eels 22 Souths 6 after 37 minutes

It’s hard to keep up with the blogging as Parra are quickly back on the attack via their impressive forwards. A kick to the left corner for a chasing Cook but it beats everyone and rolls into touch.

Souths penalty relieves the pressure and the Bunnies respond enthusiastically by advancing play to Parra’s red zone. They run it on the last with good hands to the right corner and the winger scores.

Conversion misses

Eels 22 Souths 10 after 42 minutes

Souths complete the set after points with a kick to Nicholas. Her return sets the tone for Parra to surge back to Souths quarter but the Bunnies clean up the Withers kick on the last.

Yet another Souths penalty this set and a piggy back penalty for a high shot follows on Parra’s quarter line. Hang on, Souths take the kick for goal. I think they’ve mucked that up. The kick misses and it’s a 20 metre drop out from Parra.

Souths back on the attack but their last tackle kick rolls dead. Nice tap restart from Cook gains 15 metres. Terrific carry from Bell takes play to the quarter. Into the red zone and Bell links with Tuivaiti in front of the posts and the defence does well to stop her. Cut out pass to Cook on the last hits the turf and Souths make the tackle.

Last tackle kick from Souths hits the post and almost forces a drop out. Now it is a drop out as Parra loses the ball. Well this game has everything as the drop out from Parra finds touch. Eels scrum. Hang on now Parra get penalised in possession! The ref has put the Eels player on report!!!

Souths squander red zone possession with a lost ball. Now a penalty for Parra off the tap. What’s doing here?

Parra advance play to the Souths end of the field and the ref finds a scrappy play the ball and Souths get possession.

They break down the left and Parra takes the winger into touch but you guessed it. A penalty is called. Souths pepper the Eels line and now stretch play right. The ball is kept alive. Parra look a bit at sixes and sevens and the try comes!

Angled conversion is nailed

Eels 22 Souths 16 after 58 minutes

That’s a long count. Now a penalty. Play to the quarter. They pepper the left wing. Parra hold on. The siren goes and the ref ignores it to allow the play the ball!!!! souths score

The conversion goes wide and Eels hang on.

Full time: Eels 22 defeat Souths 20

I’m lost for words – all I can say is the Eels will need to look at the tape to see why the ref found so much fault with them. 11-4 penalties. After getting the first 3 penalties inside the first ten minutes I made the count 11-1 to Souths from there on.

 

Tarsha Gale Team List

 

1	Irae Savea
2	Zyon Ligaliga
3	Jayda Cook
4	Sualo Lafoga
5	Freedom Crichton Ropati
6	Sharon Latapu
7	Aaliyah Soufan
8	Taylah Falaniko
9	Bailey Ma-Chong
10	Alana O’Loughlin
11	Tia Matthews
12	Fontayne Tufuga
13	Khyliah Gray
Interchange
14	Ava Jones
15	Catea Duff
16	Olivia Saba
18	Christine Tongia
20	Jessamine Aloalii
19	Shire Thocolich

 

Updates

 

First Half

Souths kick off and Parra complete a great first set with a kick from Soufan into the Souths right corner. Souths field it but Parra muscles up in defence and the kick comes from inside the quarter. The kick is fielded inside Souths half. Crichton Ropati takes the hit up from the play the ball and she’s beaten about half of the Souths team as she crosses the line for an amazing 40 metre individual try.
Ma Chong converts

Eels 6 Souths nil after 4 minutes

Souths nearly find the dead ball line from the kick off but that awkward start to the set doesn’t stop Parra from immediately launching an attack down the left as Lingala breaks downfield. Eels penalty.

The Eels forwards are near unstoppable as Falaniko and then Tufuga set play up in front of the posts. Ma-Chong sends the ball right and it’s quick hands to Cook who strolls over near untouched to score.

Conversion misses

Eels 10 Souths nil after 7 minutes

Im struggling to keep up with describing the play here as the Eels forwards hit the ball up towards halfway. Now to Gray who weaves her way through traffic and into space. She fends off the last defender and gets a one handed offload to Soufan who scores.

Ma-Chong converts

Eels 16 Souths nil 10 minutes

Did I say I can’t keep up? From the kick off the Eels again shred the defence. Now Gray puts FaFalaniko on the charge and the Eels prop offloads in the tackle to Gray who evades defenders on a gallop to the line.

Conversion misses

Eels 20 Souths nil after 12 minutes

O’Loughlin starts the set followed by Ma-Chong with a dart. Falaniko toys with defenders as Parra marches towards the quarter. They run it on the last and Savea cuts through before finding Latapu backing up on the inside and she scores between the posts.

Ma-Chong converts

Eels 26 Souths nil after 16 minutes

Parra break the line down the left and surge into Souths half very quickly. The play comes left and it looks like a Souths player has knocked down the pass but the ref rules an Eels knock on. We get a bit of a break in play for an injured player. She’s ok and the scrum sets.

Souths get some possession and get to the red zone. The kick is fielded in goal by Crichton Ropati who races for the 20m restart and she goes nearly 40 metres swatting off defenders. The Eels get expansive in the quarter but Souths hold on. There’s a steal by O’Loughlin I think on the Souths player next set and Parra work towards the posts. Left now with a wide pass to Ligaliga but she puts it down with the line open.

Parra back in possession soon after and get a penalty. Souths just can’t hold on and Savea gets the pass from Soufan to cut through the defence to score on the left edge.

Ava Jones is on and converts

Eels 32 Souths nil after 23 minutes

Saba goes 30 metres off the re-start and Jones splits them to get into Souths half. Left side spread and a Souths hand knocks the ball down into touch. Parra restart ten out. Soufan and Latapu link down the right and the pass goes to Tufuga who grabs a four pointer for herself as she strides through the hole in the defence to storm over for yet another Eels try conversion misses

Eels 36 Souths nil after 27 minutes

Busy set for Tongia with two carries this set. Now in the Souths red zone Parra don’t bother with the kick. It’s quick hands left to Matthews who cuts back through defenders to cross for the 40 point mark to be surpassed

Conversion from Jones

Eels 42 Souths nil after 29 minutes.

Just a couple of tackles after the kick off and the siren sounds

Half time – Eels 42 lead Souths nil.

 

Second Half

Half time hasn’t slowed the Eels up as the try comes just a few minutes into second stanza as Soufan is tackled in front of the posts and Jones takes a dart out of dummy half, digging behind the ruck then stepping off her right to evade defenders and score just to the left of the posts. She converts her own try.

Eels 48 Souths nil after 37 minutes.

Kick off goes out on the full.

The Eels power up to the red zone through Tongia,and I’m not sure how Souths survive the set but they do.

Souths get to the kick and it’s a big kick that finds touch ten out. Parra explores their right and Cook breaks into the backfield. She comes to the fullback and passes inside to Latapu but she can’t quite juggle the high pass at pace. Souths error gives possession back to Parra 40 out. Left to Lafoga now centre to Duff. Right to Gray who cuts back towards the left of the posts then wrestles out of the tackle to plant the ball on the line.
Ma-Chong convertsEels from close range

Eels 54 Souths nil after 45 minutes

Eels advance to the Bunnies 30 in five tackles then run a short side play down the right wing on the last, then put boot to ball but it rolls into touch.

Souths get into Parra’s half then hoist a high spiral on the last that Savea can’t take. The Bunnies will get a full set in the red zone. A held up call early in the set denies them their first points but they get six more after a Parra defender gets boot to ball off a last tackle kick. Wide right to the winger but the pass goes down.

Up to halfway and now Ma-Chong skips out of dummy half and feeds the ball to Falaniko who rampages 40 metres to drag defenders over the line for an incredible try.

Conversion unsuccessful

Eels 58 Souths nil after 53 minutes

Eels traverse 80 metres in five tackles before the last tackle kick is knocked on by souths on their 10. Eels scrum. To the right on the first. Back to the left on the second. Ma-Chong drifts right on the third and drops off to Falaniko who just monsters her way over the top of defenders for another try.

Eels 62 Bunnies nil after 57 minutes

Parra get adventurous with this set and they are quickly back to the red zone. They run it on the last and go right but the ball hits the turf and it’s a turn over.

Souths complete their set and the Eels have to start their next possession ten out.

They make an error mid set and the siren sounds.

Full time – Eels 62 Souths nil

 

 

Sixties