This will be our first Jersey Flegg live blog of the season, and thankfully the NSWRL have helped out Eels supporters by staging Parra’s clash with the Dragons to follow the Matts and Ball matches at Kellyville.

Parra enter round three on the back of a round one victory over the Storm, and a round two bye.

The Dragons are yet to face defeat with wins over the Dogs and the Storm.

There are many new faces lining up for the Eels, so this will be a learning process about the players.

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First Half

Dragons kicking off. Solid set from the forwards before the kick from Moujalli to the Dragons quarter. I must have missed a six again as they advance play to the quarter before a trap and scrap from Taula to defuse a kick.

Again back to the Dragons red zone for a last tackle kick from Moujalli. Great defensive set forces a kick from 30 out. Blind side play between Coinakis, Moujalli and Leigh puts McMenemy down the sideline and into the quarter. Parra run it on the last but the Dragons hang on.

Dragons kick on the halfway this time. Six again and Parra move towards the red zone. No they’ve spoilt their chances with lost possession in a play the ball.

Lucky escape for the Dragons who reply with a completed set and a kick to Parra’s quarter. The Eels do the same and now they get a great chance as the Dragons lose the ball in the play the ball ten out.

Left from the scrum and the Dragons knock down the pass. Another scrum in front of the posts. Right this time through Lui to Leigh and he loses grip on the ball in contact. Another chance goes begging.

Still no score after 12 minutes.

Parra compounded the lost ball by Leigh when they give away a penalty early in the next set. Maa -Nelson knocks down a dangerous pass 20 out bits it’s six again. Beattie has to clean up a grubber to the Indian as Leigh is involved in the fifth tackle and he does well to get into the field of play. Parra have to kick from inside their thirty and play is soon back to their half. That’s a let off as the Dragons error is made 40 out.

Eels scrum. Now mid set penalty 40 out. Lokeni goes close backing into the defence near the posts. Quickly left and Leigh feeds Maa-Nelson with a sharp pass and the right winger scoots the short distance to score untouched.

Conversion from Moujalli swings left

Eels 4 Dragons nil after 20 minutes

Wow, Eels work to the halfway and it looks like a standard kick to finish the set will follow but Lui chip kicks ahead and damn near beats the fullback but the ball comes free. Dragons play the ball.

Big tackle from Parra penalised 20 out. The Dragons look dangerous this set but Parra scramble well. Crossfield kick on the last but Taula does a fine job in catching it and turning defence into attack. Back to the red zone but Parra’s last tackle play comes unstuck in front of the posts.

Dragons complete their set then a line break from Leigh sets up a dangerous last tackle kick and the line drop out is forced. The Dragons go short with the kick and tap back inside the ten. Penalty to Parra. Fast hands left through Leigh who taps on to Taula for a try in the corner. Conversion from Moujalli misses.

Eels 8 Dragons nil after 29 minutes.

Miller is on and you wouldn’t miss finding him. He’s a unit! Parra get to the kick but knock on on competing for the ball ten out.

Dragons kick comes 30 metres out after good defence. Another completed set from Parra with Moujalli’s grubber taking play to the goalposts. Dragons kick at the end of their set rolls dead. Seven tackle set follows but Parra knocks on barely halfway through the set.

The Dragons knock on in a tackle from Hudson and a bit of a push and shove ensure. Eels scrum. Enterprising play from Parra via the forwards this set but it comes undone late count with a forward pass on the Dragons quarter.

Six again late set to the Dragons. Now again. This will be a full set in Parra’s red zone and I can’t help but think the six agains have been a bit unequal here.

The pressure on the defence is ultimately too much and the Dragons dummy half goes himself for a try just to the right of the posts to set up the easy conversion.

Eels 8 Dragons 6 with 40 seconds remaining in the half.

The siren sounds mid set

Half time Eels 8 lead Dragons 6

Second Half

Eels kick off and the Dragons get to their kick which is taken spectacularly by Leigh. A penalty to Parra follows and they are soon back to the red zone. Lui and Miller try to surge over but it’s up to Moujalli to get a repeat set with a grubber to the in goal. Powerful surge from Lokeni mid set goes close and the Eels can’t quite release Miller this set and the last tackle kick is cleaned up well by the Dragons centre.

Dragons half breaks the line down the left edge but a terrific chase by Hudson reels him in and dislodges the ball. Eels possession now and quickly back to the quarter. A last tackle kick from Lui forces a knock on. Surges from McMenemy and Lokeni takes play to the posts. Hudson attempts to cross from dummy half but the ball comes free.

Dragons rucking their way out of trouble and kick from halfway to Taula. Ofanoa makes an impressive half break this set before Lui runs it on the last and is tackled ten out. Lightning nearby, hopefully doesn’t disrupt play. Dragons six again this set and they lose possession right on Parra’s line.

An error from Parra on their 20 and hopefully it’s not costly.

It’s an impressive defensive set from Parra and the last tackle kick and tap back leads to a Dragons error ten out.

Hudson plays the ball and whoever went to dummy half has thrown a shocker and the Dragons swoop! The get possession 30 out and are full of energy. The ball quickly comes right as their centre attacks both the centre and winger and he flicks the ball to the winger for the dive into the corner.

Conversion hits the upright

Dragons 10 Eels 8 after 58 minutes

The lightning is getting closer. Hopefully we can finish this game.

Parra has lost their composure through the middle and the Dragons split them beside the ruck to go nearly fifty metres in the play and score between the sticks. Hang on, it looks like the cover tackle from Lui has knocked the ball loose in the grounding. No try!

Eels complete their set but the Dragons get a penalty late in the count in reply. Back to Parra’s red zone and the Eels are under pressure on both sides of the ruck. Big cut out to the right winger on the last which Taula has covered but the pass is called forward anyway.

Second phase footy from Parra late in the set and the ball quickly goes right but Vaivela can’t get to an awkward pass and it’s a scrum 25 out.

The Dragons come up with an error of their own 40 out from their line . Eels scrum. McMenemy centres play on the quarter before Lokeni takes it toward the sticks but the next play brings a forward pass with the Eels in prime position!

Now a Dragons penalty!

They surge over halfway on the first. To the quarter on the fourth. The kick is too deep and Taula takes it for a seven tackle set.

Maa Nelson drives play to the 40 and the ball is stripped. Penalty!

Back to the quarter and Parra go very close but can’t quite get the job done. The rain falls as the kick is perfect and earns a drop out. McMenemy does well to field the kick. Back left and Lokeni  throws himself at the defence but the ball comes free in contact. Dragons scrum.

So many chances in prime position for Parra and these errors are costly. They get another chance as the Dragons cough it up on halfway.

Seven minutes to go. Can the Eels use this possession? The answer is no as Leigh passes to Leuluai who can’t reel in the ball and the two are exchanging words as frustration builds. The Dragons invite Parra back into their red zone again with an error 45 out. Parra scrum.

Miller takes an early hit up. Last tackle kick is crossfield to Taula who tries to catch it but it spills forward a metre out. Dragons ball. The kick comes 42 out and Taula catches it with ease. Parra penalty 20 out and great finder gets a 40 metre gain.

Mid set it’s back to the quarter. Moujalli has a crack on his own on the fifth. Last tackle it’s left to Lui and he threads a pass to Taula and the winger crosses in the corner with 90 seconds left on the clock.

Conversion misses with 12 seconds on the clock.

Eels 12 Dragons 10

The kick doesn’t go ten. Eels play the ball on their 40. They put the ball into touch.

Eels 12 defeat Dragons 10

Sixties

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