We are back in action on Sunday with a double header at the Centre of Excellence in Kellyville.  The Eels are hosting the Raiders in both the Jersey Flegg and the NSW Cup and the Blue & Gold are desperately hunting wins in both grades as they look to arrest slumps on both fronts.

The Flegg will kick off at 12:00PM to start proceedings while the NSW Cup will follow later at 2:00PM.

Jersey Flegg Team List

Late Mail

Plenty of changes as above

Match Updates

First Half

Missed the first couple of sets due to updating all of the team changes

An atrocious Eels kick chase has allowed the Raiders to almost go 75 metres for a try. Walker eventually chased down the fullback(?) ten out but the try comes as the Raiders spin it left for a try in the corner. Really poor start from Parra.

Conversion wide

Raiders 4 Eels nil after six minutes.

Raiders complete the set after points with a kick to Tuala and the Eels cough it up mid set just over the 40. Play quickly moves to the red zone but the Raiders last tackle kick to the winger is too wide and he steps out ten out.

Great run from Taula late in the set establishes good field position for the kick which is fielded ten out by the fullback.

Raiders again complete with a kick and Parra reply in kind and are starting to win the territorial battle.

Hang on the Raiders shoot for a 40/20 but unluckily miss as the ball bounces the wrong way as it was heading to the touch line.

Eels are finding consistency as they again complete a set with a deep kick. The Raiders mess up the play the ball late in their next set to ruin their good field position.

Parra’s last tackle kick in the next set lands 20 out and is tapped back by Tuala but it goes astray and Penisini fashions an average kick to the fullback. Raiders now lose the ball. Eels scrum 25 out. Eels are quickly onto the quarter and Popo gets close with a charge. Six again is called. The pass from Coinakis to Rogers fairly sizzles and Rogers accelerates through the gap ten out to score. Moujali misses a fairly simple conversion.

Eels 4 Raiders 4 after 20 minutes

That’s a big charge from Lucien on the kick off. Wide mid set to Tuala who breaks down the wing to about 35 out. Ball across to centre field but it goes down. Disappointing end to a great set after points.

Raiders work to Parra’s red zone and run it down the left on the last. I’m not sure how the defence opened up but I guarantee it was from a poor read as the winger has space to surge onto the red zone and kick ahead for the chaser to beat Leigh to the ball for the try.

Parra paid big time for not completing the set after points!

Conversion attempt from a relatively simple angle goes well wide

Raiders 8 Eels 4 after 24 minutes

Im literally still typing the score update as the Raiders again split Parra down the left in the set after points then the support comes down the centre for a try next to the posts.

Parra’s right edge is having issues!

Conversion successful

Raiders 14 Eels 4 after 27 minutes

Raiders get to their kick in the set after points but the chasers commit an illegal tackle on Leigh. Eels penalty.

Saumaki is on and carries defenders with him in a charge into the Raiders red zone. Walker goes close in a right side shift. Last tackle cross field kick by Moujali misses everyone as it goes past Tuala and into touch.

Raiders complete their next and Leigh fields the kick. Good metres this set from Parra but Moujali’s last tackle kick rolls over the dead ball line for a seven tackle set.

Maa-Nelson fields the last tackle kick from the Raiders ten out but the error comes mid set and 30 out with a forward pass from dummy half.

Parra’s right edge is again exposed as the Raiders spin it left and the tackle is missed by Moujali and it’s try four for the Raiders. Very concerning performance in this first half from Parra.

Conversion nailed

Raiders 20 Eels 4 after 37 minutes

Massive spiral bomb on the last but Tuala takes it with ease. Parra spread it left mid set and Penisini gives early ball to Tuala who kicks ahead. You know what’s coming I suspect. The Eels chasers get to the fullback ten out but a succession of four Eels miss their assignment as the fullback runs from their right wing to their left. The ball goes through hands to the winger who outsprints the staggered cover to complete a 90 plus metres race to score.

Conversion successful and the siren sounds

Half Time Raiders 26 Eels 4

I have to comment on that opening half. Even allowing for the late changes, that was an embarrassing first half from Parra. The attention to detail was non existent. Errors, poor left edge defence and the kick chase – words fail there after two long distance tries from Eels kicks.

Second Half

I’m not sure why but there is seriously a significant police presence here. A small squad a vested task force (Raptor?) looking types and two high ranking officers.

Raiders kick off and it takes Parra two tackles to lose possession 20 out!

Luckily Raiders mess up their chances after the scrum then give away a penalty.

Eels advance positively to the red zone and Howlett is involved early as a replacement for Penisini. The ball goes wide right then Moujali gets the radar right as his cross field kick is taken spectacularly by Tuala for the much needed try. Big celebrations follow.

Moujali converts

Raiders 26 Eels 10 after 46 minutes

Eels get to their kick after points but are immediately penalised. The comeback is brief as they are opened up through the middle and the Raiders cross between the posts

Conversion successful

Raiders 42 Eels 10 after 49 minutes

Raiders error gives the Eels the opportunity to immediately strike back but the Eels cough it up in contact in front of the posts. Completions!!!

Taiders get to their kick and good meters from Parra in reply. The last tackle kick is high and deep and the Raiders winger is nearly thrown into touch. His desperation pass fortunately finds green hands. Solid defensive set from Parra and they are soon back on the attack. Last tackle in the red zone and Moujali is unsure what to do and is tackled ten out.

Another good defensive set from Parra and the Raiders kick has to come from 30 out from their own line finding touch 30 out. More good metres from Parra has them back on the red zone mid set. The last tackle kick from Moujali finds a Raiders foot and sits up for a green jersey clean up.

The Raiders kick deep on the last and Parra interfere with the chase. Penalty. Parra barely hang on defensively with a collection of ineffective tackles and the Raiders last tackle kick earns a line drop out.

Parra’s kick flies out on the full and Raiders have possession ten out. Awful defence follows as three defenders miss their assignment on a runner who steams through to score.

This could get ugly

Conversion just sneaks inside the upright

Raiders 38 Eels 10 after 63 minutes

Eels kick off is out on the full!!!

Raiders get to the last and throw up a high kick in the red zone. I thought that the Eels might have got a hand on that. Luckily they didn’t and they make the tackle on the Raiders player who cleaned it up.

High tackle from the Raiders gives the Eels a penalty and access to the Raiders quarter. Oh seriously. The Eels are running the gamut of errors as they throw an awful intercept 15 out.

Raiders again complete their set. Time for error bingo as the Eels produce a forward pass to turn over possession 25 out. The Raiders last tackle kick can’t be taken by Leigh but the ball falls backwards and Howlett cleans up. Parra finally complete a set in reply but Moujali’s high kick is taken cleanly by the fullback ten out.

Raiders again complete their set and Parra look dangerous in reply. Moujali splits the defence to almost do it on his own. The last tackle grubber is fast and somehow Walker flies through and shows remarkable hands in the pickup and touch down to score beside the posts.

Conversion successful

Raiders 38 Eels 16 after 74 minutes

The Eels make an error mid set after the kick off. Raiders attack down their left and the Erls have made an error that I missed as I was typing. Raiders scrum in front of the posts. Raiders attack down their right. Rogers takes an intercept but he’s chased down on Parra’s 40. Down to the red zone late in the set. The ball goes down the right wing now wide shift left and Tuala has a job to beat the defence to the corner but he does it brilliantly. Try time

Conversion unsuccessful

Raiders 38 Eels 20 after 38 minutes

Parra gets expansive in the closing seconds but a right side shift goes awry as Moujali slips over and throws a forward pass.

Siren sounds

Full time Raiders 38 defeat Eels 20

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