A full day of five grades concludes with the Eels taking on the Sea Eagles in a bottom of the table NSW Cup game.

Manly are on a long losing streak. Similarly, the Eels are struggling to find anything close to winning form, though they produced a much improved effort against the Knights last week.

Earlier today the Eels were victorious 20 – 6 over the Tigers in NSW Women’s Premiership and 18-12 over Manly in Flegg.

Late changes are likely after Toni Mataele was called up to play NRL today.

Team List

First Half

Manly kick off and the Eels use the ball immediately. Set restart mid set and advance to the red zone. They get expansive to the right but the pass goes astray and Manly are let off the hook.

Sox again for Manly late in their set. Second phase play takes them to Parra’s quarter and a clever last tackle kick earns a drop out.

Short drop out by Twidle and the ball falls from Guymer who makes 20 metres. Eels penalty as Vaivella takes the next run. Parra cough up the ball 20 out as Papalii is tackled but the Manly player goes on with the tackle and it’s an Eels penalty. Six again as Tupou gets heavily involved. Talataina digs into the line and grubbers the ball towards the left corner and Vaivella has all the time in the world to regathered and ground the ball for the try.

Twidle badly hooks the conversion

Eels 4 Manly nil after 8 minutes

Parra work a great set after points and Ryley Smith chases the Talataina bomb to force an error ten out. Eels scrum. The Eels make great use of it as they work play towards the post and the defence opens up for Talagi to crash over between the sticks.

Twidle converts

Eels 10 Manly nil after 13 minutes

Parra complete the set after points then Manly cough it up just outside their quarter. Smith uses his forwards near the posts then the ball comes left through quick hands to Papalii who releases Vaivella for a charge at the corner and the winger dives over for Parra’s third.

Papalii misses the conversion

Eels 14 Manly nil after 17 minutes.

The forwards drive back down to the Manly quarter then Parra run it on the last with a cut out to hill who is tackled five out. Turn over. Now Manly penalty but they fail to find touch! Eels work back to the red zone but Talatainas kick is charged down and Manly break down field. Parra do well to defend in their quarter and Funa Iuta intercepts a last tackle play.

Parra again get their kick charged down but get the ball back. Nanva breaks the defence this set but he passes inside rather than outside to supports and Manly come up with it.

Parra are getting scrappy here over consecutive sets and it’s allowing Manly to start to compete.

Manly are getting more ball in Parra’s quarter but their last tackle options are asking no questions as Parra shut down another set five out.

Papalii releases Vaivella this set and the winger accelerates forty metres to the Manly red zone where he’s tackled by the fullback. Right now towards the posts and Visconti charges onto the pass, fends away from defenders then s,ides about three metres in contact to ground the ball. Conversion successful

Eels 20 Manly nil after 28 minutes.

Eels drive play back into Manly’s half and Vaivella gets early ball but is driven towards touch and hurls the ball infield to Manly players. Manly opt for a chip kick late in their set but Smith cleans it up. Papalii splits Manly soon after and sets up Vaivella for a twenty metres to run for the try but the pass is slightly high and the winger drops it with the line wide open.

Eels now invite a Manly reply as Hill loses possession around halfway next set. Manly go very close this set as they peppering the Eels line but they again have no idea on the last and Parra end up in possession.

Ryley Smith nails a massive 40/20. Parra immediately head to the posts. Parra penalty. They opt to tap it but make a mess of it when a pass finds the turf and a knock on follows.

Manly hoist a decent bomb on the last but Papalii is up to the challenge. Parra get expansive and Talataina splits them before trying to chip ahead for his supports. Manly charge it down and Nanva cleans up and carries the ball to the quarter. Back to the posts. Smith darts left out of dummy half and finds Guymer hitting the edge. He steps through defenders and p,urges over for the try just seconds before the break.

Papalii converts

Half time – Eels 26 lead Manly nil

Second Half

Parra kick off running to the Memorial Dr end. Manly complete their set with a high, deep kick but knock on in trying to field it. Parra immediately launch into attack mode as Smith splits the defence to take play to the red zone. The last tackle kick comes from Twidle but it’s easily fielded.

Ex Eel Muagututia runs it on the last and breaks downfield towards Papalii but his pass goes astray and Vaivella cleans up. Eels penalty a couple of tackles later. Now down to Manly quarter where Leuluai is brought down a metre out. Back through hands across the 20 metre line but Talataina drops the pass. Manly make solid metres this set and throw up a bomb but they knock on in attempting a tap back. Hand over.

Great last tackle kick from Talataina next set and the Manly fullback just gets back into the field of play and is then pushed into touch by Nanva.

Eels go very close via Funa-Iuta and the kick from Talataina is blocked but Manly knock on. Eels scrum. Parra work it left early in the next set, then back to the posts via another strong charge by Funa-Iuta who is held up against the posts but the ball isn’t locked up and the young Eels forwards simply stretches out and plants it for the try.

Papalii converts

Eels 32 Manly nil after 52 minutes

Popo and Lokeni make good metres in strong charges this set. The last tackle kick goes to the goal mouth but Talataina is penalised for the tackle on the fullback. Manly turn it over and Parra are soon back to the red zone. Parra attack the right first of all then run it left on the last and the ball goes to Nanva who feeds it on to Vaivella who sprints to the corner for try three.

Sideline Conversion from Papalii is a beauty!

Eels 38 Manly nil after56 minutes

Funa-Iuta spills the ball early in the set after points. Manly go wide right after getting into the red zone and great cover defence from Parra drives the winger into touch.

Nice shape from Parra as they work the ball down their left edge towards halfway, but Guymer loses it in contact. This time Parra pay the price as Manly again try their luck down Wilson’s right wing and the former Bulldog has too much pace for the Eels cover and he improves the position to make it a converted try.

Eels 38 Manly 6 after 63 minutes

Manly get to the kick, and the ball takes a deflection to Papalii who links to Twidle for a half break. The Eels get a fortunate six again, as they regain possession on Manly’s quarter, Talataina drifts left and picks up a charging Max Tupou who splits the defence then brushes aside the Manly fullback to score a well deserved try.

Papalii converts

Eels 44 Manly 6 after 66 minutes

Manly go short on the kick off but knock on. Eels scrum. Eels split Manly down the left wing. Vaivella kicks ahead and in the chase and scramble for possession Papalii knock on just short of the line. Manly scrum.

Scrappy set from Manly and they get a penalty for a high shot to rescue them from the self imposed mess. They fail to find touch but Papalii is ruled to have knocked on.

Manly again are a scrappy mess in attack and drop the ball in contact. Eels scrum on their own 40 but a forward pass spoils their set.

Manly seem better composed the following set and get into Parra’s quarter but a play the ball error kills their chances. Eels scrum.

Parra again fail to complete their set and Manly take play back to Parra’s quarter. Expansive play late in the set and somehow the ref doesn’t call knock on as the Manly player fumbles and bumbles a grubber pass. The Sea Eagles force a drop out next play. Manly again chance their hand in Parra’s quarter following the drop out but the pass is a shocker as they try to work the ball to Wilson’s wing.

Once more the Eels cough it up in their next set as they seem ready to clock off. Manly scrum 30 out.

Manly opt for an early cross field kick and their left winger is unmarked as he catches the ball and plants it over the line. Siren sounds.

The conversion misses

Eels 44 defeat Manly 10

Sixties

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