We roll into a double header against the Canberra Raiders today as the Eels hit the road to Queanbeyan in both the Jersey Flegg Cup and the NSW Cup today. The results are all academic for both the Raiders and Eels with both sides out of contention for the finals in both grades but pride is always at stake with footy and beyond that there are a number of players looking to enhance their stocks ahead of the preseason. Among them is Bailey Simonsson who makes a long awaited return from a nasty ankle injury sustained way back on Easter Monday. He is set to line up on the wing in reserve grade today.

I will bring you all of the blow-by-blow action in the Flegg at 1:00PM while Sixties will take over for the NSW Cup game at 3:00PM.

Jersey Flegg Cup Team List

 

1	Nathan Howlett
2	Samuela Sorovi
3	Devonte Vaivela
4	Harley Walker
5	Jeshua Maa-Nelson
6	Kade Moujalli
7	Lincoln Fletcher
8	Beau Lucien
9	Lachlan Coinakis
19	Saumaki Saumaki
11	Trace Beattie
12	Callum McMenemy
13	Stirling Faumui
Interchange
14	Wesley Tongamoa
16	Hayden Brown
17	Elijah-Shane Tapau
19	Jordan Miller
18	Corey Leigh

 

Late Mail

 

We fill out the missing spots in the roster with Callum McMenemy starting on the edge for the Eels. The bench ends up with Tongamoa, Brown, Tapau and Miller taking the 4 spots for the Blue & Gold.

 

Match Updates

 

First Half 

 

Raiders will kick off to start this game.

Lucien and Saumaki rip in for the first carries before the Eels work left with Beattie and Moujalli. Back to Saumaki as the Eels carve into the Raider’s half where Fletcher sends a bomb up. The Eels tip it backwards via Maa-Nelson it looks like as Howlett scoops it up but he is quickly wrapped by defenders for the turnover on tackles.

It is but a momentary loss of possession for the Eels though as the Raiders swiftly cough it up 10m off their line.

From the scrum Fletcher runs left and brings Howlett underneath as the fullback is collared a fraction too high. Penalty.

Tap and go to McMenemy. Left to Faumui and then Coinakis dummies and has a crack himself as he is held up over the line. Fletcher sums it up perfectly from the 10m restart of play as he swings left and unlocks Howlett down a wide seam as the Parramatta fullback crashes through to score out wide! Fletcher narrowly misses to the left of the uprights so it remains 4-0.

 

Try scored by Nathan Howlett. Conversion unsuccessful by Lincoln Fletcher.

Eels lead 4-0

5min gone

 

Another powerful surge from Lucien from the kickoff. Famui and Beattie follow him up as Saumaki again takes the Eels into enemy territory before Fletcher laces a masterful clearing kick that forces the Raiders to run the ball dead. Terrific kick chase from Jeshua Maa-Nelson assisting the outcome there.

Canberra go short but Maa-Nelson claims it cleanly. He and Lucien centre the ball as the Eels build to left edge shift where Fletcher mimics his earlier effort with a deft short ball that puts Saumaki Saumaki on the outside shoulder of the defender and the big man smashes over the line!

 

Try scored by Saumaki Saumaki. Conversion successful by Lincoln Fletcher.

Eels lead 10-0

9min gone

 

Lucien, McMenemy and Saumaki with the early carries now as the Eels work the Beattie wide left before Fletcher dabbles down the left again with a pass to Vaivela. There has been a set restart somewhere as the Eels continue a long possession with runs for Saumaki and Faumui here as Fletcher looks to run it on the last. Face ball to Vaivela and he has a chance to beat a man and maybe cut free but the ball has been called forwards.

Eels then concede a penalty for markers not lining up square and the Raiders resume play 13m shy of halfway.

The game is halted for an injury assessment for Devonte Vaivela. Not sure he if he is bleeding from the head? He seems to be okay and now Beattie is getting a quick check as well. We seem to be clear to resume thankfully.

Canberra shift the ball to their left from the play-on call but the Eels adjust nicely. Saumaki and Lucien do a nice job preventing an offload next tackle and then last tackle defence from the Eels is well and truly awake to the running option from the home team as they defuse the threat.

More neat work from the middles as Saumaki and Faumui trundle up the guts for healthy gains. Fletcher completes a solid set with a high ball that the Raiders bring in. Ooh some nice work from the Raiders there as their dummy half almost opens the Eels up with a double-pump pass. They spill the ball though however there was an advantage been played for someone either taken late or held off the ball there. No sin bin though so I guess a late hit maybe?

Good chance for the Raiders to try and hit back on the scoreboard now as they work from left to right. Their halfback shapes back inside before throwing a pass to his right but the Eels watch him carefully and then cut him down next play as he dummies and goes. Strong hit from Beattie there and the half has stayed down…it leads to a late penalty against the Eels so I guess there was advice from the touch judge there.

Very nice goal line stand from the Eels. Canberra can’t make use of the extended run of possession on Parramatta’s goal line with Harley Walker making an outstanding tackle down Parra’s right edge. The Raiders, under the threat of getting bundled into touch, fling a desperate offload back infield but it is forwards.

The next set starts with some brilliant work from Sorovi as he makes a 20m charge but it quickly unravels when Faumui loses control of the ball as he hits the turf. Another chance for the Raiders now.

Important tackle made from Saumaki there as he neutralises a dangerous dart from dummy half with a bear hug of a tackle. Alas the Raiders are still able to cross a couple of tackles later with a crisp series of passes down their right edge that gets James Croker on the outside of Sorovi and he makes a extravagant leap to beat the cover tackle attempt and dot the ball down in the corner.

 

Try scored by the Canberra Raiders. Conversion unsuccessful.

Raiders trail 4-10

21min gone

 

Howlett gets us back underway from the tee as he punches it deep in-goals – but not too deep thankfully. Good kick chance from Beattie and Vaivela as the Eels look to restrict the home team here. The Raiders keep the ball through the middle where there is a robust contest between the two sides as Canberra eventually work the ball to 5m short of halfway.

Howlett field the clearing kick on the full and rifles a pass to Sorovi for the return and the young winger wins a penalty.

The ball finds touch right on halfway as Vaivela taps to Moujalli who feeds Faumui on the first tackle. Right to Fletcher who turns Saumaki underneath for a nice gain. Left to Moujalli who plays very flat to Faumui as Fletcher and Lucien take the ball back right. Outside/inside pass from Fletcher to big Jordan Miller! It takes a massive cover tackle to save the Raiders there and Fletcher continues to dominate this set as he rolls the ball in behind on the last and wins a drop out. Classy work.

Short again from the Raiders and in a carbon copy play we see Maa-Nelson climb high to take. McMenemy has a solo burst near the posts and nearly scores as the referee has a long look as to whether he grounded it before ultimately signalling he was held up. It is but a temporary delay for the Eels though as Coinakis rips a cracking pass from dummy-half to find a flying Vaivela down the left and the Parramatta centre is too strong from that range with that kind of wind up! Looks like Fletcher took a piece of the turf on the conversion attempt there.

 

Try scored by Devonte Vaivela. Conversion unsuccessful by Lincoln Fletcher.

Eels lead 14-4

28min gone

 

Miller and McMenemy sortie in before the Eels range wide left with nice hands to almost release Vaivela. He still carves out a gain to halfway as the Eels then switch play back through the middle with Tapau. Canberra gunk up the ruck and give away a set restart that escalates into a penalty when the ball is interfered with.  Tap and go and Coinakis takes control early in this set. He uses McMenemy to the right. The Eels look to switch play to their left but Moujalli doesn’t see the lurking James Croker as his pass to Howlett is pilfered by the speedy winger and it results in a massive play for the home team as they score against the run of play with a 90m intercept. Spirited chase from Sorovi there but he just can’t make up for the lost ground from the initial intercept.

 

Try scored by the Canberra Raiders. Conversion successful.

Raiders trail 10-14

32min gone

 

The good battle through the middle continues for both sides with strong runs met by equally good contact. However the Eels have another costly lapse when Maa-Nelson inexplicably drops a regulation clearing kick. Almost certain to prove to be a costly lapse and that though is quickly paid out as the Raiders get their fullback over with some nice work down their left edge as their backrower Tusi Tofu sucks in the defence and then feeds a lovely ball to Saxon Innes for the try.

 

Try scored by the Canberra Raiders. Conversion unsuccessful.

Raiders lock the scores up at 14-all

36min gone

 

More running for the home team now as the Eels are caught offside for a penalty. Canberra find touch 5m shy of halfway and at this stage the Blue & Gold need to desperately find away to arrest the swing in momentum.

It doesn’t come this set – but at least neither do points. The Raiders are running with the wind in their sails and while the Eels hold on for this set, Howlett is forced to run a dangerous grubber kick into touch so another set is coming for the home side. Thankfully they do somehow manage to hold on though as the Raiders are perhaps guilty of playing too far sideways before winning the right to do so. It allows Maa-Nelson to collar his opposition number and get him to put a foot into touch.

Compounding errors from the Eels will give the Raiders one last look before half time. Firstly, Moujalli’s strikes a grubber kick too heavy off the boot as it easily rolls dead fora 7-tackle set and then at the end of said set, Howlett is unable to bring in the attacking bomb.

Parramatta need to stand up defensively here, less they risk heading into the sheds down a try and thankfully they do. Staunch goal line defence results in an eventual spilled ball from the Raiders and both teams linger around the mark of the scrum until the siren rings out to finish the half exactly how we started it – both teams locked up on the scoreboard.

 

Half Time

Parramatta Eels 14 locked up with the Canberra Raiders 14

 

Second Half

 

The Eels make life incredibly tough on themselves to start the half as they give away a 4th tackle set restart and it quickly comes home to roost as the Canberra captain and five-eighth Braydan Darmody cuts back off his left foot to dive through defenders and score left of the posts.

 

Try scored by the Canberra Raiders. Conversion successful.

Raiders lead 20-14

43min gone

 

We have some random spite out of no where as Coinakis takes except to copping an open hand to the chin. He shoves back and players come in to start the usual fracas. The initial indication from the referee was a penalty against the Raiders. The officials are conferring now as captains are eventually called out. Beattie comes out with Coinakis and Parramatta’s dummy half is presumably told not to take matters into his own hands as he is kept on the field. The Raiders aren’t as lucky as they cop a sin bin for starting the flare up. Huge chance now for the Eels.

Eels start by working around the posts with some of their big men including Miller but the Raiders hold out. Coinakis can’t quite find Moujalli in stride but the five-eighth recovers well to catch the pass and the set is later completed by Kade with a deft grubber that induces an error from the Raiders. 10m scrum for the Eels.

Well that was easy. Fletcher digs into the line from the scrum win and plays out the back to Howlett who runs an angled overs line towards the sideline. His burst it too much for the flat footed defenders as he rips through some flimsy arm grab attempts to score near the corner.

 

Try scored by Nathan Howlett. Conversion successful by Lincoln Fletcher.

Eels lock it up at 20-all

49min gone

 

Miller takes an early run here before Vaivela comes in field for a charge and finds an offload to Walker. Tapau and Sorovi take the Eels over halfway as Miller rumbles in afterwards. Coinakis and Tongamoa almost open up the Raiders through the middle before Fletcher kicks for Maa-Nelson but the high flying winger can’t control the ball in the air.

A sudden streak if ill discipline from the Raiders is quite timely as they proceed to turn the ball over early next possession but the Eels are not able to capitalise in the following set as Maa-Nelson is guilty of a double movement as he tries to make it happen down the right edge. He fought hard to get close to the line there but just couldn’t help himself as he promoted the ball.

Nice work from Howlett now as he nearly opens Canberra up on his kick return. Walker and Maa-Nelson come infield for work from there but on the next play the Eels are pinged when Miller’s offload is ruled to have come forwards out of the hands. Close enough call there to back the ref I reckon.

Love to see a positive response from an error and the Eels provide that as their left edge rallies to corral the Canberra runner and drive them into touch from well and truly inside the field of play.

Fletcher uses Maa-Nelson on the first play as the Eels build for an eventual left edge raid. It comes and geez that is some quality work from Coinakis! He uses a sharp PTB from Howlett to skip out behind the ruck and then throws a wonderful pass to hit Sorovi in stride as the young winger touches down for the lead!

 

Try scored by Samuela Sorovi. Conversion unsuccessful by Lincoln Fletcher.

Eels lead 24-20

58min gone

 

Saumaki steams in from the kick off as McMenemy follows him and is unlucky not to win a whistle for a slow ruck. Tongamoa shows his leg speed off with a nice dart into the ruck as Saumaki comes back for a second run. To Fletcher on the last he hoists it high. The Raiders fail to bring the kick in but there was some contact there and indeed the referee is indicating it is penalty for the team.

Ooh, Howlett wears a strong hit under the high ball and gets up with a Cheshire grin on his face – that is footy, baby!  The Raiders load up for a tough defensive set and restrict the Eels before they allow the clearing kick from Fletcher to bounce. It costs them some real estate and the kick chase from the Eels almost effects a 1-on-1 strip via Sorovi but it ends up a double knock on against the Eels.

Goof hustle from Maa-Nelson! He pounces on a loose offload from the Raiders to get the turnover for the Eels. Sorovi is infield getting a run from centre/backrow ala what we see from the Foxx in the NRL sometimes. Fletcher heaves another monster bomb up as Maa-Nelson gives chase and gee I think he might be unlucky there. He competes for the ball but I thought the Raiders touched it first as it is spilled out. Referee says it was a Parra knock on first though. Line ball.

The Eels get a big break from what was looking to be a tough set off their line when overzealous markers are called out by the referee. Penalty is the outcome.

Fletcher finds touch 30m out in a nice land grab as the referee allows a really, really late one-on-one strip attempt on Walker next set. Maa-Nelson again dives on the loose ball to keep the Eels in possession but that was probably as penalty. Later that set Vaivela is left dusty as the trainer attends to him with time off.

We get back underway as the Eels use Lucien to centre the pill. The next play is all out of sync as Fletcher’s support runners cramp him for space and the set is concluded with an attacking bomb for Maa-Nelson who knocks it on as he competes for the high ball. Can’t fault that kind of ‘error’ though since he had a proper crack at that kick.

SOROVI! He gets the intercept back! Just as the Raiders are surging in the next set and threaten to score a long range try that started from their left edge and went wide right – Samulea Sorovi makes the perfect read and gets his mitts on the backhanded flick to scorch 70m downfield and score a critical try for the Eels! Stunning solo effort!

 

Try scored by Samuela Sorovi. Conversion successful by Lincoln Fletcher.

Eels lead 30-20

70min gone

 

Clever work from Walker there. Raiders go for a heavy squib kick as they hunt the sideline and he uses a volleyball setter’s hands to flick the ball back to supporting Eels who calmly clean it up. The Eels get to their kick after points and complete a tidy set as they look to work the clock in the remaining 10min.

Conversely, Canberra are constantly looking for offloads as they try to find different angles to attack the Eels from. Parra yield metres but maintain the integrity of their front line before Maa-Nelson, who has somehow been constantly around the ball in the second half, takes a nice back shoulder catch from the Canberra bomb.

Nice shot from Vaivela there as he levels a rival outside back early in the next set. Clean contact. Ooh, that is some nice second phase play from the Raiders as they desperately try to peg a try back. Consecutive massive tackles from Sorovi and Lucien save the day for the Eels though and the set concludes with that man – yes, Maa-Nelson – claiming the bomb in-goals for a 7-tackle set.

A counter punch from the Eels comes via Miller and Vaivela as the big prop and the powerful centre get into the backfield of the Raiders from an offload from the towering bookend. The Eels look to get the Raiders off balance with a big shift to the right from there but the ball is grassed.

More outrageous attack from the Raiders as the Eels continue to bend without breaking. Sorovi almost pockets his second intercept of the half but can’t quite wrap his hand around a tough chance so the Raiders set a scrum 20m off the Parra goal line.

Nice double up in defence from Vaivela there as he makes a pair of strong tackles. Lots of Raiders lingering in or near the defensive line this set but the referee isn’t interested as the Eels hold Canberra out to the last where Sorovi makes another brilliant play. The fadeaway catch on a driving cross field kick nets the Eels a 20m restart. Great show of his athletic prowess there.

Now the calm hand of Fletcher! He deftly guides a kick in-goals as the chase lead by Sorovi forces the drop out. Real quality touch there from the young playmaker and it was backed up by his left edge chasers.

Canberra go long and it is a doozie as it bounces for a good 70m gain but with the clock heading towards zeroes it might as well be a concession of defeat. The Eels will play out at least this set – and it is a messy one – that ends with Jordan Miller trying to channel his inner Junior Paulo with a massive right-to-left torpedo pass that only finds grass and eventually rolls into touch.

Now a chip kick from the Raiders as the siren rings out but Moujalli ventures back to tidy it up and bring an end to a nice win for the Blue & Gold.

 

Full Time

Parramatta Eels 30 defeat the Canberra Raiders 20

 

NSW Cup Team List

 

1	Joash Papalii
2	Brad Avery
3	Araz Nanva
4	Siamani Leuluai
5	Bailey Simonsson
6	Lorenzo Talataina
7	Jonah Pezet
8	Ryda Talagi
9	Ryley Smith
10	Toni Mataele
11	Tyrese Lokeni
12	Chris Petrus
13	Max Tupou
Interchange
14	Kruz Niutili-Schmidt
15	Bruce Ward
16	Markuzz Ofanoa
17	Jordan Hill

 

Late Mail

 

TBA

 

Match Updates

 

First Half 

 

To come.

 

Second Half

 

To come.