Eels Holden Cup Team and junior reps thread, Part II

[strider]

One change to today's line up as Leva Li replaces Fabian Goodall on the left wing.

do we read anything into that? :-s

 

[Forty20]

The way the team sheet release is worded makes it sound like Fabian has an injury - without explicitly stating it...but who knows? Goodall is one the kids that is the closest to making his NRL debut so I guess we will find out in an hour and a bit.

 

[Twizzle]

I guess we needed to take an emergency if we are playing interstate.

 

[Forty20]

lol @ Foxsports

Talking up Zach Dockar-Clay's 2014 form while showing highlights of him from Round 1 in 2013.

 

[Forty20]

Ryan Matterson, Zach Dockar-Clay, Tepai Moeroa and Nathan Davis all wrapped by Justin Holbrook.

Dockar-Clay, Halauafu Lavaka and Nathan Davis all receive video package previews by Foxsports.

 

[Forty20]

Parramatta will receive the ball in the first half.

 

[Forty20]

Awful start for Parramatta as they allow the ball to bounce from the kickoff. It runs dead and the Storm get a drop out.

 

[Forty20]

The Storm swing the ball to our left early in their set before switching play to the other edge. The Eels manage to keep our a burrow over attempt on the fifth tackle before a stray pass on the last tackle means the Eels have zero pressure on cleaning up the Melbourne kick.

Good defence after a terrible opening play.

 

[Forty20]

Simple stuff for Parra as they ruck it out. Tepu-Smith carries the ball towards halfway before Matterson clears the ball on the penultimate tackle.

Fair kick by Matterson too as he finds the carpet.

Adventurous play from Melbourne in reply as they find some space down our left. We manage to come away with the ball via an intercept but as we run the ball back down the left sideline we are taken into touch.

Melbourne scrum around halfway.

The Storm get the first penalty of the game as a Parra defender strips the ball.

 

[Forty20]

Melbourne on the attack in our red zone and it doesn't take them long to crack us open as Manu Valu (sp) fends past Leva Li and slams the ball down out wide.

Easy stuff for the mountainous Melbourne winger.

 

[Forty20]

The conversion is unsuccessful.

Melbourne lead Parra 4-0

7min gone.

 

[Forty20]

Good set after points for Melbourne but they come undone as they roll the ball over halfway. A loose pass is cleaned up by the Eels and they then pick up their first penalty of the game.

Parra deep into the Storm's half now.

Moeroa and Mauala roll it up before the Eels spin the ball to their right edge. Clay tries to put Newbigging through a gap on an overs line but there is a deflection from a Melbourne hand.

Scrum to the Eels.

The Eels take the ball to the left from the scrum win and give Li some space down the sideline. He backs himself to make it to the line but has nowhere near the pace to get there and is driven into touch. Poor option from Li.

Scrum to the Storm.

 

[Forty20]

The Storm pick up a penalty as they work it out from their half.

Play resumes from halfway.

They work the ball down our right for the opening tackles before setting up for a sweeping play down our right. We mark up well and bring the sweeper down eventually.

The kick on the last is poor and Parra are able to let the Storm take it before wrapping the runner up.

A good run from Li gets the Eels underway and the just ruck it out into the Storm's end. The kick from Matterson is well off mark and Melbourne secure the ball with ease.

 

[Forty20]

Better work in defence this set from Parra as they lock the Storm in their half.

Makelim takes the kick on the full and returns it for some decent metres.

Mauala and Markus get the ball over halfway before Clay bombs Cameron Munster on the last. Davis chases hard and makes a good tackle but he is ruled offside. Good work undone once again by Parra.

 

[Forty20]

Some second phase play for the Storm now as they cause the Eels some problems around halfway.

Later in the set Newbigging makes a terrific one-on-one tackle before Parra get their own penalty for offside chasers from a kick.

Moeroa takes the hit up from the tap restart. The Eels bring the ball centrefield and then move it too their right where Matterson has swept across too.

Matterson takes this kick and sends it high where Davis repeats his earlier efforts - without conceding a penalty this time around. Improved set from the Eels.

Melbourne keep it simple as the run it out from their end. Lavaka reels in their kick 30m out from Parra's goal line.

The Eels burst through the defensive line via Nathan Davis. He takes the tackle from Munster and looks to offload but can't find Matterson in support. The Storm dive on the ball for a turnover.

 

[Kornstar]

We have been playing as bad as we have for most of the season, we'll see if we can pull a victory from the jaws of defeat again today.......

 

[Forty20]

Tough set for the Eels now as Melbourne work the ball into the Parra redzone with a good kick.

A decent kick from Matterson finds touch 30m out from the Melbourne goal line to give both teams a break in play.

 

[Forty20]

We have been playing as bad as we have for most of the season, we'll see if we can pull a victory from the jaws of defeat again today.......

Yep. Definitely not playing anywhere near our best.

 

[hineyrulz]

Bombed that, had to only pass it out wide.

 

[strider]

f**kin hog #13 ... butchered try