Eels Holden Cup Team and junior reps thread, Part II

[Poupou Escobar]

Like most fullbacks he goes well when his team goes forward and struggles when they go backwards.

He won't be retained after this year but he's a solid NYC fullback.

 

[hindy111]

Bad loss, after next week we could drop down to 6th and facing the knights wont be easy. I know its more about player development but should Pauli Pauli be put in under 20s if not in first grade to try and help win it? I have no doubt Teapi Maorea will be if parra don't back GF in first grade. Imagine Puali-Tepai and Tanginao in there for under 20's.It would be nice to win it IMO for the club.

 

[Forty20]

Some notable changes for the team this week:

Nathan Davis (Injury) replaces Corey Makelim at fullback.
Fabian Goodall (Injury) partners John Folau in the centres.
Kaysa Pritchard (Wenty) and Fred Junior Mauala (Injury) are in the starting frontrow.
Jordan Muna (Injury) has recovered from a nasty facial injury and is named in the starting backrow.

 

[Forty20]

Dyldam Parramatta Eels Under 20s:

1. Nathan Davis

2. Leva Li

3. Fabian Goodall

4. John Folau

5. Halauafu Lavaka

6. Ryan Matterson (c)

7. Zach Dockar-Clay

8. Tui Kamikamica

9. Kaysa Pritchard

10. Fred Junior Mauala

11. Jordan Muna

12. Tyrell Fuimaono

13. Josh Aloiai

Interchange:

14. Joey Lussick

15. Brandon Raeli

16. Alex Twal

17. Jeff Markus

Head Coach: Justin Holbrook

Clicky

 

[Poupou Escobar]

The Broncos just got smashed 58-18 by the Dragons. So if we win tomorrow we join the Knights and Dragons at the top of the table on 36 points.

If we win by 31+ we'll be on top on for-and-against. A win by 30 puts us equal top with the Knights and a win by 26 puts us equal second with the Dragons. A win by 27-29 will leave us alone in second place with the Dragons third.

A loss could see us finish the round in 6th place.

Edit: the Knights and Dragons play each other next week too, while we play the 13th placed Raiders.

 

[strider]

where would a win by 28 put us pou?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

A win by 27-29 will leave us alone in second place with the Dragons third.

Mate I'm no mathematician, but I believe 28 lies somewhere within the 27 to 29 range I mentioned earlier.

 

[hindy111]

Losses too manly and titans in recent weeks has probably cost us a top 4 spot and minor premiership

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Wow, the club really wants to win this game.

Pauli and Tanginoa into the starting lineup. Mauala and Muna to the bench, Lussick and Raeili out.

 

[Forty20]

Dyldam Parramatta Eels vs Newcastle Knights

1. Nathan Davis

2. Leva Li

3. Fabian Goodall

4. John Folau

5. Halauafu Lavaka

6. Ryan Matterson (c)

7. Zach Dockar-Clay

8. Tui Kamikamica

9. Kaysa Pritchard

21. Pauli Pauli

23. Kelepi Tanginoa

12. Tyrell Fuimaono

13. Josh Aloiai

Interchange:

10. Fred Junior Mauala

11. Jordan Muna

16. Alex Twal

17. Jeff Markus

Clicky

Full team list because Poups is a lazy merkin.

 

[Forty20]

Newcastle kick off to start the game today.

Matterson has to race up to catch a floating kick that was caught on the breeze. Good work from the 5/8.

Strong ruck work from the Eels early in this set as they race over half way but Dockar-Clay's kick sails far too deep as it gets unwanted assistance from the strong breeze.

20m restart for the Knights.

 

[Forty20]

Some second phase ball for the Knights as they push into Parra's half. Parra scramble well to shut down an overlap down their right edge and bring up the last.

The Knights run it to the other edge and very nearly create the overlap but the Eels kill the ball and make the turnover.

Simple stuff from the Eels as they come out of their red zone. Kaysa Pritchard looks for a 40/20 early in the count. The kick is a decent one but with the crazy wind it just has the wrong angle and rolls dead! This wind is ridiculous.

Some fortune for Parra now as Kaysa Pritchard helps jam the ball out in a tackle near halfway. Replays suggest the ball went backwards.

 

[Forty20]

Parra work the ball down their left edge early in this set. Matterson runs the ball without support and is a pulled down. The Eels come back to the right via Kamikamica and Aloiai on the next two tackles before Matterson does really well to force a line drop out after getting slow ball on the last. Matterson switched to the right for that play.

Davis fields the restart, which barely travels 30m. The Eels create an overlap down the left and Goodall had Leva Li over for all money but his pass was terrible as it slips from his hands. Li tries to clean it up but is forced into touch. Squandered chance there.

Never mind that though! The Knights gift the ball back to the Eels from the scrum!

 

[Forty20]

Good run from Folau from the scrum win. Goes close to the try line. Tanginoa is hammered on the next play as the Knights shoot from the line with great speed.

Parra go close to scoring again! Matterson slices through the defence down the left and offloads to Pauli back on his inside but the hulking forward can't hold onto it! Another wasted scoring chance.

20m restart for the Knights as Pauli's knock on rolls dead.

Newcastle roll up field with the seven tackle set but fail to complete the set as Mamo receives a forward pass. Both teams are disregarding the weather and playing adventurous football, even with the mistakes it brings.

 

[Forty20]

Pauli has a strong run and offload before Matterson is nailed in a terrific tackle. The Eels come to the right where Fuimaono makes a good run to bring up the last.

Dockar-Clay chips it on the last but it is a poor one. There is chaos in the scramble for the ball and the ball ends up in the hands of Jake Mamo who streaks downfield to score.

The Knights want to quickly take the conversion in order to prevent a challenge!

 

[Forty20]

The Eels are able to get the challenge off but although there is a suggestion of a knock on the refs rule there isn't sufficient evidence to over turn the call! Tough decision but probably the right one given the camera angles.

Comes back to the bad kick from Dockar-Clay who wasn't able to adjust for the wind properly.

The conversion is successful.

Newcastle lead Parra 6-0

12min gone.

 

[Forty20]

Some more brutal defence, this time from the Eels as Pritchard and Folau both make dominant tackles across two plays.

Davis is well positioned to clean up the fifth tackle kick and brings the ball back for a ~15m gain. Lavaka and Li are involved early in the set as the Eels look to build some momentum in the middle. Dockar-Clay is caught running the ball on the penultimate tackle, meaning Matterson will be taking the kick but he too struggles to find range - opting to stab it in behind with too much force for yet another 20m restart.

 

[Forty20]

Good result for Parra from the extended Newcastle set. Feeney looks to get the ball in behind the Eels down their right edge but the kick whacks Pritchard in the head - who was not playing at it - before bouncing into touch 10m short of halfway in Parra's half.

Matterson links with Dockar-Clay up the middle, who does very well to beat Feeney's shoot attempt before picking up a penalty.

Pauli rumbles the ball up the middle, sucking in plenty of defenders and opening up play down the right. The Eels waste little time in executing the play in down said edge as Dockar-Clay fires a good ball to Davis on the outside slant. Davis has men on his outside but cuts back inside and slides through two defenders to score! Much better stuff from the Eels.

Surprisingly Dockar-Clay is kicking.

The conversion is successful though mind you.

The Eels lock the game up at 6-all

18min gone.

 

[Forty20]

Strong charge from Tui from the kick off. Pauli follows him up but is jammed on by three defenders who get up aggressively.

And now a break down the right for the Eels! Was it Dockar-Clay there? Steps through the front line before offloading to Pritchard! Kaysa races downfield before he is pulled down by Mamo.

The Eels then get two penalties in a row. You might make a good case for a professional foul there and 10 in the bin for Mamo but no such call from the officials.

Parra waste the attacking chance as Matterson's short ball to Pauli is dropped cold.

Pritchard is involved again in defence as he executes another bone rattler but somehow the Eels are pinged for a high shot???? What is happening? Replays show there was nothing in it!

 

[Forty20]

Parra defend well to bring up the last but it all comes to nothing as the Knights are able to get in a short grubber down the right edge of the Eels. The bounce is perfect for the #11 who dives over to score.

The conversion is successful.

Newcastle lead Parra 12-6

23min gone.

It won't mean much but the Eels are desperately unlucky there. Rubbish call from the pocket ref that has gifted the Knights 6 points.