Harold Matthews Take the Prize.
The Parramatta Eels Harold Matthews Side has won the clubs 17th Harold Matthews Cup in a Thrilling encounter at Western Weekender Stadium.
A good crowd was in attendance to see if Parramatta could go one step further after their miracle come from behind victory last week against the Knights. They were unfortunately silenced in the 3rd Minute when Penrith Crashed over in the South Western corner to start the scoring but the kick from out wide was waved away.
Parramatta Struck back from some fortunate play and a penalty in their own half saw a try to Eels from rower Jarod Azar which was converted by Jason Wehbe. Chris Ulugia Sliced through not long after but seemed to fall for no apparent reason with the Try Line wide open. Parramatta at this stage were dominating Field position and making the most of their chances but were unable to finish of the play.
Penrith then Struck back with a try to Tia Killifi, which was converted but as they seemed to start to have the ascendancy they Panthers Knocked on form the Kick off to give Parramatta the Ball in great field position, which saw them conceded a try to Nick Folino, which was Converted by Jason Wehbe.
Parramatta Continued to attack from the Kick off with Atapana Afualo Charging through to find Chris Ulugia in support and Despite what most in the grandstands and some on the field felt was a head high shot, kept going to push Parramatta into the attacking 30. As the set concluded a Parramatta Player was taken out and with time running down, the Eels took the chance to slot a Penalty Goal to Jason Wehbe.
Then a play that got most of those in the grand stands scratching their heads as Penrith Half Harry Seijka slotted a field goal to take his side to 3 points down. But from the kick off the Panthers Dominated the Eels and eventually the Penrith Half Harry Seijka went in under the posts with plenty of attention from the Eels. The Try was Converted and that took us to half time. The Eels fans were up beat going into half time as the Eels would have the Benefit of the Breeze in the 2nd half that held up a few kicks, so as they were almost hovering in Midair.
Parramatta fans didn't have to wait long to get the lead back as Azar Crashed over again in the 3rd minute of the 2nd half. But a Mistake from the kick off saw the Eels again under immediate pressure, which was only let off by a mistake by Jonathan Taefu for the Panthers who dropped the ball over the line, which gave the Eels possession.
Running with the wind was advantageous for the Eels as Wehbe's spiral bomb saw Eisenhuth knock on in Goal, the Eels did land on the but after it was forced from the Knock on resulting in a scrum with the Eels feed, which then saw the Eels knock on from the scrum win.
The Resulting set saw the Panthers push into the Eels attacking 50 and then receive a Penalty which bought them to 15 metres out, however on the 3rd Play of the set a great one on one strip by Chris Ulugia saw the Eels fans breath a sigh of relief.
The Panthers though continued to make great metres without the assistance of the Wind and it was only for some poor ball handling and desperate defence by Parramatta that denied the Panthers More points.
With under 10 Minutes on the Clock the Eels Scored under the sticks, as the Eels started to win out of the Arm wrestle that had been the bulk of the 2nd half.
An attacking bomb lead to a knock on both ways and the Eels received the Scrum feed 10 metres out from the Panthers Goal Line, and from the Ensuing set, Parramatta have scored a try to Sam Ahofono in the South Eastern Corner of Western Weekender Stadium to Seal the win with just two minutes remaining and to take their 17th Harold Matthews Title in the 38 years of competition.
Parramatta 30 (Tries: Azar X2, Folino, Price?, Ahofono. Goals : Wehbe 5 / 6)
Def
Panthers 17 ( Tries: Lolesio, Kilifi , Seijka. Goals: Seijka 2 /3. Field Goals: Seijka 1/1)
Parramatta vs Penrith - As it Happened.
3rd Min - Lolesio Try, Seijka Misses, Panthers 4 - 0
9th Min - Azar Try, Wehbe Converts, Eels 6 - 4
18th Min - Tai Kilifi Try, Seijka Converts, Panthers 10 - 6
19th Min - Try Folino, Wehbe Converts, Eels 12 - 10
23rd Min - Penalty Goal Wehbe, Eels 14 - 10
27th Min - Field Goal Seijka, Eels 14 - 11
28th Min - Try and Conversion from Seijka, Panthers 17 - 14
Half Time Panthers 17 - 14
33rd Minute - Try Azar, Wehbe Converts, Parramatta 20 - 17
49th Minute - Try Price?, Wehbe Converts, Parramatta 26 - 17
58th Minute - Try Ahofono, Wehbe Misses, Parramatta 30 - 17
Full Time Parramatta 30 defeat Panthers 17, to Win the Premiership.
