Parramatta Eels Holden Cup & Junior Reps Thread Part III

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

I'm surprised that Seumanafangai has never featured in 'the ones we let get away' threads. He was Peni's front row partner wasn't he?

 

[Casper The Ghost]

I'm surprised that Seumanafangai has never featured in 'the ones we let get away' threads. He was Peni's front row partner wasn't he?

Seumanafangai's front row partner was
Helowomanaclawai - apparently there was something much closer going on between them.

 

[Forty20]

1. Bevan French
2. Abbas Miski
3. Tui Oloapu
4. Nathan Davis
5. Atini Gafa
6. Michael Doolan
7. Zach Dockar-Clay
8. Alex Twal
9. Josh Grant
16. Paula Kaufusi
11. Tyrell Fuimaono
12. Jack Morris
13. Jeff Markus
Interchange:
10. Brandon Raeli
14. Dylan Izzard
15. Tom Amone
17. Aaron Pene

 

[Forty20]

A couple of errors from both teams in the opening exchanges but Para have had the better of the territory.

 

[Forty20]

Miski and Gafa working early in the ruck this set before Markus and Twal get involved for the forwards.

Dockar-Clay bombs it on the fourth from 10m inside the visitor's half and gets an error from the fullback!

Parra on the attack from the scrum win down the left and we come up with the first penalty of the game. Twal takes the tap restart and charges in towards the posts. We then look for a quick shift down our right and ZDC looks to have a try assist from a nice cutout ball to Gafa but Atini drops the ball in contact before the line.

 

[Forty20]

French takes the kick on the full with the greatest of ease and uses Miski for the return. French then makes a dangerous dart up the middle off the quick play the ball and Parra have a solid set down by rolling it down the middle.

Dockar-Clay's kick isn't so hot this time and it is cleaned up with ease as he dabs it in behind the line. St-George then find some traction around the ruck themselves before they attack our left edge where we have the numbers matching up. Miski is beating quite embarrassingly from a stop start with a big fend and Tui Oloapu tries his damndest to make the cover tackle from the inside but the Dragons' winger does extremely well to plant the ball with his body in the air over the sideline.

The conversion is shanked away.

St George lead Parra 4-0

12min gone.

 

[Forty20]

I didn't think there was much in that but the ref has blown a penalty for a lifting tackle. Think it was Davis that was put on report as well.

Dragons on the attack again but Parra defend quite well this set before Miski gets a clean take at the bomb. Fuimaono put huge pressure on the kicker there as well.

Tyrell has a great run a few tackles later as well. Doolan completes the set with a terrific kick that splits the winger and fullback and a strong kick chase pins the Dragons 5m off their line.

 

[Forty20]

Good defensive set now with Doolan and on the left edge working hard through out. Miski takes the kick on the full and sets in for another return.

Things open up a little bit for us as ZDC makes a half break down middle but is pulled down before he can link up with support. We dab it in behind their left edge but their winger is awake to the play.

 

[Forty20]

Dragons complete a simple set and in our reply ZDC slices through down the right! He has two team mates in support but ignores them and the try goes begging. He still draws a penalty though as he is held down 1m short of the line.

From the tap we work it to the left where he have an overlap. They rush up to stop the spread of the ball so French sums it up steps back off his left and rolls the grubber kick in behind for Miski who smacks a hand down on it in the corner! Try time and great work from French!

Davis slots the conversion.

Parra lead the Dragons 6-4

20min gone.

 

[Kornstar]

Beautiful vision and kick from French for that try!

 

[Forty20]

Mid field kickoff from the Dragons there. No pressure on the chase though so there is no pressure on the catch. We have a dreadful play the ball from it though and the ref thinks long and hard before calling for play on. Very lucky call.

Markus has a good run down the left which sets up an attacking kick for our right edge via ZDC. He looks for the bomb again and it seems to have worked a treat with another knock on from the visitors but the ref signals that there was offside chasers.

 

[Forty20]

Dragons move the ball from right to left but Parra slide with them and even though there are a few missed tackles the line is never threatened.

They then roll the ball in behind our right edge on the last. French comes flying in with the slide attempt but miscues it and the ball ricochets into touch. Uncharacteristic error from Bevan there.

At first it looks like the Saints have another penalty but the ref eventually reverses his arm to our side. Think that was for an obstruction play.

 

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

I like Miski (if he's the bloke I'm thinking of). Looks like a hipster-poet-footballer.

 

[Forty20]

Parra work it down their left early in the set once more before looking for the right edge shift. This time it comes unstuck as the cutout ball to Davis hits the deck and the rangy centre has no chance of controlling it as he tries to scoop it up on the fly. Think it was ZDC that threw the pass there.

Dragons keep it to the middle this set and kick it in behind Miski on the last. Abbas cleans it up and shifts the ball to French who takes the return. Metres are harder to come by this set and we finish it with ZDC reefing it down field.

 

[Forty20]

Parra get a turnover on halfway. Davis goes for a looping run from the right to the centre. French lights up the field as he gets the ball on the sweep down the left, he steps past the pressure before the pass even arrives ala Hayne and then heads back in field beating several defenders before linking up with our right edge. The ball gets to Gafa who then goes back to the left and knocks over a defender before he is pulled down.

Josh Grant has an attempt from dummy half but is repelled but on the next play Dockar-Clay tries his hand from first receiver and does enough to beat the initial defender and dive over.

The conversion is successful.

Parra lead 12-4

33min gone.

 

[Forty20]

Good set after points as the Eels crash over half way with two tackles to spare. Zach rolls the dice on another bomb and although the Dragons manage to hand onto it this time a great kick chase traps them a few metres off their line.

Unfortunately we undo the good work immediately as our defensive line are too eager on the next tackle and are pinged.

 

[Forty20]

French redeems himself this time around as he jumps up to diffuse the attacking kick perfectly. Parra work the ball down their right edge, keeping it simple before they ball is rolled into touch marked at the 30m line for the Dragons.

Our left edge does the bulk of the defensive work in this set. The Dragons get to our 20m line on the last. They bomb it towards Miski who can't repeat earlier effort and spills the ball so we pack down for a scrum to the visitors.

The Dragons work the ball around the posts before they butcher a chance down Miski's edge! All the centre had to do was pass and Miski was beaten but he holds onto it and we survive. They do however earn a penalty on the next tackle due to an offside defender but the extra possession earns them zilch as they come up with an error.

 

[Forty20]

Parra roll it downfield from the 7 tackle set that resulted from the St George error and on the last Clay bombs it once more and their St George fullback looks like he wants nothing to do with it but barely holds onto it at the last moment.

Nothing fancy for the Dragons this set as they keep it around the ruck and kick in behind Miski once more. With the last possession of the half the Eels look for an attacking play as Dockar-Clay kicks in behind the defensive line for Gafa. Atini can't get to it quick enough for a clean pick up with 3 defenders closing in on him so he toes it ahead. He gets a pretty damn good boot on it and it tracks to the in goals but Gafa is beaten there by the fullback and that brings an end to the first half.

Half Time

Parra 12 lead St George 4

 

[Forty20]

I like Miski (if he's the bloke I'm thinking of). Looks like a hipster-poet-footballer.

Miski goes alright but he has a couple of quirks that cause me some grief. Firstly he will almost always head back in field when presented with a chance to beat his opposite in the mid field. Some of the chances he has ignored this year are maddening. Secondly he is a bit prone to getting beaten in a 1-on-1 by his opposite.

That said he gets through a lot of work in both kick returns and around the ruck and generally finishes well close to the line,

 

[Forty20]

Parra kicking off in the second half and running towards the Peter Sterling Terrace.