Parramatta Eels Holden Cup & Junior Reps Thread Part III

[Forty20]

More bizarre scenes now. The Tigers roll down field are set for an attacking kick on the last but are penalised during the play the ball of their last tackle. The runner is on report for using his knees.

We are extremely lucky to get a repeat set in the mid field when another pass from Izzard hits the grass as he looks for French. The Tigers have a man that races up and tries to scoop it up and blitz down field but he knocks on into French who in turn drops it.

Parra scrum.

Actually never mind that. Two tackles into this set we drop the ball again as two of our forwards play at the line.

Early kick in this set for the Tigers now as they look to catch out Gafa who is in the line. It is damnably close! Definitely would have gone up to the video ref in first grade but the ref rules the ball goes dead in goals before anyway - French or the Tigers' chaser otherwise - gets a hand on it.

 

[Forty20]

WE march down field from the 7 tackle set but don't really threaten the Tigers even though we arrive in their red zone with a tackle to spare. Izzard rolls it in goals on the last and gives chase but he slips over in chase preventing him from making the tackle in goals.

The Tigers are still trapped one metre out though.

 

[Forty20]

Parra defend comfortably this set and earn the ball back in good position but again an error from Zach Dockar-Clay is the undoing of us. This one was in the tackle and he comes out of it filthy with the call and beseeches the ref to change his mind...obviously to no avail.

 

[Forty20]

Again not much doing for the Eels in attack and on the last ZDC sends up a bomb and French gives chase Billy Slater style! Terrific stuff as he streaks through in pursuit. He times his run spectacularly and forces a double knock on in our favour. Great effort!

From the restart of play we go right where nothing is doing but once we switch back to our left Izzard puts Jack Morris through a hole near the line and he crashes over! Looks like he scored on the second effort but the ref checks with the touchy who wasn't impressed so we get a held up call.

On the last ZDC looks for the grubber but it is caught in the line and the #20 scoops it up and races down field. Zach gives chase but is done near our 20m line and the Tigers look certain to score before French comes out of nowhere to make the try saver! Phenomenal stuff.

We then hold on against the Tigers through the following set until shock, they make an error.

 

[Forty20]

And it takes some magic to crack the Tigers open. Parra come down their left where Jack Morris steams into the line. He gets a forceful offload away to Tui Oloapu who shows incredible hands to reel that in right on the goal line and then somehow slip an offload away of his own to Dylan Izzard who strolls over!

I will take that. Credit to Oloapu there for sure.

ZDC kicks the conversion.

Parra lead 6-4

31min gone.

 

[Forty20]

The Eels have come to life now! Outside inside play now from Grant to Clay to French who bursts into the back field! He weaves through chasers and is eventually brought down 5m out to bring up the last. We kick in along the ground towards the posts where there is an accidental offside so we get another set.

We set the scrum now and from the win we dummy to our left edge and race down our right. The quick shift gives us a 2-on-2 as Grant finds debutant Mason Cerruto who steps between the winger and centre to crash over! Great work.


The conversion is unsuccessful.

Parra lead the Tigers 10-4

35min gone.

 

[Forty20]

Again we make good metres but on the last ZDC kicks it just about nowhere. He wanted to bomb it from our right edge to our left and he does that to some degree but it doesn't go forward and the Tigers get the ball freely as we choose to hold back and tackle the catcher.

The Tigers ruck it out and complete their set with a bomb to French who takes it easily and threatens to burst free on the return. He slides down the right sideline where only a desperate last ditch tackle saves the Tigers blushes.

 

[Forty20]

Parra complete their set as we heave the ball down field but a strong set from the Tigers in reply and a very neat kick earn the Tigers a line drop out.

We are up against it immediately in this set as Jack Morris reels out of the first tackle and is in all sorts. The ref doesn't blow time off so we are left to defend with 12 men.

The difference in man power is telling as the Tigers attack our right edge afterwards. We seemingly hold them out but a very late offload catches us out and they cross down right. Soft try in the end that it was pretty ordinary stuff that play was allowed to go on.

The conversion is unsuccessful.

Half Time

Parra 10 lead the Tigers 8

 

[Forty20]

Parra to kick off in the second half.

Decent for the Tigers are the use their left edge to work the ball into our half. They get a bit sloppy on the last with a slow play the ball before their bomb flirts dangerously with the sideline. Miski lets it bounce, surely only centimetres in the field of play before it rolls out.

Parra scrum 20m off their line.

Bit more effort in the ruck now as Aaron Pene has a bustling carry down the left edge. We go deep into their half but an error late in the set, perhaps from Oloapu there turns the ball over.

 

[Forty20]

Well that was something. French swoops on an attacking grubber kick on his goal line to beat the kick chase and then offloads perfectly to Izzard who steals 20m out of our red zone.

Both teams going through the motions at the moment. Parra roll downfield and put a bomb up with ZDC but chase are caught between contesting the bomb and marking the fullback and the #1 for the Tigers makes a 20m gain as a result.

Parra then concede a penalty mid way through the count.

 

[Forty20]

Soft, soft stuff. Our left edge is rattled and then cut open as the Tigers get a quick play the ball down that edge and use the following short side to send their #18 over between Miski and Oloapu.

Not the start to the second half we wanted.

The conversion is successful.

Wests Tigers are back in front 14-10

48min gone.

 

[Forty20]

Excellent tackle from Gafa in this set. The Tigers create an opportunity with the sweeping play but Gafa jams and makes the big tackle.

Unfortunately the Tigers open us up immediately afterwards and French is called upon to make the cover tackle and he belts the runner. Beaut of a tackle.

He is then forced to race across field to cover an attacking kick into our in goals and gets in frame before Miski takes it dead.

 

[Forty20]

Error from the Tigers early in the set from the line drop out.

We ruck it out and get to an attacking kick, again a bomb but Obeid Kharwan is up to the task and defuses the kick.

 

[Forty20]

French cleans up a kick on his goal lien and links up with Miski via a long cut out. Not short on confidence is our Bevan.

Useful run from Gafa coming out of our own half and we get to an attacking kick one more but again it is taken cleanly by the Tigers. French was in hot pursuit for the kick but it was too deep.

 

[Forty20]

Phew! We held the Tigers out to their kick where French takes the ball and uses Gafa this time around and Atini loses the ball near the goal line in the tackle! Tigers are going to score the easiest try you will see but hang on - it was as strip.

 

[Forty20]

Gafa in the spotlight again, for the right reasons now! ZDC throws the cut out in the Tigers' red zone to him. Again the pass is messy and he has to wait up to catch it. He secures the pill and starts a sortie back in field to centre the pill but he gets a whole lot more! Smashes through the ruck and hurtles to the in goals to score!

The conversion is successful.

Parra back to the two point lead 16-14

57min gone.

 

[Forty20]

Good carry from Tepu-Smith. More energy in the boys after the try. We work left then right as French fields an offload and fires a face ball to Oloapu who is then tackled.

What follows is a superb piece of play between Gafa and Elkander! ZDC rifles a tough pass to Gafa to does damn well to hold onto it down the right edge short side. He then passes back to Elkander who steams into the fullback and then flick passes back to Gafa who dives over in the corner!

Spectacular footy. Best stuff of the night by a mile.

The conversion is unsuccessful.

Parra extend their lead to 20-14.

60min gone.

 

[Forty20]

Penalty to the Tigers now. We get to an attacking bomb but the chasers engage the Tigers' fullback in the air and he flips over. Luckily he is alright.

Oh man it is all happening. The Tigers make a break. French is beaten in cover but other cover defenders make up for it as the Tigers are stopped short of our line. As the ref scrambles to get into place he takes a tumble! Tigers shift it to our left edge where he hold out against a huge overlap and on the next tackle they lose the ball!

 

[Forty20]

Both teams slugging it out and trading sets but it is the Eels who blink first as Izzard I think throws a pass behind Tui Oloapu as we ruck out from our 10m mark. Oloapu knocks on and the Tigers get a golden opportunity.

They come down our right from the scrum win but the play breaks down with some messy ball work. No knock on though so play continues.

The centre field shift comes next and Parra scramble quite well to hold out before Mason Cerruto has to jump back to field a grubber kick in goals. He doesn't get a clean play at it and then has to bat it dead.

 

[Forty20]

Ugly drop out. 30 something metres gained only.

Tigers raid our left edge first before coming back to the uprights. Looked to be a huge double movement there but the ref signals that the play the ball will go back a few metres. What is up with that call?

Anyway the Tigers want to go left from the resumption of play and their pass hits the ground. Their half explodes onto it and as you see so often there is a break in the line form the grassed pill. Parra recover well though and converge under the posts to stop him. Looks like the Tigers lost it but the ref has found a Parra hand in there somewhere.