An inspiring four-try performance from skipper Ryan Matterson has led the Dyldam Parramatta Eels to a 48-20 win over the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in Round 3 of the Holden Cup.
The Eels put in a convincing performance throughout the game, with a great team effort in attack key to the victory.
The Sea Eagles started the game strongly with winger Luke Gosling crossing in the corner, with an unsuccessful conversion by Michael Stigg.
The Eels responded quickly with 24 consecutive points, with winger Fabian Goodall, fullback Nathan Davis, halfback Zach Dockar-Clay and captain Ryan Matterson having a big impact on the game.
Goodall was first up, making an incredible line break to pass to Aukofolau, who offloaded to Matterson to score his first of two tries.
Aukofolau’s effort in offloading unfortunately resulted in a knee injury, with him being helped off the field hobbling.
Kaysa Pritchard made a strong break to offload again to Matterson, who zig-zagged to the posts to score his second of the day.
Davis picked up a great pass to score and convert himself, before two late tries to Manly’s Liam Knight and Charlie Taylor brought the scoreline closer at halftime.
Matterson scored a hat-trick early in the second half, but the Sea Eagles stuck in, with Charlie Taylor crossing to reduce the lead to eight points.
The Eels utility Joey Lussick entered the field in the second half to have a big impact, scoring a try from dummy half after a quick play-the-ball.
Hooker Kaysa Pritchard followed suit with a big cross-field run to dive in the corner, before Matterson rounded out his set of four tries.
A late try to Nathan Davis saw the scoreline convincingly out of reach, with the Eels winning 48-20.
Dyldam Parramatta Eels 48 (Matterson 4, Davis 2, Lussick, Pritchard, Dockar-Clay tries; Davis 6 goals)
def.
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 20 (Taylor 2, Gosling, Knight tries; Stigg 2 goals)
