The Dyldam Parramatta Eels have posted a 30-22 victory over the Penrith Panthers in their second and final trial match of the 2015 pre-season.
Both the home side and the Blue and Gold were fiery early, with newly-returned centre Jamal Idris conceding a penalty for a monster tackle, and the Eels’ own Darcy Lussick placed on report for high contact with fullback Matt Moylan.
Among the heavy hits, though, the Panthers found their way across the try line in the 8th minute courtesy of a play to the right edge into the hands of David Simmons.
Fullback Will Hopoate gave his side a 20 metre restart as he let a Jamie Soward grubber roll dead, and the Eels used the opportunity to earn their first points of the match. After James Segeyaro touched a hand to an Eels pass, the Blue and Gold used the six again to shift the ball right for Tepai Moeroa to grubber, re-collect the ball, and hand off to Reece Robinson to score.
The Panthers struck back thanks to the quick hands of Ben Murdoch-Masila offloading to George Jennings to score on the edge, but in the 39th minute, Robinson evened the try-count as he snatched a Brent Kite pass out of the air, running 60 metres to score just before the buzzer.
Robinson's second try of the evening saw the two sides head back to the sheds for the break tied at 12-12.
The second half saw a shuffled Eels side take to the field, with five-eighth Ryan Matterson backing up his performance for Wenty with a run for the NRL side. Nathan Peats also started the half for Isaac De Gois, with Darcy Lussick confined to the sideline for the second half with a mild hamstring strain.
Robinson was quick to add another six points to the Eels tally after the break, as he scored his third try for the night in just the 43rd minute, quickly converting his four-pointer.
Another Jennings made his mark in the 47th minute as Robert Jennings found the line, and Will Hopoate made his presence known when hooker Nathan Peats took a quick tap, and threw a stray pass for the fullback to scoop up and ground under the posts after palming off three defenders.
As Hopoate was spelled, Robinson stepped into the custodian role, and John Folau joined the back line after his own efforts earlier in the day for the Wentworthville Magpies.
With Ryan Morgan sin-binned for a professional foul in the 58th minute, both sides agreed to continue play with 13-a-side, and the Blue and Gold bounced back to send winger Semi Radradra charging over the try line in the left corner and post a 30-16 lead.
Both sides continued to push for points as Robert Jennings was held up for the home side, and John Folau was ruled held up at the opposite end. Young Eels centre and winger Fabian Goodall pushed for an intercept try, until George Jennings at last added a four-pointer in the 75th minute by taking advantage of an overlap out wide.
The home side had the Eels worried again in the final two minutes of play courtesy of a Jamie Soward chip and chase, butt he final attacking flurries from Penrith couldn’t quite earn back the lead, and the Eels headed home 30-22 victors.
Dyldam Parramatta Eels - 30 (Robinson 3, Hopoate, Radradra. Robinson 5/5)
Penrith Panthers - 22 (Simmons, G. Jennings, R. Jennings 2. Soward: 3/4)
On report: Darcy Lussick (8th minute)
Sin bin: Ryan Morgan (58th minute)
Dyldam Parramatta Eels NRL trial side:
1. Will Hopoate
2. Semi Radradra
3. Ryan Morgan
4. Beau Champion
5. Reece Robinson
6. Corey Norman
7. Luke Kelly
8. Darcy Lussick
9. Isaac De Gois
10. Tim Mannah
11. Manu Ma’u
12. Tepai Moeroa
13. Anthony Watmough
Interchange:
15. Junior Paulo
16. David Gower
17. Joseph Paulo
18. Nathan Peats
19. Fabian Goodall
19. Adam Quinlan
20. Ryan Matterson
21. John Folau
23. Ben Crooks
23. Pauli Pauli
27. Vai Toutai
