Junior Reps Wrap: Three Teams Progress To Second Week Of Finals

The Eels were way below their best when they fell to the Roosters in the qualifying final of the SG Ball Cup at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday.

Proceedings started poorly with the minor premiers down in energy and intensity, whereas the Roosters were playing fast and aggressive football.

Enjoying an advantage in both territory and possession, the Roosters posted the first two tries to jump out to an eight point lead.

The Eels finally clicked into gear in the final ten minutes of the first half when Aidan Kebourian finished off a left side shift with a diving try in the corner. 

Lincoln Fletcher’s sideline conversion reduced the margin to two points, but an error in the set after points led to the Roosters immediately striking back with a converted try of their own.

The Eels then compounded an error riddled first half when the ball was lost in contact close to the line and the Roosters grabbed their fourth try soon after.

Down 20 to 6 at half time, Parra made the best possible start after the break when Lincoln Fletcher put Nathan Howlett through a hole on half way, then loomed up in support to sprint away for a try next to the uprights.

With the margin reduced to eight points, and over thirty minutes left on the clock, it appeared to be game on for the undefeated Eels.

Unfortunately, the errors and missed tackles persisted and the Roosters took advantage of this by taking control of the match and adding two more tries.

The defeat was the Eels first of the season and a tough lesson in finals football. They’ll be looking to regroup in this Saturday’s clash with the Storm at the Blacktown Exercise Sports and Technology Hub in Rooty Hill.

Roosters 32 defeated Eels 12 (Tries: Aidan Kebourian, Lincoln Fletcher; Goals: Lincoln Fletcher 2).

Harold Matthews Cup

The Eels season came to an end after they were defeated by the Central Coast Roosters in the first week of the Harold Matthews Cup finals at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday.

In a repeat of their last clash, it was a gripping, physical contest. But unlike their round eight battle, it was the Roosters who scored late to steal victory.

The physicality of the match took its toll early as both teams struggled to find cohesion in attack. When the first points came, it would be the Roosters and it came on the back of a momentum shifting offside call.

After receiving the penalty in their own quarter, the Roosters advanced play to the Eels red zone. A right side shift on the last tackle finally exposed a small chink in the Eels defensive armour and the Roosters crossed for an unconverted try.

Just minutes later, Cobi McCloskey produced a terrific effort to get the Eels on the board.

Chasing Talen Risati’s bomb towards the corner, McCloskey soared through the air and fought through two cover defenders to plant the ball over the line.

The angled conversion from Risati edged the Eels ahead by two points with just a few minutes to the break. It seemed like the Eels would take that lead to the sheds, but a Roosters penalty goal in the shadows of half time levelled the scores in what was a fair reflection of the opening stanza.

When play resumed, the Eels made a disastrous start, losing the ball in front of their posts from the kick off and immediately conceding a try.

The Eels then set about righting their wrongs, though they were denied a try when Cobi McCloskey was ruled to have gone into touch before grounding the ball.

It mattered little when the Roosters coughed up possession a couple of tackles later and McCloskey was presented with an identical opportunity and iced it.

The sideline conversion from Talen Risati re-established the Eels two point lead, and that margin was soon extended when Santiago Uata swooped on an errant Roosters pass in the Eels quarter and raced away to plant the ball between the posts.

Parra looked to be in control of the match and threatened to add more points as they peppered the Roosters line.  However, stout defence from the Roosters held them at bay before their halfback scored a try with just five minutes remaining.

Parra’s lead was back to only two points as they looked to hold on against their fast finishing opponents. A clever steal from the Roosters just outside the Eels quarter then proved to be decisive as it set them up for the winning play.

Roosters 22 defeated Eels 18 (Tries: Cobi McCloskey 2, Santiago Uata; Goals: Talen Risati 3).

Lisa Fiaola Cup

The second placed Central Coast Roosters proved too strong for Eels, winning 24 to 14 in the qualifying final of the Lisa Fiaola Cup at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday.

Conceding only 22 points for the season, the Roosters had established a reputation for their defensive prowess, and it appeared to be well deserved as they kept the Eels scoreless in an impressive opening half.

Just as impressive was their attack, which saw them score three converted tries as they jumped out to an 18 nil lead after just 13 minutes.

In contrast, the Eels were struggling to find their rhythm, and their errors in possession resulted in much of this early period being confined to the Eels half of the field.

Fortunately, Parra found more starch in their defence and the remainder of the first half settled into the type of arm wrestle expected in finals football with no further points added before the break.

The Eels began the second half in the best possible fashion and put the Roosters on notice that a tougher contest awaited them.

A Roosters error just outside their quarter gave the Eels tremendous field position to attack from, and a last tackle kick was swooped on by Sienna Bonello for a try in the left corner.

The perfect set after points from Parra then resulted in a penalty in the Roosters red zone. A couple of tackles later Sharon Latapu turned Kaizen Morgan-Pritchard back on an inside run and the Eels back rower powered her way through defenders to plant the ball between the sticks.

Now on a mission to play direct through the ruck, the Eels appeared to be gaining the ascendancy. Unfortunately, a string of penalties to the Roosters flipped the momentum around again. They then added their fourth converted try and the lead was back out to 14 points.

The Eels regathered their composure and again found success playing direct. They were rewarded when Isabella Bell showed power and determination to thunder her way over next to the posts.

Though it was now four tries to three, the Eels missed conversions still left them ten points adrift. They continued to play positive football for the remainder of the game but couldn’t get the extra scores that they needed.

As this was a qualifying final, defeat did not mean elimination. Parra will now move to the second week of the finals this Saturday where their opponent will be the Panthers at the Blacktown Exercise Sports and Technology Hub in Rooty Hill

Roosters 24 defeated Eels 14 (Tries: Sienna Bonello, Kaizen Morgan-Pritchard, Isabella Bell; Goals: Temieke Withers).

Tarsha Gale Cup

The Eels finally joined the Leichhardt Oval winners list when they overpowered the Sharks in their elimination final clash in the Tarsha Gale Cup.

Victory for the Eels turned around their shock defeat at the hands of Cronulla earlier this season.

Taking up where they left off against the Bulldogs last week, the Eels success was once again based on their physicality.

Early running was with the Eels and they converted their advantage into points when an offload in heavy contact from Ryvrr-Lee Alo found Tess McWilliams in support and the Eels prop dived over for the opening try.

The Eels were once more on the attack when an error deep in Sharks territory provided their opponents with the opportunity to strike back. From there the Sharks marched downfield and their winger crossed in the corner.

Another Eels error in possession was the catalyst for the Sharks second try soon after. Following that error, a passive Eels defence line allowed the Sharks to run the ball on the last tackle and their unconverted try took them to a two point lead mid way through the half.

Despite this setback, the Eels were straight back to their game plan and the points followed.

During a period of applied pressure on the Sharks line the Eels declined to take the two points on offer from three consecutive penalties. Their perseverance was rewarded when Ryvrr-Lee Alo powered her way through Sharks defenders from a penalty tap to grab a much needed try beside the posts.

Ryvrr-Lee Alo then made it two tries in two minutes when she exploded onto the ball inside the Sharks red zone leaving defenders in her wake as she dotted the ball between the sticks.

The two converted tries in quick succession gave the Eels a ten point break and great confidence going into the sheds at half time.

In the opening minutes of the second half the Eels were denied a try when they were deemed offside on a kick chase. This decision momentarily shifted the momentum as the Sharks then received back to back penalties on their way to grabbing their third try.

Despite the match being three tries apiece, a failure to convert their tries left the Sharks six points adrift.

Parra went close to securing their victory when the ball went through multiple hands in a left side shift that ended with Sualo Lafoga diving over in the corner.

The match was ultimately put to bed when some brilliant second phase ball down the right edge saw Taylah Falaniko offload to Matoisha Kalepo who then found Avena Racoma Ngata for another corner post finish.

Still, the scoring was not done, and the icing was added to the cake when Aaliyah Soufan provided a slick offload to Lilieta Pouli who burrowed over for the final try.

The Eels now move to the second week of the finals next Saturday when they face the Panthers at the Blacktown Exercise Sports and Technology Hub in Rooty Hill.

Eels 32 (Tries: Ryvrr-Lee Alo 2, Tess McWilliams, Sualo Lafoga, Avena Racoma Ngata, Lilieta Pouli; Goals: Dallis Graham-Withell 4) defeated Sharks 12.