The Parramatta Eels NYC side have come away with a convincing 38-16 victory over the Gold Coast Titans at Belmore Sports Ground in Round 24 of the Holden Cup competition last night (Friday 18 August).
Despite a chaotic build up to the clash, that saw the game postponed by five hours and a change of venue due to weather conditions in Sydney affecting the travelling Titans side, the Blue & Gold started the clash in dynamic fashion, looking to have no ill effects from to the earlier disruption.
The Eels struck in the 2nd minute of the clash, when centre Emosi Alamoti powered his way over his opposite number, after receiving a ball from fullback Anthony Layoun to open the scoring for the night.
Strong carries from the Eels outside backs put the Eels into strong field position in the 10th minute, and when forward Salesi Faingaa put Alamoti through a hole, the centre charged over the fullback to have his second of the night.
It took just five more minutes of action for Alamoti to cross for his third try, when once again, Faingaa put the centre into open space to cross for his hattrick and give the Eels an early 16-0 lead.
Eels winger John Fonua crossed in the 24th minute of the clash, when a bomb off the boot of half Dean Matterson was allowed to bounce, and the Blue & Gold winger winning the race to the ball to extend the Eels lead.
The Titans struck back in the 30th minute of the clash, when their winger Curtis Dansey-Smaller finished off a simple backline movement close to the line.
The away side struck again just before half time, with half AJ Brimson looming in support of their dummy half who found space behind the ruck. The half still had plenty of work to do, but fought his way to the line to cross for a converted try and cut down the deficit to ten points at the halfway mark of the clash.
The young Eels came out firing in the second half, looking to extend their dominance in the clash, and it took an individual 80m charge from Dom Murphy, who scooped up a loose ball to provide the next try scoring opportunity.
Murphy was run down by the Titans winger, but as the ball was stripped free, Eels half Dylan Brown loomed in support to scoop up the ball at full speed and run the final 20m to score in the 49th minute.
The Eels built plenty of pressure, with strong runs from winger Greg Leleisiuao and forward Frank Salu, and the latter was rewarded with a four pointer in the 59th minute of the clash. After a repeat set, the forward stepped his way close to the line, crashing over between defenders to extend the Eels lead to 30-10.
Another forced drop out off the boot of Brown lead to more pressure and points. An early kick in the set from Matterson saw a ball bounce around behind the Titans line and Brown was in position to collect the ball and score his second of the evening.
A fourth try to Alamoti in the 71st minute of the clash capped off a stellar night for the centre, when he won the race to a perfectly weighted kick from Matterson.
The build up saw strong runs from Oregon Kaufusi and Murphy before a play down the short side found the boot of Matterson that had the ball sitting up in the in goal before it was planted.
The Eels were on the attack again with just minutes remaining on the scoreboard, but a long cut out pass close to the line was plucked in the air by Titans winger Dansey-Smaller who raced 90m to score his second of the night.
The late long range consolation try to the Titans was the final change to the scoreboard, with the Eels securing a 38-10 victory, their sixth straight victory.
Parramatta Eels 38 (Tries: Emosi Alamoti (4), Dylan Brown (2), Frank Salu, John Fonua; Goals: Dylan Brown 3/8)
Def
Gold Coast Titans 16 (Tries: Curtis Dansey-Smaller (2), AJ Brimson; Goals: Bostyn Hakaraia 1/2, Zae Wallace 1/1)
