The Pirtek Parramatta Eels have come off second best to the West Tigers in Round 22 of the Holden Cup for 2013. The Eels put up a strong fight; however the Tigers proved to be too good, with the final score sitting at 52-34.
The early arrivers from the Blue and Gold Army were treated to an early try to Eels in 3rd minute, with second rower Pauli Pauli crossing the line. An unsuccessful conversion by Mitchell Brasington left the score at 4-0 to Parramatta.
Tigers hooker Manaia Cherrington retaliated quickly to the Eels movements, comfortably placing the football over the try line. A successful conversion by Manaia Rudolph moved the score to 6-4 to the Tigers in the 9th minute of the first half.
Eels captain Kaysa Pritchard was next to lock in a try in the 12th minute, this time no mistake from Brasington, successfully converting the try, boosting the Eels to 10-6. Unfortunately, Kaysa was injured shortly after and taken off the field on a stretcher. It was later revealed that Kayas was suffering from ankle ligament damage which will be assessed further tomorrow.
Tigers fullback Kurtis Rowe charged over the line in the 20th minute of the first half. Rudolph missed the conversion, leaving the score at an exciting 10-10.
Right centre Connor Broadhurst was next to score for the Eels. Followed by a conversion by Brasington, the Eels were leading 16-10 with 11 minutes remaining of the first half. The West Tigers seemed intent on keeping the scores close, as Andrew Kazzi was next to cross the try line in the 35th minute. A successful conversion by Rudolph moved the score to 16-16.
Cherrington made a break from dummy-half making it look all too easy for Tigers right wing Leva Li as he secured the Tigers final try for the first half. Rudolph once again converted the try, pushing the score to 22-16 to the Tigers at the end of the first half.
Both teams returned to the field refreshed and hungry for a victory. However Tigers half-back Luke Brooks proved he had more of an appetite, crossing the line within two minutes of the second half. Rudolph converted successfully, raising the score to 28-16 to the Tigers.
A scramble to the ball over the line in the 47th minute by Tigers reserve Shane Lalagofau allowed Rudolph to convert the try, leaving the score at 34-16. This only fuelled Kurtis Rowes fire as he ran over the try line short after, with the score sitting at 40-16 in the final 30 minutes of the match.
A break-away run from the 40 metre line left Luke Brooks laughing as he comfortably crossed the line for the second time tonight in the 56th minute. A conversion by Rudolph left the score at 46-16 to the West Tigers.
Not giving up without a fight, Tepai Tepu-Smith put his body on the line crossing the Eels try line. Brasington was able to convert the try, raising the Blue and Gold Armys hopes with the score sitting at 46-22.
Eels half-back Zach Dockar-Clay followed the try scoring trend with 15 minutes remaining of the match. Another successful conversion thanks to Mitchell Brasington sat the score at 46-28 with the countdown to fulltime looming.
A break-away sprint by Kurtis Rowe, securing a hat-trick of tries tonight for the spirited fullback, left an easy conversion for Rudolph raising the score to 52-28 with 6 minutes of the match remaining.
Thirsty for the final try of the match, left-centre John Folau crossed the line in final minute of the match. Brasington successfully converted on the fulltime bell, resting the score of the match at 52-34 to the West Tigers.
TIGERS (Rowe 3, Brooks 2, Cherrington, Kazzi, Li, Lalagofau tries; Rudolph 8 goals)
def.
EELS (Pauli, Pritchard, Broadhurst, Tepu-Smith, Dockar-Clay, Folau tries; Brasington 5 goals)
The early arrivers from the Blue and Gold Army were treated to an early try to Eels in 3rd minute, with second rower Pauli Pauli crossing the line. An unsuccessful conversion by Mitchell Brasington left the score at 4-0 to Parramatta.
Tigers hooker Manaia Cherrington retaliated quickly to the Eels movements, comfortably placing the football over the try line. A successful conversion by Manaia Rudolph moved the score to 6-4 to the Tigers in the 9th minute of the first half.
Eels captain Kaysa Pritchard was next to lock in a try in the 12th minute, this time no mistake from Brasington, successfully converting the try, boosting the Eels to 10-6. Unfortunately, Kaysa was injured shortly after and taken off the field on a stretcher. It was later revealed that Kayas was suffering from ankle ligament damage which will be assessed further tomorrow.
Tigers fullback Kurtis Rowe charged over the line in the 20th minute of the first half. Rudolph missed the conversion, leaving the score at an exciting 10-10.
Right centre Connor Broadhurst was next to score for the Eels. Followed by a conversion by Brasington, the Eels were leading 16-10 with 11 minutes remaining of the first half. The West Tigers seemed intent on keeping the scores close, as Andrew Kazzi was next to cross the try line in the 35th minute. A successful conversion by Rudolph moved the score to 16-16.
Cherrington made a break from dummy-half making it look all too easy for Tigers right wing Leva Li as he secured the Tigers final try for the first half. Rudolph once again converted the try, pushing the score to 22-16 to the Tigers at the end of the first half.
Both teams returned to the field refreshed and hungry for a victory. However Tigers half-back Luke Brooks proved he had more of an appetite, crossing the line within two minutes of the second half. Rudolph converted successfully, raising the score to 28-16 to the Tigers.
A scramble to the ball over the line in the 47th minute by Tigers reserve Shane Lalagofau allowed Rudolph to convert the try, leaving the score at 34-16. This only fuelled Kurtis Rowes fire as he ran over the try line short after, with the score sitting at 40-16 in the final 30 minutes of the match.
A break-away run from the 40 metre line left Luke Brooks laughing as he comfortably crossed the line for the second time tonight in the 56th minute. A conversion by Rudolph left the score at 46-16 to the West Tigers.
Not giving up without a fight, Tepai Tepu-Smith put his body on the line crossing the Eels try line. Brasington was able to convert the try, raising the Blue and Gold Armys hopes with the score sitting at 46-22.
Eels half-back Zach Dockar-Clay followed the try scoring trend with 15 minutes remaining of the match. Another successful conversion thanks to Mitchell Brasington sat the score at 46-28 with the countdown to fulltime looming.
A break-away sprint by Kurtis Rowe, securing a hat-trick of tries tonight for the spirited fullback, left an easy conversion for Rudolph raising the score to 52-28 with 6 minutes of the match remaining.
Thirsty for the final try of the match, left-centre John Folau crossed the line in final minute of the match. Brasington successfully converted on the fulltime bell, resting the score of the match at 52-34 to the West Tigers.
TIGERS (Rowe 3, Brooks 2, Cherrington, Kazzi, Li, Lalagofau tries; Rudolph 8 goals)
def.
EELS (Pauli, Pritchard, Broadhurst, Tepu-Smith, Dockar-Clay, Folau tries; Brasington 5 goals)
