The Parramatta Eels Jersey Flegg side have put in a strong, dominant performance over the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Ringrose Park on Sunday 2nd June in Round 12 of their competition, claiming a 31-18 victory and their third win of the season.
After a two week bye over the past fortnight, the young Blue & Gold showed that time away from the competition had no impact on their playing form.
Second rower Lachlan Poko put the first points on the board in the fourth minute of the clash, when a fortuitous bounce off the boot of hooker Kyle Schneider close to the line had winger Taufa Afu batting the ball back in the in goal for Poko to plant it in the corner.
A bouncing grubber from Joseph Taipari popped up for centre Haze Dunster who plucked the ball from the Rabbitohs defence to score to the right of the posts in the twelfth minute of the clash before forward Harry Duggan charged and spun his way over underneath the posts in the sixteenth minute, seeing the Blue & Gold take an 18-0 point lead.
The Rabbitohs struck back in the 30th minute of play when hooker Peter Mamouzelos burrowed his way over from dummy half to put the away side’s first points on the board, with the Eels holding a 18-6 lead at half time.
An individual effort from Haze Dunster early in the second half saw the centre score his second of the afternoon. Receiving the ball from inside his own half, Dunster shrugged off the Rabbitohs defence before slicing his way through the Rabbitohs cover defence and racing 35m away to score under the posts.
Fullback John Fonua scored in the 50th minute to further extend the Eels lead but it was down to some brilliant play between halves Bailey Biondi-Odo and Taipari in the lead up. A chip from Biondi-Odo had Taipari leaping above the Rabbitohs defence before offloading to Fonua at the try line to score and give the Eels a 30-6 lead.
The Rabbitohs scored in quick succession in the 55th and 58th minute through Maila Chan-Foon and James Tautaiolefua to close the gap to 30-18 but the damage had already been done earlier in the clash.
Desperate defence from the young Blue & Gold halted the Rabbitohs momentum who looked to be storming home, before a field goal to Bailey Binodi-Odo extended the Eels lead to beyond two converted tries.
The Eels defence holding strong despite the late Rabbitohs efforts, claiming a 31-18 victory.
Parramatta Eels Jersey Flegg 31 (Tries: Haze Dunster (2), Lachlan Poko, Harry Duggan, John Fonua; Goals: Kyle Schneider 3/3, Bailey Biondi-Odo 2/2; Field Goals: Bailey Biondi-Odo 1/1)
Def
South Sydney Rabbitohs Jersey Flegg 18 (Tries: Peter Mamouzelos, Maila Chan-Foon, James Tautaiolefua; Goals: Lachlan Ilias 3/3)
The Eels Jersey Flegg side will now face the first placed Cronulla Sharks at PointsBet Stadium on Saturday 8th June in Round 13 of the competition. Kick off is at 3:05pm with the NRL clash to follow at 5:30pm.
