Eels Jersey Flegg Round 14 Highlights
The Parramaatta Eels Jersey Flegg have came away with a thrilling 32-24 victory over the New Zealand Warriors at McCredie Park, Guildford on Saturday 15 June in Round 14 of the competition.
With the Eels trailing by eight points heading into the final 5 minutes of the game, three tries in four minutes secured a spirited come from behind victory.
The young Eels line up found themselves on the back foot early when the Warriors crossed in the second minute of play through prop Eliesa Katoa. The forward putting first points on the board after a grubber ricocheted into his arms to dive over the to left of the posts.
The Warriors extended their lead in the 17th minute when hooker Penehuro Toai burrowed his way over the line from dummy half before crossing again through centre Kayal Iro in the 26th minute after a cross field chip from his half.
The Warriors claiming a 14-0 lead and the Eels with plenty of work to do with the half time siren looming.
It took a nice ball back on the inside from half Joseph Taipari, who returned from one game with the Wentworthville Magpies, to find lock Jesse Cronin in support and charging through the defensive line.
The lock streaking away and finishing off a 55m try to score under the posts and close the lead to 14-6 at half time.
The Eels would have been looking to carry the momentum into the second half, but it was the away side that scored first.
A mid field bomb saw Eels Jersey Flegg captain and fullback Sione Fonua down in back play and the Warriors capitalised on the next play off a quick play ball with a short side raid that saw winger Selestino Ravutaumada crossing out wide.
Fonua shook off the injury to set up Taufa Afu with a nice short ball close to the line as he crossed in the 44th minute before Eels winger Turaganivalu Nabatelevu finished off a string off passes to score in the corner in the 53rd minute.
The Eels quickly cutting down the lead to four points (14-18).
The Warriors crashed over to the left of the posts when prop Wesley Veikoso showed too much determination to crash through the Eels defence in the 58th minute and extend the Warriors lead to ten points with a touch over ten minutes remaining.
However the Eels found another gear and clicked into action to storm home and run down the Warriors.
A try to Cronin in the 64th minute, his second of the afternoon, sparked the young Blue & Gold into motion. The lock again looming in support of Taipari, who split the tiring Warriors defence through the ruck, to score under the posts for a converted try.
The very next set off the kick off, Cronin had himself involved again when he popped a short ball back on the inside for fullback Fonua to burst through the defence, dummy and pass the fullback before scoring under the posts to complete a 70m try and put the Eels in front on the score board for the first time in the game, 26-24 with just 5 minutes remaining.
The Eels put a stamp on their fast finish, with a try in the 68th minute, their third in four minutes, when hooker Vea Tapaatoutai dummied and burrowed his way close to the line to score under the posts.
The try was converted and the Eels secured a thrilling, come from behind victory over the Warriors, 32-24.
Parramatta Eels Jersey Flegg 32 (Tries: Jesse Cronin (2), Taufa Afu, Turaganivalu Nabetelevu, Sione Fonua, Vea Tapaatoutai; Goals: Kyle Schneider (1), Bailey Biondi-Odo (3))
Def
New Zealand Warriors 24 (Tries: Eliesa Katoa, Penehuro Toai, Kayal Iro, Salestino Ravutaumada, Wesley Veikoso; Goals: Siono Moala, Brody Tamarua)
The Eels Jersey Flegg side will return to McCredie Park, Guildford this weekend when they take on the Victoria Thunderbolts on Saturday 22 June in Round 15 of the competition.
