A double to Charbel Tasipale, the sin binning of JT Nabetelevu and a late surge from the Newcastle Knights; The Parramatta Eels Jersey Flegg win over the Knights was full of action in Round 21.
The Eels side relished in the opportunity to play in front of their home crowd at Bankwest Stadium, overpowering the Newcastle Knights to win 28-24.
While the Newcastle Knights were first to score, out wide on the wing, it was the Eels who overpowered their opposition.
The Eels were down on the scoreboard, but hungry to hit back.
After forcing a dropout, Charbel Tasipale crashed over to score the Eels first points.
The Eels continued to build momentum, with winger Solomone Naiduki breaking the defensive line and scoring in the set after kick off.
The Knights gained some good field position and forced repeat sets on the Eels line, before hooker Liam Wilkinson snuck his way over from dummy half ten minutes before half time.
The Knights increased the score line further with a penalty goal before halftime.
But the Eels were determined to run into the sheds at halftime ahead, and they got their way.
After forcing repeated sets on the Knights line, Charbel Tasipale held off three defenders and stretched to plant the ball in almost the exact spot he scored his first try.
The Knights came out hungry in the second half and were quick to get good field position.
Fullback Grant Anderson used some footwork to break the defensive line to score.
The Eels were down a player with 24 minutes to go, with JT Nabetelevu sent to the sin bin for throwing a punch after a dangerous tackle by the Knights.
Still one man down, Charbel Tasipale went for a hat trick but was held up over the line.
Down a player but not out, the Eels continued to build pressure with back-to-back sets, before Bailey Biondi-Odo scored off his own grubber.
The Knights showed a lack of discipline, giving away penalty after penalty for being offside and it wasn’t long before the Eels struck again.
Vea Tapaatoutai stepped, and snuck over from dummy half to score the Eels second try with only 12 men and extended the lead.
Justin Worley scored late in the peace for the Knights, but the Eels held on the win by four points, 28-24.
Parramatta Eels Jersey Flegg 28 (Tries: Charbel Tasipale (2), Solomone Naiduki, Bailey Biondi-Odo, Vea Tapaatoutai. Conversion: Bailey Biondi-Odo, 4/5_
def
Newcastle Knights Jersey Flegg 24 (Tries: Grant Anderson (2), Liam Wilkinson, Justin Worley. Conversions: Cameron Davies 3/4. Penalties: Cameron Davies 1/1)
