The Parramatta Eels Jersey Flegg side have started their season with a controlled 20-14 victory over the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Campbelltown Stadium on Sunday 15 March.
The young Blue & Gold side looked in control for the majority of the game, and despite the Bulldogs scoring two late tries to close the gap, the Eels secured a six point victory to begin their 2020 season.
The Eels looked to cross early in the piece, before a double movement at the line was ruled. However it wasn’t long before the Eels were down the Bulldogs end, earning strong field possession off the back of a Bulldogs error. Eels winger Samuel Loizou on the end of two passes from the scrum to score an unconverted try in the seventh minute.
The Bulldogs built pressure with forced repeat sets, and they found their first try of the afternoon when back rower Chris Patolo received a ball close to the line and crash over to put the Bulldogs up by two points after 19 minutes.
An arm wrestle for the following twenty minutes of play saw neither side trouble the scorers, and it took a strong individual effort from Eels winger Solomone Naiduki who powered his way over in the corner in the 32nd minute to give the Eels a 8-6 lead heading into the halftime break.
The Eels looked in control after the break, playing the majority of the game down the Bulldogs end, and their wealth of possession brought about further points. An offload at the line saw a charging Charbel Tasipale bust through the line, before charing the last 40m to score under the posts.
The Eels were over again just 6 minutes later when Sean Russell crossed for a try underneath the posts. A grubber back on the inside from half Jakob Arthur was unable to be taken cleanly by the Bulldogs fullback, and Russell in chase was fortuitously in the right place to plant the ball over the line.
The Eels taking a 20-4 lead after 51 minutes.
The Eels continued to pin the Bulldogs deep within their own end, before an error on their try line saw the Bulldogs gifted an opportunity.
Bulldogs back rower Jackson Topine crashed over to the right of the posts, before Bulldogs winger Zachary Rumble dove over in the corner in the ensuing set for two quick tries to the away side.
With both conversions waved away, the Eels secured a 20-14 victory over the Bulldogs in the opening round of the Jersey Flegg competition.
Parramatta Eels Jersey Flegg 20 (Tries: Samuel Loizou, Solomone Naiduki, Charbel Tasipale, Sean Russel; Goals: Kyle Schneider (2)) def Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs 14 (Tries: Chris Patolo, Jackson Topine, Zachary Rumble; Goals: Aaron Schoupp (1))
The Eels will face the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Campbelltown Stadium on Sunday 22 March in Round Two of the Jersey Flegg competition, kick off at 11am.
