The Parramatta Eels Tarsha Gale girls fought back for their first win of the season in Round Five of the Junior Reps competition.
It was a massive Saturday for Parramatta with all three grades of winning their Round Five matches at Kirkham Oval, Camden.
The Harold Matthews clash with Wests Magpies opened proceedings for the day.
The Eels were first to score after an Aufag Mino offload found Yehya Ayache in support and the hooker plunged over next to the posts.
Wests struck back from the kick off, crossing in the corner after Parra were unable to complete their set.
The Eels took control for the rest of the half with their short passing game providing the platform for the forwards to accumulate big metres through the middle.
2021 Eels Juniors Round 5 Best Moments
They were rewarded late in the half when Saxon Pryke broke through behind the ruck and found Ethan Sanders in support, with the half crossing under the posts. Sanders conversion of his own try took the Eels to a half time lead of 12 to 4.
Wests posted a converted try after the break, but Parra responded soon after when centre Declan Murray finished a big shift to the left. Myles Martin then imposed himself on the game, cracking Wests’ defence and finding fullback Patrick Spence who scored close to the uprights.
A late try to the Magpies was just reward for their determined performance, but the Eels forwards were ultimately too strong, laying the foundation for the win.
The first half of the SG Ball clash was a see-sawing affair, with a double to Eels fullback Tyrone Sau, matched by two tries to the Magpies. All four tries were converted and at half time the teams were locked at 12 all.
Parramatta began the second half with far more composure, completing the first ten sets after the break. Possession is always king, and the Eels converted the pressure into tries.
Larry Muagututia was the beneficiary of smart ruck play to cross for the first of these tries, then Jabriel Kalache delivered a terrific cut out pass for Caleb Coroneos to add the second.
Wests created some concern when their converted try reduced the Eels lead to four, but the Eels kicked away with a spectacular try to Kalache.
A Keahlan Bray bomb was fielded by Daniel Reardon, who found Jock Brazel in support, who in turn passed to Drew Lloyd.
His pass was scooped up by Kalache who feigned the kick then put on a step and a fend to beat two defenders in a charge to the line.
Lloyd, Kalache and Coroneos then combined for Sione Tapu’osi to register his first try for the Eels, finishing the scoring for the match.
There was no shortage of smiles after the Eels defeated the Bulldogs to record their first victory of this season’s Tarsha Gale Cup.
The first half did not begin well for Parra when the Bulldogs crossed for a try after just one minute of play.
The visitors played with great intent and the Eels were struggling against their superior energy.
Parra briefly took the lead midway through the first half via a converted try to prop forward Losalio Sita Payne, but the Dogs rallied with two tries of their own. The 14-6 half time score line was a fair indication of Canterbury’s early domination.
The second half began with more of the same, with the Bulldogs scoring after just two minutes and at 20-6, it was going to be a tough ask for the Eels to rally.
However, rally they did, and after Lucie Whitehead got over the line to narrow the margin five minutes later, all of the momentum was suddenly with Parra.
The completions and running metres from the Eels put pressure on the Bulldogs, leading to three tries in five minutes. Payne scored twice more to bring up her hat trick, before Tahleisha Pugh’s try took the lead out to six points with ten minutes left on the clock.
A final surge from the Bulldogs was repelled by terrific goal line defence as the Eels kept their composure to hold on for the win.
Harold Matthews Cup
Parramatta 22 (Tries: Ayache, Sanders, Murray, Spence Goals: Sanders 2) defeated Wests Magpies 14
SG Ball Cup
Parramatta 32 (Tries: Sau 2, Muagututia, Coroneos, Kalache, Tapu’osi Goals: Bray 4) defeated Wests Magpies 18
Tarsha Gale Cup
Parramatta 26 (Tries: Payne 3, Whitehead, Pugh. Goals: Terare 3) defeated Canterbury 20.
Round Five Team of the Week
1. Tyron Sau (SG)
2. Tamerah Leati (TG)
3. Charlie Guymer (HM)
4. Tahleisha Pugh (TG)
5. Josh Lealaiaulto (HM)
6. Jabriel Kalache (SG)
7. Ethan Sanders (HM)
8. Losalio Payne (TG)
9. Jada Toevai (TG)
10. Aufago Mino (HM)
11. Max Tupou (SG)
12. Saxon Pryke (HM)
13. Peter Taatao (SG)
14. Blaise Talagi (HM)
15. Larry Muagututia (SG)
16. Kristen Cawthorne (TG)
17. Josh Alhazim (HM)
