By Andrew McEnallay
Parramatta Eels have defeated North Sydney Bears 12-10 in the SG Ball Cup at New Era Stadium.
It was the Eels who struck first through five-eighth Reilly Canning, who after just five minutes caught the Bears defence napping, crashing over and then converting his own try.
With the Bears coming out of their own end, it was the spine who stood up off the back of some nice dummy-half play from hooker Christian Abel. After breaking through, Abel offloaded to fullback Owen Flaherty who then passed on to five-eighth Darcy Brettle. After converting his own try, the scores were level at 6-all.
Flaherty copped a horror bounce which saw the ball bounce over his head and land in the hands of Eels centre Declan Murray. He then scored underneath the posts with Canning adding the extras to put the Eels back in front 12-6.
Still searching for their first win of the season, the Bears played with plenty of desperation, none more so than Michael Geddes who put his body on the line diving for a grubber kick and scoring a try off the back of pure effort. Brettle unfortunately couldn’t convert and the Bears trailed 12-10 with 13 minutes remaining.
The Eels kept the pressure on, constantly attacking the Bears line although the North Sydney side showed plenty of fight, repelling them at every opportunity.
The Bears asked plenty of questions with the ball in hand, although the Eels defence held for them to come away with the two points.
