Junior Reps Wrap: Eels complete clean sweep of Storm

The Eels' Harold Matthews team maintained their unbeaten record by securing a shutout win over the Storm in Melbourne. 

The match was an arm wrestle for the first 15 minutes before Lincoln Fletcher seized the momentum with a ball steal, and Kasinga Noa crashed through defenders to score soon after.

Quick hands across the backline were then instrumental in providing an overlap for Lorima Rokosuka to dive over in the corner. Lincoln Fletcher then drilled the sideline conversion over to take the Eels' lead out to 12 points.

Cyrus Bloomfield made it look all too easy in the shadow of half-time when he sliced through the Storm defence off a scrum win, handing the Eels an 18-0 half-time lead.

When play resumed, Ezra Leota wriggled free from defenders close to the line and plunged over for a converted try.

A crash play from Michael Nauer extended the lead midway through the second half, before Lorima Rokosuka channeled Xavier Coates with an acrobatic dive in the left corner.

The Eels will look to continue their winning ways when they face the Bears at Eric Tweedale Stadium this Saturday. 

Eels 34 (Tries: Lorima Rokosuka 2, Kasinga Noa, Cyrus Bloomfield, Ezra Leota, Michael Nauer; Goals: Lincoln Fletcher 5) defeated Storm 0.

SG Ball Cup

The Eels' SG Ball side moved back into finals contention as they disposed of the Storm in Melbourne on Saturday.

The Eels were first to score when Mohamed Alameddine split the Storm defence on an outside-inside play. The powerful Eels winger found Lorenzo Talataina in support and then backed up for the return pass to score.

Tyrese Lokeni was next to cross after bursting onto a perfectly-timed pass by Dylan Brettle.

The Storm reduced the margin with a converted try before Oliver McCarthy chimed into the backline and raced away to the posts in the final seconds of the first half.

When play resumed, Tyson Sangalang powered through to defenders to grab his first try of the season. Jezaiah Funa-Iuta then emphasised the Eels superiority when he did it all himself in an angled run to the line.

When Mohamed Alameddine touched down off a Lorenzo Talataina bomb, and Dom Farrugia landed a brilliant sideline conversion, the match was well in the Eels' keeping. 

Buoyed with confidence, the team produced a repeat of their outside-inside ruck play in the kick-off set. This time it was Oliver McCarthy who burst into the open with Dylan Brettle backing up for the try.

Jai Camilleri burrowed over from dummy half to register Parramatta’s final try of the match, before the Storm scored two late tries off kicks.

The Eels will aim for back-to-back wins when they face the Bears at Eric Tweedale Stadium on Saturday.

Eels 46 (Tries: Mohamed Alameddine 2, Tyrese Lokeni, Oliver McCarthy, Tyson Sangalang, Jezaiah Funa-Iuta, Dylan Brettle, Jai Camilleri; Goals: Dominic Farrugia 7) defeated Storm 16.

Tarsha Gale Cup

The Eels kept their finals hopes alive when they defeated the Raiders in their Tarsha Gale Cup clash on Saturday. 

Canberra were first to score but the Eels' response was swift.

A superb kick-off found the dead ball line and forced a dropout. The Eels were immediately on the attack, and Ryvvr-Lee Alo surged onto the ball to punch her way over from 20 metres out.

Following the kick-off, Liaina Dimech broke into open field and audaciously stepped the fullback before being dragged down in the Raiders quarter. Raphaella Perigo then showcased her running game as she eluded defenders in a sidestepping run to the line.

Hayley Bell added her name to the scoresheet shortly afterwards after receiving a cut out ball that sent her charging to the corner.

The next foray into Raiders territory saw Dimech held up twice over the line in the lead-up to Lindsay Tui crossing out wide.

A sin bin decision after the half-time siren left the Eels a player down for the first ten minutes of the second half, but the Eels dominated territory and possession during that period. The reward came when Keely Stevens rampaged through the ruck to score between the posts.

A late, length-of-the-field try to the Raiders temporarily narrowed the margin, but the Eels finished the scoring through Lindsay Tui’s second try of the match.

The Eels will be looking for their third win of the season when they face the Bears next Saturday.

Eels 30 (Tries: Lindsay Tui 2, Ryvrr-Lee Alo, Raphaella Perigo, Hayley Bell, Keely Stevens; Goals: Bella Sandford 3) defeated Raiders 12.

Lisa Fiaola Cup

The Eels suffered a close defeat to a committed Central Coast Roosters side in the Lisa Fiaola Cup at Eric Tweedale Stadium on Saturday.

Sienna Bonello got the Eels off to a bright start when she charged onto a cut-out pass from Aaliyah Soufan and crossed in the corner.

It was all Parramatta early as Soufan again featured, this time finding Mitzy Cairns who screamed into a gap to storm over under the posts.

From there, the Roosters demonstrated tremendous resilience under pressure and were rewarded with two tries before the break.

With their lead reduced to two points, the Eels were looking for a strong start to the second half. Unfortunately, a handling error in the first set allowed the Roosters to hit the lead with an unconverted try. 

The Roosters then took advantage of another unforced error from the Eels to add their fourth try of the match. The usually-reliable Parramatta defence was struggling to hold out the visitors and a change in momentum was needed for them to stay in the contest.

That came immediately following the kick-off when the Roosters were forced into errors and Sienna Bonello scored in the corner off a glorious pass from Danielle Seckold.

However, the fightback was short lived as the Roosters crossed beside the posts to take an eight-point lead. Outstanding defence then kept their lead intact for the remainder of the match.

The Eels are again at Eric Tweedale Stadium this coming Saturday when they face the Bears.

CC Roosters 22 defeated Eels 16 (Tries: Sienna Bonello 2, Khyliah Gray; Goals: Anika Penitani 1).