The Eels maintained their undefeated record in Round 4 of the SG Ball Cup, but not before staging a remarkable fight back at Eric Tweedale Stadium on Saturday.
Playing another unbeaten team in the South Sydney Rabbitohs, victory was always going to require a strong performance from the Eels. An ordinary start made it that much harder.
Souths were the first to score after a sequence of errors and indiscretions from the Eels. A try in the corner and a sideline conversion had the visitors jumping out to a six nil lead after ten minutes.
The Bunnies made it back to back tries when their last tackle bomb drew an Eels fumble and the chasers were there to collect the spoils for a converted try.
It took less than two minutes for Souths to extend their lead. A penalty after the kick off piggy-backed them downfield, then a simple right side shift saw them cross for their third try in a five minute period
At 16 nil, the Rabbitohs were in the box seat to continue on their winning ways, but the Eels were about to click into gear.
Finding some rhythm and tempo, the Eels started to make inroads into the Bunnies defence. They were rewarded ten minutes before the break when they launched a left side shift ten metres out from Souths line.
After taking the ball at first receiver, Lorenzo Talataina found Nathan Howlett on the sweep, and the fullback then lofted a basketball pass to Lorima Rokasuka who tiptoed down the sideline for the Eels opening try.
The angled conversion was missed but the Rabbitohs momentum had finally been broken.
No further points were added in the half so the Eels would begin the second stanza twelve points in arrears.
Completions were again proving difficult for the Eels in the early minutes after the break, but their defence rose to the challenge to repel each and every Rabbitohs raid.
Though the Eels next try was scored on a right side shift, it would be a carbon copy of the first. This time the first receiver was Lincoln Fletcher. Nathan Howlett again swept into the play from fullback, before passing to Dominic Farrugia to dive across in the corner.
Howlett featured once more in the set after points to engineer the Eels third try. Joining in on a last tackle play down the left, the Eels fullback grubber kicked into Souths in-goal, and the chase and grounding from Elijah-Shane Tapau finished the move perfectly.
The conversion from Lincoln Fletcher left the Eels just two points adrift, and the rise in confidence was palpable.
Parra finally took the lead with just under fifteen minutes left on the clock when Nathan Howlett registered his fourth try assist by accepting a cut out pass from Lorenzo Talataina and then linking with Lorima Rokosuka for the winger’s second try.
With five minutes to go, the Eels wrapped up the match with a try close to the posts. After driving at the Bunnies line, Jezaiah Funa-Iuta, bounced and spun out of defenders before offloading to Beau Lucien who dived over for the hammer blow.
The 26-16 victory consolidated the Eels place in the top three on the SG Ball ladder. Their next opponent will be the Panthers at Eric Tweedale Stadium next Saturday.
After enjoying a bye in Round Four, the Eels Harold Matthews Cup side will also be in action at home against the Panthers.
The Lisa Fiaola and Tarsha Gale Cup teams will return from their bye when they travel to Cronulla High School to take on the Sharks.
Eels 26 (Tries: Lorima Rokosuka 2, Dom Farrugia, Elijah-Shane Tapau, Beau Lucien; Goals: Lincoln Fletcher: 3) defeated Rabbitohs 16.
