Round 3
Parramatta Eels 22 d. Wests Tigers 20

2007 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Eels topple Tigers in Golden Point
Sat March 31, 2007
Parramatta have recorded their first victory of the season defeating Wests Tigers 22-20 after Luke Burt landed an 88th minute penalty goal.

Keith Galloway scored the opening try of the night when he crashed over in the 7th minute and it was converted by Benji Marshall who missed an earlier shot at penalty goal for the Tigers to lead 6-0.

The Tigers held onto the lead until the 25th minute with Joel Reddy swooping on a drop ball from Daniel Fitzhenry to race 30m for the try. Burt converted to level up the scores and the Eels were in again three minutes later as another error from the Tigers saw Tim Smith intercept a pass from Robbie Farah and runaway 60m to score under the posts. Burt added the extras and soon after landed a penalty goal as the Eels led 14-6 against the run of play.

Bronson Harrison got the visitors back into the match when he crashed over next to the posts after the Tigers got good field position following a mistake from Reddy. Marshall slotted over the two points with the Tigers trailing by two points at the break.

Parramatta extended their lead in the 58th minute when Feleti Mateo was on the spot to collect a well timed kick from Tim Smith. Burt was again spot on with the conversion attempt as the Eels were up by eight points heading into the final 20 minutes.

Marshall scored his opening try of the season in the 65th minute and he also converted his own try as Wests were back in the match once again heading into the final stages.

The Eels were penalised in front of the posts in the final two minutes as Brett Hodgson and Jason Moodie were taken out of play chasing a kick and Marshall kicked the penalty to send the match into Golden Point.

Referee Steve Clark penalised Dene Halatua with three minutes remaining in Golden Point for not marking square and Burt landed a pressure cooker 35m penalty goal to win the match for the Eels much to the relief of new coach Michael Hagan.

Wests coach Tim Sheens after the match said, "The two passes they picked up on to score tries gave them 12 points. That was the telling point. We were chasing our tails after that.

"I was pleased with the effort. I am pleased with the way the guys are coming along. The three losses will put us under a bit of pressure but if we continue to improve and play some good footy the way we have been playing, then I am happy as we are going forward."

Unfortuantely for the Tigers it was their 4th loss in as many attempts under the controversial Golden Point system.

Sheens added, "We certainly can't kick a field goal to save ourselves but we were trying from too far out anyway.

"We never really got into a good position to win the game in extra time. We were tired, they were tired. Their attempts at field goal were pretty ordinary as well.

"It just came down to a penalty and Burt kicked a good goal from 40 metres out. It was probably the way our luck was running on the night.

"We had chances to win the game and we blew it. We are only looking at ourselves there, not worrying about what happens in extra time.

"We gave ourselves the chance to win the game. Yeah, fine, but at the end of the day, we were the better side and we had our chances and we didn't take them. Simple as that."

Advanced Search