Round 13
Parramatta Eels 30 d. Canberra Raiders 12

2008 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Confident Eels make short work of Raiders
Mon June 9, 2008
Source: www.parraeels.com.au

The Pirtek Parramatta Eels have returned to the NRL winners circle with a tradesmanlike 30 points to 12 win over the Canberra Raiders at Parramatta Stadium.

In front of a long weekend crowd of 10,195, the Eels ran in five tries to two to take victory, with fullback Luke Burt and halfback Brett Finch each crossing twice.

Burt finished with 18 points for the match, adding five goals from six attempts, while five eighth Feleti Mateo was again instrumental in setting up the win, playing a leading hand as the Eels scored twice early in the second half to turn a four point buffer into a comfortable 16 point lead.

A try to Bronx Goodwin 20 minutes out from full time kept the Raiders in the hunt and the Eels on their toes, however the home side regained its composure, securing victory thanks in part to a typically gritty try to Finch eight minutes out from the siren.

The eventual 18 point win was notable also for the form of 19 year old winger Tony Williams, who marked his debut in the top grade with a number of blockbusting runs and one outstanding try saving tackle.

The Raiders opened the scoring after an absorbing opening quarter hour, winger David Milne slipping through Mateo's grasp before racing 15 metres to score.

Todd Carney then converted the Milne try for a six nil lead.

Eels leading try scorer Joel Reddy soon squared it up for the home side, grabbing a Finch cross field kick to touch down out wide.

Reddy's eighth try of the year was converted by Burt for a six-all score line after 18 minutes.

The Eels hit the lead just three minutes later, Mateo taking it to the line before somehow offloading to Burt who scored 12 metres to the left of the posts.

His conversion attempt went askew however the fullback had secured the Eels a four point buffer with a quarter of the match gone.

The score remained unchanged until the fifth minute of the second half, when Mark Riddell and Mateo combined in behind the ruck to see the five eighth into space.

From there a simple inside ball from Mateo to Finch was all that was required to see the halfback score beside the posts.

With Burt's conversion making it 16-6 the Eels had their tails up and soon after Mateo would once again weave his magic, resulting in an Eels try.

Getting the ball 30 metres out and with very little on Mateo stepped twice off his left foot before firing a blind right to left pass to Burt who sprinted in to score.

With their lead now out to 16 points the Eels were not allowed to relax, Goodwin scoring the Raiders second try off a clever kick in behind the defence from Carney.

The halfback converted from the sideline to ensure his side remained in the contest heading into the final twenty minutes of play.

A Burt penalty goal made the difference two converted tries with eleven minutes left on the clock, then Finch showed his determination by carrying three defenders over the line to score his second try soon after.

Burt added his fifth goal of the night to take the score along to 30 points to 12 in Parramatta's favour.

The win is Parramatta's fifth for the year and sees them move onto 14 competition points after 13 rounds.

Next week they take on the Wests Tigers at ANZ Stadium, the match kicking off at 3pm Sunday 15 June.

TELSTRA PREMIERSHIP
PIRTEK PARRAMATTA EELS 30
Tries: Luke Burt 2, Brett Finch 2, Joel Reddy
Goals: Luke Burt 5/6

CANBERRA 12
Tries: David Milne, Bronx Goodwin
Goals: Todd Carney 2/2

At Parramatta Stadium
Crowd: 10,195

Referee: Alan Shortall

EELS V RAIDERS - AS IT HAPPENED
14th Minute: The Raiders open the scoring through a try to winger David Milne. Todd Carney converts. Raiders 6-nil

17th Minute: Eels centre Joel Reddy scores his eighth try of the year. Luke Burt converts. 6-all.

21st Minute: Burt scores off a freakish offload from Feleti Mateo. He misses the conversion. Eels 10-6.

HALF TIME: EELS 10 RAIDERS 6

45th Minute: Brett Finch finishes off a 50 metre movement with a try beside the posts. Burt converts. Eels 16-6.

54th Minute: Burt goes in for his second try of the match. He then converts. Eels 22-6.

59th Minute: Bronx Goodwin touches down for the Raiders. Carney converts from the sideline. Eels 22-12.

69th Minute: Burt kicks a penalty goal. Eels 24-12.

72nd Minute: Finch scores his second try, carrying three defenders over the line with him. Burt converts. Eels 30-12.

FULL TIME: EELS 30 RAIDERS 12

News Source: www.parraeels.com.au


Williams to debut against Raiders, Grothe dropped
Tue June 3, 2008
Source: www.parraeels.com.au

19 year old Tony Williams will make his National Rugby League debut when the Pirtek Parramatta Eels take on the Canberra Raiders this Saturday night at Parramatta Stadium.

Williams, who at 193cm and 106kg has been a stand out in the Toyota Cup, has been selected on the wing in place of Eric Grothe.

"There are parts of Eric's game that we have asked him to work on and we feel we haven't seen the necessary improvement from him," Eels head coach Michael Hagan said.

"It is a shame for him that Wentworthville have the bye this week in the NSW Cup, but we hope that taking some time to think about things will bring the desired result.

"Tony Williams will make his debut and will no doubt benefit from having Taulima Tautai and Krisnan Inu in the backline with him, given he's played plenty of football with them in the past.

"We're looking forward to seeing how he handles the step up."

Daniel Wagon returns to the starting line up after missing the Broncos match for family reasons, while Weller Hauraki returns to the bench in place of Brendan Oake, who will miss one match after taking an early guilty plea on a striking charge.

Inu shifts to the centres in place of Jarryd Hayne, who will attempt to get a dangerous throw charge downgraded at the NRL Judiciary after being named in the NSW side for State of Origin two.

Tautai takes Inu's place on the wing.

Eels Toyota Cup head coach Matthew Cameron has made wholesale changes to his side for the clash with the Raiders, naming three new faces in the backline, making two positional changes, and welcoming Marty Lewis and David Baumann back from suspension and injury respectively.

Gone from the side that lost 32-6 to the Broncos are Justin Hunt, Domenic Nasso and Taputoa Rea, while Fareni Moefaauo, Jay Heming and Nathan Gardner come into the backline.

Joel Latham takes the place of cousin Luke in the second row, where he will partner Baumann, with Lewis returning at lock.

John Mannah will also return from injury in jersey number 17.

Gates open at 5.05pm on Saturday, with Toyota Cup kicking off at 5.15 and First Grade at 7.30.

PIRTEK PARRAMATTA EELS
TELSTRA PREMIERSHIP
V RAIDERS
PARRAMATTA STADIUM
SATURDAY 7 JUNE 2008
7:30PM

1. Luke Burt
2. Taulima Tautai
3. Krisnan Inu
4. Joel Reddy
5. Tony Williams
6. Feleti Mateo
7. Brett Finch
8. Nathan Cayless [c]
9. Mark Riddell
10. Fuifui Moimoi
11. Nathan Hindmarsh
12. Daniel Wagon
13. Chad Robinson

Subs:
14. Matthew Keating
15. Josh Cordoba
16. Weller Hauraki
17. Junior Paulo

Coach: Michael Hagan

PIRTEK PARRAMATTA EELS
TOYOTA CUP
V RAIDERS
PARRAMATTA STADIUM
SATURDAY 7 JUNE 2008
5:15PM

1. Mase Laulu Togagae
2. Fareni Moefaauo
3. Taniela Lasalo
4. Jay Heming
5. Nathan Gardner
6. Kristopher Keating [c]
7. Daniel Mortimer
8. Tim Robinson
9. Anthony Mitchell
10. Joe Mataele
11. Joel Latham
12. David Baumann
13. Martin Lewis

Subs:
14. Luke Mottinelli
15. Jason Baitieri
16. Luke Latham
17. Jonathon Mannah

Coach: Matt Cameron

News Source: www.parraeels.com.au

Tue June 3, 2008
• Monaghan on standby for NSW
  

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