Match Report: Round 6 vs Eels

The hosts put together their best attacking performance of the season, but three first half tries off kicks enabled Brad Arthur’s side to build a winning lead.

Wests Tigers elected not to take an early two points after dominating the first ten minutes of the match, but were unable to convert that momentum into points.

Instead, Dylan Brown collected a Mitchell Moses kick at the other end of the field and offloaded to Clint Gutherson for the first points of the contest.

Moses then found Will Penisini with a grubber kick on the following set to double the visitors’ lead.

Starford To’a injected energy into the home crowd by snatching a wayward pass and running the length of the field to score Wests Tigers’ first try of the afternoon.

However, his effort was quickly erased as Mitchell Moses collected his second try assist with a grubber kick for Bryce Cartright.

With that try, the Eels entered the sheds leading 18-6.

After the break, Parramatta took advantage of a fortunate bounce from a botched charge down to score first, with Maika Sivo diving over in the left corner.

Wests Tigers quickly hit back as a spiral pass from Luke Brooks sparked a left side raid, leading to a try for Asu Kepaoa.

A Junior Tupou line break then created the numbers for Brent Naden to score on the right touchline, cutting the lead to six with fifteen minutes to play. 

Wests Tigers suffered a late blow with Adam Doueihi sustaining a knee injury that forced the five-eighth from the field.

Undeterred by the loss of their fellow playmaker, Luke Brooks and Charlie Staines combined to send Junior Tupou over the line.

With Doueihi off the park, the home side was forced to resort to alternative goal kicking options and skipper Api Koroisau was unable to level the scores.

A try to Maika Sivo extended Parramatta’s lead to eight points, but Luke Brooks quickly brought his team back within a converted try by slotting a penalty goal.

However, Wests Tigers were unable to land one final blow with the Eels holding on for their second victory of the year.

Junior Tupou was a standout for Wests Tigers, with the young winger posting one try, one try assist and 221 running metres.

Tim Sheens’ men will now enjoy a week off with the bye as they look to reset and kickstart their season.