Match Report: NSW Cup Round 11 vs Eels

A Magpies error from the kick-off handed Paramatta the first points of the match, after Ethyn Martin latched onto a loose ball to cross for the opening try.

A penalty in the ensuing set then piggybacked the blue and gold into prime attacking territory, resulting in consecutive four pointers.

Morgan Harper was given early ball down the short side, where he stepped and muscled his way through defenders for their second try in five minutes.

Wests maintained pressure for the next 15 minutes, and their persistence paid off through some precision passing.

Rueben Porter’s silky short ball put Kit Laulilii into open space before he found James Valevatu in support. The hooker then linked with fullback Curtis Wilson to streak past his opposite number and cross for their first try.

Harper’s quick thinking helped extend Parramatta’s lead in the 29th minute. The centre slid a deft grubber kick in behind the defence for Isaac Lumelume to get his hands on the ball first.

On the stroke of half-time, the Eels young halves pairing combined to further punish the Magpies.

Ethan Sanders ran the ball on the last tackle and threw an inside ball to put Joshua Lynn away. He then backed up on the inside to score and convert his try to stretch the lead to 20-4 heading into the sheds.

The Magpies were first to open the scoring in the second stanza courtesy of some hot potato and Parramatta’s inability to contain the offloading ball. Sione Vaihu powered past Joshua Lynn to charge over and reduce the deficit to 20-8.

Parramatta responded in the 56th minute, with Sanders delivering the final pass with a short ball to Matt Doorey who couldn’t be stopped close to the line.

The pair linked up again in the 63rd minute, as Sanders broke into the backfield and presented a supporting Doorey to score his second under the sticks.

Brock Parker joined the scorer’s list in the 69th minute with another runaway try thanks to some neat footwork through the ruck from interchange dummy-half Meni Luke.

A try-saver from Magpies’ Josh Feledy prevented more pain being inflicted on the black and white, before Alex Lobb raced 90 metres downfield to secure a late consolation try.

Match report courtesy of NSWRL