The Parramatta Eels held on for a 12-10 victory against a tough Wests Tigers outfit to post their third win in a season for the first time in club history.
The Eels were made to fight all the way against the Tigers at Campbelltown, with the home side pushing hard in search of their first win of the year.
Wests Tigers have been starting well in recent weeks and that trend continued, with the side earning the ball back straight from the kick off. They were also on the board first with a try to prop Christian Pio crashing over under the posts after a review from the Bunker in just the third minute.
Christian Pio Try
The Eels hit back through winger Monique Donovan after Tigers fullback Bo Vette-Welsh was unable to handle a high kick from Rachael Pearson, with the Indigenous All Stars representative at the right place at the right time to pick up the scraps and run in to score. Pearson kicked the conversion to lock up the scores 6-6.
Monique Donovan Try
The teams were pressuring each other into errors and no side was able to mount any significant pressure and the scores remained level at the halftime break.
The second half was characterised by strong and scrambling defence, with the two teams unable to break the deadlock.
Church makes a try-saving tackle
However, the Eels were able to pull in front when 25-gamer Kennedy Cherrington scored in the 56th minute, capitalising on a scrum they earned after a good kick-chase put pressure on the Tigers who coughed up the ball in their own 20. Pearson slotted the conversion for a 12-6 lead.
After both sides struggled to find the line earlier in the half, it did not take Wests Tigers long to respond, with winger Rebecca Pollard - who came into the game in place of the injured Harmony Crichton - going over on the right sideline to narrow the gap to 12-10 with seven and a half minutes remaining.
Rebecca Pollard Try
The pressure of the game then appeared to take hold, with both sides producing poor errors, but Eels skipper Mahalia Murphy made a successful captain's challenge after being penalised for a knock on, with the review finding the ball was stripped, giving the side back the ball and in turn, helping them secure possession and the win.
Next week, the Eels open Round 5 when they host the Knights at Eric Tweedale Stadium while Wests Tigers will host the Brisbane Broncos at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday.
Match: Wests Tigers v Eels
Round 4 -
home Team
Wests Tigers
10th Position
away Team
Eels
3rd Position
Venue: Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Sydney
Match Snapshot
- The Eels won their third game in a season for the first time in club history.
- At halftime, Wests Tigers had 47 percent of the ball with a completion rate of 15/19, while the Eels were 17/22.
- Eels forward Kennedy Cherrington played in her 25th NRLW game. As well as scoring a try, she also ran for a team high 182 metres.
- Parramatta halfback Rachael Pearson had two tries assists, while fullback Abbi Church was also strong with 173 metres run and four tackle breaks.
- For Wests Tigers, winger Tess Staines ran for 212 metres with a line break and five tackle breaks.
- Tafao Asaua made her NRLW debut and become Eel #60.
- Eels winger Monique Donovan scored six tries in her past nine games.
- Wests Tigers have lost 11 consecutive games.
Play of the Game
Tohi-Hiku and Church combine to save another try
What They Said
Wests Tigers
Wests Tigers: Round 4
Parramatta Eels
Eels: Round 4
