Report: Jersey Flegg Cup Round 2 vs Eels

In a thriller at New Era Stadium, Cabramatta, the contest ebbed and flowed, before a 69th-minute try to Will Craig proved the match-winner.

Max Liles produced an impressive solo try to open the scoring, as the halfback grubbered through the line and regathered under the posts.

A scrum play delivered Wests Tigers’ next four-pointer, with Iverson Matai and Tino Tavana combining to send Will Craig over from about 15 m out.

Eels halfback Matthew Hunter provided the home side’s first points of the match when he dummied his way to the line, and the No. 7 turned provider just minutes later.

Hunter put Domenico De Stradis through a gap to score and give Parramatta the lead for the first time at 12-10.

De Stradis scored in almost identical fashion three minutes later, with Hunter again sending his second-rower through a big gap in the Wests Tigers defence.

The Eels led 16-10 at half-time and extended their lead after 52 minutes when Apa Twidle displayed exceptional improvisation to grubber for himself and score when the initial last-tackle play broke down.

The Wests Tigers’ damaging left-edge combination of Mitch Taotua and Solo Saukuru put Jack Piccirilli over to give the visitors hope of a comeback, and they went back-to-back when Heith Pritchard grubbered out of dummy half for Iverson Matai to touch down.

The 22-all deadlock was broken in the 68th minute when some silky hands from Lachlan Broederlow allowed Max Taotua to race down the right side, draw the fullback and put Will Craig over to score his second.

Craig’s try proved to be the final score of the afternoon, with Wests Tigers holding on to secure a 26-22 victory in Round 2.

Wests Tigers 26 (Craig 2, Liles, Piccirilli, Matai tries; Piccirilli 2/3 goals, Tavana 1/2 goals) defeated Eels 22 (D. De Stradis 2, Hunter, Twidle tries; Hunter 3/4 goals) at New Era Stadium.