Match Report: Spoon likely as Eels fall to Titans

Parramatta look almost certain to finish with the 2012 wooden spoon after lapses of concentration again sunk their hopes against the Titans, with the Gold Coast prevailing 24 to 16.

The Eels started the match brightly and on a number of ocasions looks liked bringing up the first points. After sustained pressure, Cheyse Blair leapt high and took the ball AFL style above the pack but then spilt it trying to get it down. Jake Mullaney was particulary busy and he was on the end of a smart bit of short passing between himself, Fuifui Moimoi and Chris Sandow, and then later was just dragged into touching after demonstrating his pace on a wrap-around play. But for all that the Eels could come up with no points and instead the Titans took advantage of some lazy defence and cut through the Parramatta line before William Zillman backed up to score.

That said, Parramata’s defence was mostly pretty good throughout the first half. There were only two real lapses and unfortunately they both resulted in tries. On the second, Joseph Paulo failed to react on his goal-line and Nate Myles scored the simplest of tries. A penalty goal pushed the score out to 14 and despite not having played that badly, it looked like the Eels were going to be up against it.

However as the half-time siren readied to sound, Ben Roberts decided to chance his hand down the blindside and Ryan Morgan came up with a smart short pass that put Luke Burt over in the corner. Burt couldn’t convert his own try but at least the Eels were back within two converted tries as they went into the break.

The start of the second half was a sloppy affair, but after 15 minutes a strong Luke Burt run saw Fuifui Moimoi take advantage of a broken defensive line crashing through defenders before off-loading to Chris Sandow who streaked downfield to score and make it 14 to 10.

Now trailing by just four, the Eels needed to take advantage of the momentum they had, but instead the Titans steadied and Steve Michaels scored from a relatively simple backline movement. A few minutes later the Titans were in again when Kevin Gordon snatched a bomb from the grasp of Ken Sio and the Gold Coast had the match well in their keeping at 24 to 10.

Taniela Lasalo was handed a consolation try after another short-side play saw Ken Sio do some great work before off-loading to his backrower, but it was too little too late from the Eels who probably need to win both of their remaining matches if they’re too avoid the Spoon.

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  • but to be fair that was not a try

  • But it was stripped.

    •  You are right, it was stripped, but a defender is allowed to strip the ball from an attacking player if he is in the process or attempting to score a try.

       In saying this, the no-try decision was 100% correct. The only player that propelled the ball towards there oppositions try line was Fui.

  • Nobody wanted to chase the bloody kicks! 

  • The old game of inches..

  • If parra had a decent chace would of scored when titans passed the ball on goal line then titans dont score moimoi try im sure part of the ball was on the line should of been benifit of dought coudnt say it wasnt
  • since when has the nrl been about consistent refereeing?

  • 21/34 completion rate. No one can win with that.
  • Looks like our 20's..might get the same prize.....

  • i think if a team is on the bottom of the ladder and a team is on the verge of the final 8 i think refs and video refs get worried about the 50/50 calls,worried of the repacations.big eels man.shits me.

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