Oracle of Delphi
Arnold
Craig HillFinch field goal sinks Dragons
May 11th 2008 07:30
A 74th minute Brett Finch field goal has seen the Parramatta Eels complete a thrilling 19-18 victory over a fast finishing St George-Illawarra Dragons at ANZ Stadium this afternoon.
With the Eels holding a slight 18-12 advantage heading into the final ten minutes of play, the crafty Parramatta halfback calmly slotted the crucial one-pointer to hand the Eels back-to-back victories for the first time this season.
In an entertaining encounter full of big hits and enterprising attacking raids, the Eels led from start to finish, relegating the inconsistent Dragons to 13th position after nine rounds of the competition.
It was a spectacular backline movement that allowed the Eels to post the opening four-pointer, with Parramatta fullback Luke Burt chiming in to create an overlap to put robust winger Eric Grothe over in the corner.
Burt capped off the exciting movement with an equally brilliant sideline conversion to hand the Eels a 6-0 lead in just the 8th minute.
The match settled down into an old fashioned arm wrestle, with both sets of froward packs exciting the large Mother’s Day crowd with some big hits and brutal defence.
Then, after having a try denied by video referee Steve Clark less than a minute earlier, the Dragons found themselves even further disappointed when Burt crossed for a converted try off a neat Nathan Hindmarsh pass to make it 12-0 after 34 minutes.
A spectacular try to Dragons winger Chase Stanley finally got the visitor’s on the board, the young flanker the recipient of a trademark Mark Gasnier flick pass to crash over in the corner ,with Jamie Soward’s conversion making it 12-6 at half-time.
After displaying some courageous last gasp, scrambling defence to deny the Dragons two certain four-pointers, the Eels were able to extend their lead in the 54th minute with a well worked team try to centre Jarryd Hayne.
With the Eels halves beginning to find a bit of space, it was a double pump by Finch that put Mateo into a gap, with the skilful number six completing the simple draw and pass to provide Hayne an interrupted run to the line.
However, the Dragons didn’t throw in the towel, and were rewarded in the 60th minute with a converted try to winger Jason Nightingale, the Kiwi representative the recipient of a great long ball from Matt Cooper to run away and score.
But it was Finches field goal that eventually secured the vital two competition points for the Eels, with Cooper rewarded for a solid game with a 79th minute consolation try.
Parramatta Eels 19
Tries: Eric Grothe, Luke Burt, Jarryd Hayne
Goals: Luke Burt 3, Brett Finch field goal
defeated
St George-Illawarra Dragons 18
Tries: Chase Stanley, Jason Nightingale, Matt Cooper
Goals: Jamie Soward 3
At ANZ Stadium
Referee – Sean Hampstead
With the Eels holding a slight 18-12 advantage heading into the final ten minutes of play, the crafty Parramatta halfback calmly slotted the crucial one-pointer to hand the Eels back-to-back victories for the first time this season.
In an entertaining encounter full of big hits and enterprising attacking raids, the Eels led from start to finish, relegating the inconsistent Dragons to 13th position after nine rounds of the competition.
It was a spectacular backline movement that allowed the Eels to post the opening four-pointer, with Parramatta fullback Luke Burt chiming in to create an overlap to put robust winger Eric Grothe over in the corner.
Burt capped off the exciting movement with an equally brilliant sideline conversion to hand the Eels a 6-0 lead in just the 8th minute.
The match settled down into an old fashioned arm wrestle, with both sets of froward packs exciting the large Mother’s Day crowd with some big hits and brutal defence.
Then, after having a try denied by video referee Steve Clark less than a minute earlier, the Dragons found themselves even further disappointed when Burt crossed for a converted try off a neat Nathan Hindmarsh pass to make it 12-0 after 34 minutes.
A spectacular try to Dragons winger Chase Stanley finally got the visitor’s on the board, the young flanker the recipient of a trademark Mark Gasnier flick pass to crash over in the corner ,with Jamie Soward’s conversion making it 12-6 at half-time.
After displaying some courageous last gasp, scrambling defence to deny the Dragons two certain four-pointers, the Eels were able to extend their lead in the 54th minute with a well worked team try to centre Jarryd Hayne.
With the Eels halves beginning to find a bit of space, it was a double pump by Finch that put Mateo into a gap, with the skilful number six completing the simple draw and pass to provide Hayne an interrupted run to the line.
However, the Dragons didn’t throw in the towel, and were rewarded in the 60th minute with a converted try to winger Jason Nightingale, the Kiwi representative the recipient of a great long ball from Matt Cooper to run away and score.
But it was Finches field goal that eventually secured the vital two competition points for the Eels, with Cooper rewarded for a solid game with a 79th minute consolation try.
Parramatta Eels 19
Tries: Eric Grothe, Luke Burt, Jarryd Hayne
Goals: Luke Burt 3, Brett Finch field goal
defeated
St George-Illawarra Dragons 18
Tries: Chase Stanley, Jason Nightingale, Matt Cooper
Goals: Jamie Soward 3
At ANZ Stadium
Referee – Sean Hampstead
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