Eels farewell Parramatta Stadium with convincing win

v BYE

The Parramatta Eels said farewell to Parramatta Stadium in the best possible way as they posted a confidence boosting 12 point win over the St George Illawarra Dragons in the final ever game of Monday Night Football winning 30-18. 

Bevan French was a highlight for the home side as the fullback scored a hat-trick and his teammates Brad Takairangi and Michael Gordon also impressed. The Dragons were second best for the majority of the night and once they fell behind early in the second half they could never recover.

The first half got off to a slow start as both teams tried to work themselves into the game but it wasn't until the 17th minute did the Eels finally convert some good attacking pressure into points as Semi Radradra got free on the wing and offloaded to Bevan French who scored the first of his three tries. The Dragons had barely any attacking play in the first half with the home side keeping them locked in their own end. Parramatta extended their lead when Edwards was held down in the tackle and then sprung up quickly to his feet taking the quick tap and scoring untouched under the posts putting the lead out to 12-0. Hutchison finally converted some late attack by the Dragons in the 38th minute diving over just before half time to see the teams head to the sheds at 12-6;

The 2nd half began with the Eels getting back on top and they extended their lead on the 50th minute as Gutherson poked his nose through the line and offloaded to the energetic fullback French to score his 2nd try of the evening. The match was then all but decided in the 60th minute as man of the match Brad Takairangi made some space for himself on the wing and kicked back in field putting the ball right on the chest of French who scored untouched to post a great hat-trick. The night got better for the home side with Takairangi again assisting a try as he kicked into the in goal for Gordon to score in the 67th minute to wrap up the win for the Eels.

The Dragons were able to score a couple of late consolation tries through their winger Kurt Mann who first ran onto a Lafai flick pass to score in the corner in the 75th minute then in the 77th minute he caught a Widdop cross field bomb to double his tally and get the scoreline back to a respectable 30 points to 18 and that is where the scoreline stayed at the siren.

There were positive signs for a Parramatta side whose off-field issues are well documented and they will finish the season with a respectable record despite their salary cap punishments. It was all bad news for the Dragons though as their attack was limp once again and their problems off-field including fan unrest have plagued their on-field results.

But tonight was all about the Eels who got a well deserved win and sent out their spiritual home ground with a win and also they are now able to say that they won the last ever Monday night rugby league match.

The Dragons will farewell the season when they host Newcastle this coming Saturday at Kogarah, while the Eels are off for one last hurrah in a horror season when they face the Warriors in Auckland on Sunday.