Eels defence holds out Dragons

The Parramatta Eels have put together their best defensive performance of the season, on their way to defeating the St George Illawarra Dragons 18-12 at Pirtek Stadium this evening.

The Dragons opened the scoring in their first set with the ball in hand. A brilliant Benji Marshall kick on the fourth caught the Eels' outside backs sleeping, and Euan Aitken managed to get to the loose ball and dive over the tryline. The on field referees sent the decision upstairs, wanting to check the grounding, but the try was awarded. Gareth Widdop added the extras, and it looked liked the Dragons were on fire.

That was, until the Dragons dropped the ball cold, straight after the kickoff. From the resulting changeover, the Eels took only two plays to send the ball out to the left of the field for Semi Radradra to cross in the corner. Chris Sandow, who was having one of his good days with the boot, converted the try from the sideline.

The scores remained locked at 6 all until the 31st minute, when a careless high tackle on Craig Garvey saw the Dragons get a penalty only 15 metres out from the Eels' line. In a strange decision, and despite three back-to-back attacking sets, the Dragons opted for the penalty goal. Widdop potted it easily, and the Dragons took the lead again, 8-6.

Leading into half time the Eels began to look tired. The Dragons picked up a spring in their step thanks to the lead, while the Eels, who had been forced to do a lot of extra defending, were dragging their feet. The Eels managed to hold on until the break, with the half time score remaining 8-6.

The second half was a different story. Tries to Semi Radradra in the 44th and 61st minutes took the game away from the Dragons somewhat. A try to Eto Nabuli in the 67th minute gave the Dragons a sniff, taking the score to 16-12. For a ten minute period at the end of the game, the Dragons attacked the Eels mercilessly, with Widdop, Dugan and Marshall all attempting to pull off the match winner.

But it was too little, too late. The Eels defence held strong, as they clung to their four point lead until the final whistle.

The Dragons will take on the Cowboys next week at WIN Stadium, while the Eels meet the Wests Tigers at ANZ Stadium next Monday night.

Match Details

Parramatta Eels 16 St. George Illawarra Dragons 12
Venue: Pirtek Stadium
Crowd: 15046
Halftime Score: Parramatta Eels 6 St. George Illawarra Dragons 8

PARRAMATTA EELS (16)
Tries: Semi Radradra (3)
Conversions: Chris Sandow (2/3)

ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (12)
Tries: Euan Aitken, Eto Nabuli
Conversions: Gareth Widdop (1/2)
Penalty Goals: Gareth Widdop (1/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Semi Radradra
2 points - Josh Dugan
1 point - William Hopoate

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Welcome to Pirtek Stadium this evening for what is shaping up to be an exciting clash between the Eels and the Dragons.

Some big changes for the St George Illawarra Dragons. Second rower Joel Thompson will play, after overcoming a knee injury. His inclusion pushes Will Matthews to the interchange bench. Jason Nightingale is out with an ankle injury, replaced by Eto Nabuli. Heath L'Estrange will start at hooker, replacing the suspended Mitch Rein. Craig Garvey will also take a spot on the bench to replace Jack de Belin, who was ruled out with an infection.

In a boost for the Eels, Anthony Watmough is a late inclusion, and will start the game. This sends Danny Wicks back to the bench, with Daniel Alvaro the man to drop off the interchange.

Just a minute away from kick off. The Dragons take the field at Pirtek Stadium to a chorus of boos. The Eels reception is much warmer, as was to be expected.

And we're underway The Dragons kick off and Tim Mannah takes the first carry.

1: Sandow kicks on the last, and it's a particularly shallow kick. The Dragons start their set from 30 out from their own line.

2: And the Dragons have possibly scored on their first set! We're just checking the grounding, but a brilliant kick from Benji Marshall on the fourth catches the Eels napping, and the Dragons look to have scored on the right side of the field.

2: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Euan Aitken. Kick to come.
And it's a try! The on field referee ruled try, and the video referee did not have sufficient evidence to overturn the decision, despite it looking like a knock on.

2: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop successful.
Widdop converts.

3: The Dragons have lost the ball in the first set after the try. Great opportunity for the Eels.

4: TRY PARRAMATTA EELS
Scored by Semi Radradra. Kick to come.
And it only took 2 plays. The Eels spread the ball to the left of the field quickly, and Semi Radradra crosses in the corner.

5: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PARRAMATTA EELS
Conversion attempt by Chris Sandow successful.
Sandow lines up the conversion attempt, and puts it straight over the black dot from the sideline.

6: On the Eels first set after the try, the Dragons are penalised, and the Eels get piggy backed down field.

7: The Eels send the ball down the right side of the field. Hopoate put Morgan in a little bit of space down the right edge, but he steps on the white sideline.

10: The Eels attempt a play down the left edge this time, but the Dragons defence push Luke Kelly out over the sideline.

11: Anthony Watmough and Ben Creagh showing a little bit of heat now. Watmough came in late into the tackle and gave Creagh a bit of unnecessary attention around his head. Watmough is on report for the contact.

12: The Dragons look to have scored, and we're going to the video referee. The on field referee thinks it's a no try, and just wants to check a possible obstruction.

13: Nope - NO TRY. Chris Sandow milked that heavily - taking a massive dive after being taken out by a Dragons runner. The Eels get a penalty.

13: The Eels kick for the corner on the last, but Dylan Farrell cleans it up, diving over the line to get back in the field of play. On the next play the Dragons get a penalty, and help themselves to another 20 metres.

14: But Widdop has knocked the ball on two plays later. He took a look before he had the ball in his hands, and the Eels will get yet another set started in the Dragons' half.

18: Play travelling back and forward down the field a little more freely now.

19: Marshall's kicking game has been on song so far in this game. He's put two kicks in that either led to tries or big opportunities, and his last kick forced Semi Radradra to play the ball from deep in his own in-goal.

19: The Eels traveled 100 metres on that set, with the Dragons forced to bring the ball out from their own end.

20: But Ryan Morgan is penalised, and the Dragons improve their field position after kicking for touch.

20: Mike Cooper tried an offload that really wasn't necessary there, and Heath L'Estrange pays the price, knocking the ball on.

22: The Eels kick short on the last, and Gareth Widdop plays at the ball and sends it over the sideline. Parramatta will get a scrum feed from 15 metres out.

23: And now Dylan Farrell flogs Corey Norman into the ground, and Norman loses the ball. Big let off for the Dragons.

24: Marshall has changed tactic now, bombing Corey Norman on the last. Norman is up to the task.

26: The Eels are penalised now, this time for being inside the ten. That's the third penalty of the day that has piggy-backed the Dragons out of trouble.

28: On the last, Craig Garvey dummied and went himself of dummy half, and it was only a desperate tackle from Tepai Moeroa that prevented him scoring a try just under the posts.

30: The Dragons have forced the Eels into a line drop out.

31: The Dragons seem to have a bit of a spring in their step now. Garvey has another crack himself, and is collared high in a careless tackle. They'll get a new set with which to attack the Eels.

31: Never mind. They've opted for the penalty goal.

31: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Penalty goal attempt by Gareth Widdop successful.
Widdop makes no mistake with the penalty goal, and the Dragons now lead by 2.

31: The Eels are starting to look tired now, while the Dragons are looking lifted by their recent string of possession.

34: The Eels send the ball out to the right, and Ryan Morgan opts to take on 5 defenders at once. He almost gets there, but is pulled down just short.

35: And on the very next play, Luke Kelly kicks a grubbed, which ricochets off Merrin's legs back to Kelly. He then throws a dummy and then heads for the tryline. Joel Thompson looks to have done a brilliant job of getting under the ball, so the video referee has sent it upstairs for a closer look.

35: It's NO TRY. The referees have agreed that Thompson has prevented the try, despite Kelly getting up carrying on like he had scored.

38: A few plays later, Morgan sprints down the right side of the field, but is taken down... just. On the last, the Eels kick high looking for Semi Radradra. Takairangi jumps and pulls the ball back down but it goes loose. Benji Marshall goes for the ball, but knocks it on, so the Eels will get a new set heavily on attack.

39: Wasn't to be. The Eels absolutely wasted that opportunity, losing the ball after only two tackles, and the Dragons will work the ball away from their line.

39: Big deflection from the Dragons' kick on the last. It runs down field towards the Dragons' line, but Widdop cleans it up and flicks it on to Dugan.

40: And that's half time. After two tries in the first four minutes, we haven't seen a single try since. The Dragons head to the break leading by two points, thanks to a penalty goal from Widdop in the 31st minute, but the Eels definitely aren't out of the race. Discipline and handling has been an issue for both sides so far in this match.

40: We're back underway in the second half.

43: Semi Radradra is tackled heavily, and looks to have hit got his head caught in an awkward position. He's on his feet, but he looks a little dusty.

44: Wow! Semi obviously isn't feeling too many effects after that hit! He looks to have just scored his second try! We're going to the video referee, but we're just checking the grounding and a possible obstruction.

44: TRY PARRAMATTA EELS
Scored by Semi Radradra. Kick to come.
It's a TRY! The Eels run a nice little block play, and the send the ball left, where it finds the hands of Semi Radradra. Radradra dives for the line, and plants the ball just before going out over the sideline. Great stuff.

44: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PARRAMATTA EELS
Conversion attempt by Chris Sandow successful.
Sandow attempts the conversion from much the same place as the last, and does the exact same thing - straight over the black dot!

46: A good set from the Eels after the try, but they ruin it in the next set with a penalty early in the Dragons' next set. Yet another piggy back.

48: On the last, the Dragons send the ball out to the left, opting to run instead of kick, and look to have scored. Unfortunately the last pass from Benji Marshall was forward, and it's a turn over.

51: The Dragons try to spread the ball, but the Eels knock it down. The Dragons will get a scrum feed 40 metres out from the Eels' line.

52: The Dragons are working the left side of the field heavily at the moment, with both playmakers and Josh Dugan all camped out to the left. On the last, the Dragons kick, but Sandow gets a boot to it and kicks it forward. He then kicks it twice more, before the Dragons get back to dive on the loose ball. They'll get another set, but they've lost almost 60 metres.

53: And now it's the Eels turn to get a penalty within their own half, as the Dragons all line up offside.

55: Josh Dugan puts on a big right foot step, and Pauli Pauli throws a lazy arm out and clips him high. The Dragons get the penalty.

58: The Dragons work their way down field, before Benji Marshall grubbers into the in goal. Both Corey Norman and Josh Dugan chase it, but it dribbles over the dead ball line. The referee directs the Eels to a line dropout, despite Corey Norman's protests that he didn't touch the ball.

59: We're now going to the video referee again, this time for a possible Dragons' try. The Dragons kick to the right edge, and Dylan Farrell bats it into the field of play for Euan Aitken to scoop it up and dive over the line. The sideline official thinks the ball has gone forward from the bat back.

60: And it's NO TRY! Euan Aitken can't believe it. The video referee didn't have sufficient evidence to overturn the on field referee's adjudication that the ball had traveled forward.

60: Two plays after the resulting scrum, the Eels get a penalty for a dangerous tackle.

61: TRY PARRAMATTA EELS
Scored by Semi Radradra. Kick to come.
Brad Takairangi finds himself in a little space, draws, and then passes the ball one-handed out to Semi Radradra for big Semi to dive over for his third.

62: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PARRAMATTA EELS
Conversion attempt by Chris Sandow unsuccessful.
Sandow, with his third conversion from the same spot on the sideline, hits the upright.

64: Benhi Marshall grubbers in behind the line, regathers, and finds himself in some open space. The defenders get to him, and he throws a reverse flick backwards looking for his support, but the ball travels forward.

65: Josh Dugan makes a big break down the right side of the field, before being dragged down.

67: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Eto Nabuli. Kick to come.
And Nabuli reaps the rewards! From Dugan's break, the Dragons send the ball out to the far left of the field, and some quick passing sees Nabuli stroll over almost untouched.

68: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop unsuccessful.
Widdop is unsucessful with the conversion attempt.

69: The Eels on attack now. The play has opened up a lot in the past 5 minutes.

70: The Eels kick high on the last, but there's no pressure or kick chase to speak of.

72: Yet another penalty inside the Dragons' red zone. That's the 8th time the Dragons have been helped out of their own half by the Eels' poor discipline.

73: The Eels are penalised again, this time for carrying an Dragons' player out over the sideline. That could prove to be a crucial penalty.

75: The Dragons get a repeat set, and will attack from within the Eels' ten metre zone.

76: The ball gets sent left, and Mata'utia looks a sure thing to score, but the Eels defence is amazing.

77: The Eels' defence manages to hold on, successfully keeping the Dragons out for three sets in a row.

77: Less than three minutes left, and the Dragons need a converted try to win the game.

78: Marshall attempts some magic on the last, but his long pass goes out over the sideline.

78: Eto Nabuli launches himself into the defensive line, trying to spark something for his side.

78: Widdop runs down the right edge, but his pass is a shocker, and the ball goes out over the sideline.

80: And the Eels have done it! Some incredible defence in the last ten minutes has seen the Eels cling to a narrow margin, and defeat the Dragons 16-12.