Steely Eels dash Eagles' finals hopes

v BYE

Parramatta have put another terrible week off the field behind them to put a huge dent in the Sea Eagles semi finals hopes, edging their way to a narrow 10-9 victory in front of 8,143 supporters at Pirtek Stadium tonight.

The win for the Eels snapped a four game winning streak for Manly who were starting to make a dangerous late season run towards the Top 8. The loss for the Sea Eagles now looks to put their slim finals hopes on life support as they now face teams all above them on the ladder in their remaining four matches.

Manly came into this match aiming to make it 5 wins in a row aiming to keep their late finals charge track, however the home side gave them a tough night right from the outset when a scuffle broke out between usual suspects in Eels lock Beau Scott and former Eel Darcy Lussick. Manly were given the penalty however from the ensuing hit up Lussick spilled the ball and was told all about it from Scott which set the tone early in the match.

It didn't take long for the home side to strike the first blow when a towering bomb from Eels half Jeff Robson was allowed to be taken cleanly by Parramatta centre Brad Takairangi who found electric rookie Bevan French who kicked for himself on the inside foot and pounced on the ball for a sensational try to start the game.

French very nearly had his second twelve minutes later when Jorge Taufua who was tested out early, left a kick to roll over the dead ball line, however speedster French pounced. The on field referee went upstairs and correctly ruled that French had knocked on.

Manly were struggling to take their chances close to the line, however just prior to halftime, hooker Apisau Koroisau managed to muscle his way over from dummy half to finally get the visitors on the scoreboard. Dylan Walker added the extras and scores were locked at 6 all heading into halftime.

A penalty against Tepai Moeroa minutes from halftime for hands in the ruck proved crucial when Sea Eagles half Daly Cherry-Evans nailed a field goal with seconds left in the first stanza to give the visitors the lead heading into the break.

Back to back penalties early in the second half saw the Eels put early pressure on the Manly defensive line and the home side looked to have made the Eels pay, when five eighth Clint Gutherson looked to have scored. Replays however, showed Eels centre Michael Jennings had interfered with the defensive line in the build up and the Video Ref denied the Eels an early second half lead. The Eels didn't have to wait long for another opportunity, when minutes later backrower Tepai Moeroa was collected high by Eagles prop Josh Starling and the Eels were awarded a penalty right in front of the posts. Michael Gordon took the points on offer and the Eels led 8-7 after 52 minutes.

In a see-sawing affair Manly hit back minutes later when Brad Takairangi was penalised for interference off the ball. Dylan Walker added the two points on offer and Manly regained the lead 9-7. The match continued to wrestle back and forth, when Eels winger Bevan French was nailed off the ball by Eagles enforcer Martin Taupau with just seven minutes remaining. Gordon again made no mistake, pushing the Eels ahead 10-9 with four minutes left.

The Eagles felt their season drifting away when they tried a short kickoff to no avail and when Eels centre Takairangi found the line on the last tackle from the ensuing set, the Eagles had one last chance to go length off the field but just lacked the execution to get past the Eels defensive line.

The loss sees Manly stay in 11th position and they will need to respond quickly when they travel to ANZ Stadium next Thursday night to face the Bulldogs.
Parramatta now travel to Brisbane where they will take on the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium next Friday night.