Burt so good as Hindmarsh celebrates Happy 266th

Most pre-match media was centered around Parramatta's poor 2010 form and Nathan Hindmarsh's record 266th appearance for the blue and gold. As a result the under-pressure Eels did enough to get the 2 competition points, showing fleeting glimpses of their late 2009 form to defeat the South Sydney Rabbitohs 22 points to 8 in a dour and sometimes embarrassing affair in front of 25152 fans at ANZ Stadium.

In a match that didn't reach any great heights, the Rabbitohs got away to a great start and led 8-0 after tries to Fetuli Talanoa and Colin Best. Both teams went back and forth, dropping balls and giving away penalties for much of the remainder of the first half. It wasn't until after the halftime siren had sounded that the Eels got on the scoreboard through a Luke Burt penalty goal.

Whatever coach Daniel Anderson said to his team at halftime appeared to have worked, the Eels running in their first four pointer five minutes after the break, Timana Tahu scoring after great lead up work by impressive rookie Justin Horo, and from there it was the Luke Burt show as he added the extras to tie the match up at 8 all. Burt then stepped up to convert an easy penalty shot, then featured in the play of the match, chasing down field what seemed to be a standard clearing kick, beating Rhys Wesser to the ball to score, then convert his own try to send the Eels eight points clear and from there the result never really looked under threat.

Both sides lost a player each to questionable sin-binnings, but that didn't appear to have any effect on either team. In the 72nd minute Daniel Mortimer scored close to the posts to ensure the Eels would get their second victory of the season. Burt again stepped forward for an easy shot at conversion, finishing with a personal haul of 14 points, and League Unlimited Man of the Match honours.

Next week the Eels fly north to face North Queensland on Friday night, while the Bunnies go to Canberra to meet the Raiders on Anzac Day afternoon.

Match Details
Parramatta Eels 22 defeated South Sydney Rabbitohs 8
National Rugby League - NRL - Round 6 - Sunday April 18, 2010 3:00pm
Venue: ANZ Stadium
Referee: Ben Cummins and Gerard Sutton
Video Referee: Sean Hampstead
Touch Judges: Steve Carrall and Grant Atkins
Crowd: 25152
Halftime: Parramatta Eels 2 South Sydney Rabbitohs 8

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Luke Burt (1 Try, 3 Conversions, 2 Penalty Goals)
2 Points - Timana Tahu (1 Try)
1 Point - Nathan Hindmarsh

PARRAMATTA EELS (22)
Tries: Luke Burt, Timana Tahu, Daniel Mortimer
Conversions: Luke Burt (3/3)
Penalty Goals: Luke Burt (2/2)

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (8)
Tries: Colin Best, Fetuli Talanoa
Conversions: Issac Luke (0/2)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Welcome to the League Unlimited Live Update of the Round 6 clash between the Parramatta Eels and the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

LATE CHANGES
-------------------------
Eels: Brendan Oake - OUT ~ Justin Horo - IN

Souths: Roy Asotasi, Michael Crocker - OUT ~ Luke Capewell, Jamie Simpson - IN This update is also available via eelsunlimited.com - the League Unlimited site dedicated to the Parramatta Eels
Nathan Hindmarsh leads the Eels onto the field in his 266th first grade appearance, breaking the record held previously by the great Brett Kenny
1 min: KICK OFF - Luke Burt kicks off and we are underway
2 min: Souths drop the ball in their first set, Eels on the attack
3 min: Moimoi passes from the ground while tackled, penalty to Souths, pressure off
4 min: TRY
Souths work the ball wide, achieving an overlap which results in a try to Fetuli Talanoa
South Sydney Rabbitohs 4-0
7 min: A mistake riddled first few sets by both sides
10 min: Moimoi puts a big hit on Scott Geddes, jarring the ball loose, giving Parramatta another chance to score
11 min: A grubber into the in-goal area by Daniel Mortimer is too big and Souths are again let off the hook. Parramatta have had a number of early chances but poor execution seems to be letting them down
12 min: The Eels drop the ball cold, what a sloppy start to an NRL match. Both coaches will be either grey or bald by the 80th minute if this keeps up
14 min: Hayne knocks on whilst on the attack, both teams appear to be dry on cofidence
16 min: Kris Keating pumps the ball down field to Wesser who throws an obvious forward pass to his winger Merritt. Parramatta on the attack
17 min: Tackle 1 and Tahu knocks on, then compounded by a penalty against Hindmarsh. Oh dear
19 min: Hayne scoops up the deflected ball on his own tryline and is dragged back into his own in-goal. Eels to drop-out from under their posts
20 min: Justin Poore comes on for Moimoi
22 min: TRY
Too many errors by the Eels, Sutton gets the ball out wide to Colin Best who stampedes over Krisnan Inu to score
South Sydney Rabbitohs 8-0
25 min: The Eels put up the bomb but Timana Tahu is ruled offside, penalty to Souths. They spread it wide but drop it cold
27 min: Tim Mannah is stopped a metre short on the last tackle, turnover to Souths
29 min: Another penalty to the Eels for a Souths obstruction. The only thing saving the Eels are mistakes by the Bunnies, they appear to be on the rack here, waiting to be put out of their misery
31 min: Timana Tahu tries to inspire his side by putting a shot on Sam Burgess. The ball comes loose and the Eels come away with it
36 min: Penalty to Parramatta for Taylor being offside, the Eels however have failed to find touch, almost completing every single error in the rugby league play book
38 min: The ball is knocked dead by Souths, resulting in a drop-out. The Eels have one last chance to put something on the board before halftime
40 min: PENALTY GOAL
Souths are penalised for being offside on the brink of halftime, Luke Burt steps up to open the Eels account
South Sydney Rabbitohs 8-2
40 min: HALF TIME: A mistake and penalty riddled first half thankfully comes to an end, both teams playing so bad it isn't funny.
41 min: KICK OFF - Souths get us started again, lets hope for a better showing by both teams
43 min: Tim Mannah almost scores but is ruled to have knocked on after a Robson grubber. Better stuff by Parramatta
45 min: TRY
Justin Horo shows strength and experience beyond his years to pop an inside ball to Timana Tahu who scores, could this be the spark that ignites the Eels?
8 all
47 min: A great kick and chase by Jarryd Hayne inspires his teammates whose enthusiasm gets the better of them - penalty to Souths for offside
48 min: Knock on by Souths after another hit by Tahu, he's pumped and the Eels have a chance to hit the front for the first time
51 min: TRY
A standard kick and chase is turned into an amazing piece of inspired play by Luke Burt, who flies down field to beat a lethargic Wesser to the ball to score. Wesser is reprimanded for using his feet illegally in an effort to stop the try
Parramatta Eels 14-8
57 min: PENALTY GOAL
Another repeat set to the Eels here, Souths give away another penalty, Burt steps up to send the Eels 8 clear
Parramatta Eels 16-8
60 min: A stripping penalty against Souths sees Parramatta on the attack 10 metres out from the Bunnies line, but Moimoi loses the ball whilst trying to reach out and score
62 min: Comedy of errors, Wesser only has to draw and pass but hangs onto it and gets snapped by Grothe, the next play sees Souths pushed into touch
64 min: After a general caution a few minutes earlier, Nathan Cayless is sent to the sin bin for a strip in the play the ball
66 min: The referees appear to have lost control of this match, Beau Champion is also sent to the bin for a high shot on Hayne
68 min: Wesser is cautioned for a high shot, the crowd screams for another sin binning, however he is allowed to stay on the field
69 min: Inu hoists up the high ball, Nathan Merritt allows it to bounce, Capewell is forced to run it dead. The Eels come back after the restart
72 min: TRY
Daniel Mortimer scores close to the posts after some great lead up work by Nathan Hindmarsh
Parramatta Eels 22-8
74 min: Nathan Cayless returns to the field of play
76 min: Beau Champion returns also
78 min: More points are on offer here for the Eels as Isaac Luke is ruled to have knocked the ball dead
80 min: FULL TIME: In a game not for the purists, the Parramatta Eels have ensured Nathan Hindmarsh's 266th match will be one to remember, running out comfortable winners in the end