Johns breaks record but
Eels take the points

Round 18
Parramatta Eels 46 v Newcastle Knights 12
at Parramatta Stadium
Referee: Ben Cummins

Match Summary:
The Parramatta Eels have stolen Andrew Johns' show with a stunning 46-12 victory at Parramatta Stadium tonight. The Eels led from start to finish and led by 20-6 at the halftime interval.

A Newcastle try in the 72nd minute provided Johns with the opportunity to add the extras and walk into the history books as the competition's all time leading points scorer.

Local hero Tim Smith got the Eels off to a great start when he threaded a grubber kick through that ricocheted off a Knights leg and then was pounced on by Smith for the opening try.

Things got worse for the visitors when moments later Smith put winger Eric Grothe away for their second try. Smith threw a 15 metre long cut out pass, hitting Grothe on the chest before he dived over.

Only six minutes out from halftime the Knights had their first real chance to open their scoring, and they took it with open arms as Johns put Woolnough in to a big gap and he strolled around to score.

Johns converted the try to go within a goal of the pointscoring record.

However, the Knights were under the pump again as they let in two quick tries which left them down by 20-6 at the break.

Any chance of a comeback was swiftly doused by the Eels with winger Jarryd Hayne scoring two tries in the opening 10 minutes of the half.

Things went from bad to worse for the visitors as veteran Glenn Morrison went on a blind side surge, confronting the fullback before finding Johnny Morris.

Matters deteriorated further for the Knights when a Johns blind side movement saw an intercept pass to Hayne who streaked away for his hattrick.

And then it was destiny ... young Knights backrower Riley Brown strolled through some poor Eels defence to score beside the posts. The subsequent successful conversion gave Johns the all time points scoring record, surpassing the record previously set by Eels coach Jason Taylor.

What might have been the highlight of the match however was upstaged by Hayne who, in the dying minutes, crossed for his fourth try in just as many first grade matches to cap off a great night for the Eels.

They led from start to finish and finished up on the good side of the scoreboard with a 46-12 victory.

The Eels now sit just two wins under the top eight while the Knights are just clinging onto eighth position.

Top 10 since 1908 - Points
A Johns* - 2108
J Taylor - 2107
D Halligan - 2034
M Cronin - 1971
G Eadie - 1917
E Simms - 1841
H El Masri* - 1730
R Girdler - 1690
G Langlands - 1548
C Schifcofske* - 1545

* current players

Scorers:
Parramatta Eels: 46
Tries: Eric Grothe, John Morris(2), Luke O'Dwyer, Tim Smith , Jarryd Hayne(4)
Goals: John Morris 1/3, Mark Riddell 4/6
Newcastle Knights: 12
Tries: Adam Woolnough, Riley Brown
Goals: Andrew Johns 2/2

By the Clock:
Welcome to Parramatta Stadium where history beckons where Andrew Johns needs just 4 points to become the NRL's leading point scorer.Young Eels centre Ben Smith makes a return to football tonight after suffering an ankle injury against the Cowboys early in the season.He will come off the bench with Daniel Wagon moving to the centres as Timana Tahu is out with a knee injury from the State of Origin.One change for the Knights with Luke Davico dropping off the 5 man Knights bench.

Johns leads his men out on to the field as Nathan Cayless walks down the tunnel.

Kickoff!

2 min: After some poor communication on the last tackle,it is Wade McKinnon left to put up a swirling bomb that is knocked on by Nathan Hinton ingoal.

5 min: TRY Parramatta Eels
Tim Smith goes to the line early in the tackle count and threads a grubber though.The ball deflects off a Newcastle leg and Smith is their to score the try.
Crowd favourite Riddell converts the try.
Eels 6-0

9 min: The Knights look promising in attack led by Gidley down the right hand flank.However in the next play Steve Simpson knocks on when trying to barge over close to the line.

10 min: Josh Perry puts Fui Fui Moi Moi on his backside with an absolute bell ringer.

12 min: Eric Grothe gives Daniel Wagon a one handed offload in his offload that sends Wagon 60 metres downfield.However,on the last tackle Carney defuses a Tim Smith bomb.

16 min: TRY Parramatta Eels
Brian Carney is caught out in defence on his try line and Eels halfback Tim Smith throws a 10 metre cut out pass that hits Eric Grothe on the chest who scores in the corner.
Riddell from the sideline has missed.
Eels 10-0

17 min: Perry off the kickoff hits Moi Moi in another bell ringer.

20 min: Tim Smith goes from hero to villain as close to the line he throws a speculater cut out pass that goes in to touch.

30 min: Now Johnny Morris throws a cutout pass into touch while on the attack.

32 min: A knockon in the play the ball gives the Knights a rare entry to their attacking quarter.A Newcastle chant goes around Parramatta Stadium.

34 min: TRY Newcastle Knights
Some gaps through the Eels defence appear and Johns throws a pin point pass onto the chest of Adam Woolnough who scores under the posts.
Johns converts and goes within 2 points of the record.
Eels 10-6

37 min: TRY Parramatta Eels
One of the tries of the season as the Eels have a two man overlap on the right hand flank.The ball goes out to O'Dwyer who draws the winger and finds Hayne who kicks infield for Morris who scores.
Morris hooks the conversion badly.
Eels 14-6

38 min: ON REPORT - Kirk Reynoldson on report for a late tackle on Tim Smith in the lead up to the try.On the replay it seemed there was nothing in it.

40 min: TRY Parramatta Eels
The Eels score a scrappy try as a grubber goes in to the ingoal area and is knocked on twice by two Knights players before being grounded by Luke O'Dwyer.
Morris converts the conversion from right in front off the uprights.
Eels 20-6

HALFTIME - The Eels have dominated possession with a clear 7 more sets of six.On the Knights first full set of six in the Eels quarter,the Knights crossed through Adam Woolnough with Johns converting to go within 2 points of the record.What was meant to be Joey's night is so far opposite number's Tim Smith,who has dominated tonight with 3 try assits and 1 try.

Second half underway...

42 min: News from the sheds at halftime is that Tim Smith has a possible fractured collarbone.

45 min: TRY Parramatta Eels
John Morris puts a pin point bomb in that is taken in flight by Jaryd Hayne who crosses in the corner.
Riddell sprays the conversion from the sideline.
Eels 24-6

48 min: A bomb by Jarrod Mullen bounces and Mark Riddell trots away 50 metres towards halfway.

50 min: TRY Parramatta Eels
Hayne grabs a double as Dean Widders puts a grubber through that is finished off in the corner by Jaryd.
Riddell slices the kick back to perfection from the sideline.
Eels 30-6

55 min: TRY Parramatta Eels
It's a massacre in Parrmatta as Glenn Morrison sets off down the sideline and finds Morris in support to score the try.On the replay,it seems that Riddell knocked on at dummy half before the try.
Riddell converts.
Eels 36-6

62 min: TRY Parramatta Eels
Another hattrick for youngster Jaryd Hayne as he takes an intercept off a Joey Johns pass.
Riddell slots another one over.
Eels 42-6

66 min: Theres a biff in back play between Quinn and O'Dwyer.The penalty goes to the Eels for a swinging arm in the tackle although O'Dwyer was throwing punches left, right and centre.

67 min: Riddell is held up over the line.

68 min: George Carmont collars O'Dwyer after he knocks the ball on.There is a bit of push and shove as Quinn pushes the injured O'Dwyer as he was on the ground.

72 min: TRY Newcastle Knights
Riley Brown goes through a big Eels gap to score next to the posts.
Johns converts and is now the all-time leading point scorer in NRL History!Congratulations Andrew 'Joey' Johns!
Eels 42-12

74 min: TRY Parramatta Eels
Newcastle are hit for 4 as young gun Jaryd Hayne scores his fourth in the corner to cap off a great night for the Eels.
Morris with the conversion hooks it across the face of goal.
Eels 46-12

76 min: Hindmarsh on report for a lifting tackle.

Fulltime
-----------------------------------------
Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - Jarryd Hayne (Eels)
2 - John Morris (Eels)
1 - Tim Smith (Eels)
-----------------------------------------