Match Report: Eels vs Tigers

Fulltime score: Round 7 Parramatta Eels 26 v Wests Tigers 16

Match summary: The Parramatta Eels proved too strong for a Wests Tigers outfit that started strong, but faded into a reserve grade team for 65 minutes.

The Tigers scored on the first set of the match when Robbie Farah burst from dummy half and ran 70 odd metres to score after only 40 seconds. The Eels struck back not long after with a try to Daniel Wagon after the Tigers made the first of many handling errors. The Tigers looked convincing for the last time as they scored through former Eel Pat Richards after a highly impressive set. In the 23rd minute Tim Smith set Eric Grothe up with a clever grubber kick that sat up perfectly for Grothe in the in goal. Around 11 minutes later Grothe scored his second when he smashed Daniel Fitzhenry and toed the dropped ball through to score. The Eels added to their lead just before half time with a try to Glenn Morrison after some enterprising play by second rower Dean Widders. The Eels led 18-10 at half time.

Timana Tahu scored his second try for the Eels 15 minutes after half time as he broke through a weak Pat Richards tackle to score. 15 minutes out from full time Luke Burt added two points to the Eels lead with a penalty goal after the Tigers were penalised for holding down in the tackle for too long. Robbie Farah finished a reasonable night for himself as he scored his second with three minutes to go in the match.

The Tigers were certainly architects of their own demise, spending most of the match with a completion rate of below 50%. The Tigers comitted an unforgivable 20 errors, and lost the penalty count 9-7. This resulted in the Tigers having only 42% of the overall possession - if they improved their handling they would have had a great chance to beat an Eels team who weren't much better.

Scorers: EELS 26 Tries: Grothe 2, Wagon, Morrison, Tahu Goals: Burt (3/6) WESTS TIGERS 16 Tries: Farah 2, Richards Goals: Hodgson (2/3) Half Time: 18-10 Parramatta Stadium Referee: Stephen Clark

By the clock:

Fans are still stuck outside Parramatta Stadium as Ticketek has crashed Australia-wide. There is also a good crowd inside the stadium, which looks promising for the kickoff to Round 7 of the NRL.

0 min: The Parramatta Eels kick off Round 7 of the NRL at a cool Parramatta Stadium.

1 min: TRY - Tigers Robbie Farah goes right up the middle from dummy half of the Eels on the first set and scores after 40 seconds. An exciting start after a delay. Hodgson converts easily. 6-0 Tigers.

7 min: The Tigers have started well. They are getting plenty of men in the tackles and have held good field position.

9 min: TRY - Eels The commentators curse hits as the Tigers drop the ball and give the Eels good position. The Eels spread it right and break through feeble defence to score a try through Daniel Wagon. Burt hits the left upright from touch. 6-4 Tigers.

12 min: TRY - Tigers The Tigers go the length of the field in one set with some great offloads and quick play the balls. Pat Richards scores out wide. Hodgson just misses the conversion. 10-4 Tigers.

20 min: Good game developing, end to end football.

22 min: Grothe is held up after a clever kick from Tim Smith. Hodgson fumbles the grubber kick on the last giving the Eels more pressure.

23 min: TRY - Eels Grothe isn't denied this time, as Smith grubbers through the line and Grothe comes up with the ball to score out wide. Burt misses from out wide again. 10-8 Tigers.

26 min: The Eels have completed their last 13 sets - overall 13/14. The Tigers have completed 5/11.

30 min: NEWS - Burt appears to have injured his left leg. The Eels have now dropped the ball on both of their last possessions.

31 min: TRY - Eels Grothe smashes Fitzhenry and Grothe toes it along to score his second of the evening - a try very similar to Shaun Berrigans in the test last night. Burt misses his third goal. 12-10 Eels.

38 min: TRY - Eels Glenn Morrison scores from a clever flick pass from Dean Widders. Burt finally lands a goal. 18-10 Eels.

HALF TIME - The Eels lead by 8 in a quality encounter. Eels 61% possession, they lead the penalty count 5-1, the Eels have completed 16/21 to the Tigers 10/17. The Tigers have also had to make nearly 40 more tackles than the Eels.

41 min: Kick off in the second half.

46 min: NEWS - Henry Peranara goes down with an injury. It appears his night is over.

47 min: NEWS - John Morris is hit by a Ben Galea swinging arm in the jaw. Galea is put on report.

48 min: NO TRY - Grothe adjudged by video referee Steve Nash to have knocked the ball forward from a Tim Smith bomb.

55 min: TRY - Eels Tahu gets his second try as a Eel as the Eels go 80 metres on the set. Tahu breaks through some fairly soft Tigers defence. Burt slots the conversion from out wide. Eels 24-10.

58 min: NO TRY - Cayless is denied after Robert Miles lets a bomb bounce. Widders was stripped of the ball just short of the line, and nobody forced the ball.

60 min: Morris is put on report from attempting to trip Benji Marshall.

65 min: PENALTY GOAL - Eels Tigers penalised for holding down in the tackle for too long. Burt adds the two points. 26-10 Eels.

72 min: The Eels defence proving too strong for the Tigers. The game is beginning to wind down now.

75 min: 40/20 - Luke Burt kicks a 40/20 for the Eels.

77 min: TRY - Tigers Robbie Farah gets his second as he runs through the Eels sliding defence. Hodgson converts. 26-16 Eels.

FULL TIME - The Eels clinch back to back victories as they win 26-16.

----------------------------------------- Leagueunlimited.com players of the match: 3 - T Smith (Eels) 2 - E Grothe (Eels) 1 - R Farah (Tigers) -----------------------------------------