Moimoi sent as Parra
outclass Manly

Round 21
Parramatta Eels 31 v Manly Sea Eagles 18
at Parramatta Stadium
Referee: Steven Clark

Match Summary:
The Parramatta Eels continued their winning run tonight, disposing of the Manly Sea Eagles by 31-18 in a fiery game at Parramatta Stadium.

The game contained several big hits but the talking point of the match came in the 49th minute when Fuifui Moimoi hit Brent Kite around the head as the Sea Eagles were on the attack close to Parramatta?s line.

Kite was knocked senseless and eventually hobbled from the field but took no further part in the action. Referee Steven Clark sent the barnstorming Eels frontrower from the field when the game resumed, opening the way for Manly to come back into the match.

The Eels began on fire, scoring in the 4th minute through outgoing centre Luke O?Dwyer who snapped up the ball in the in-goal area after Manly fullback Michael Robertson failed to clean up a kick. Try-scoring freak Jarryd Hayne crossed about ten minutes later after a good cut-out pass from John Morris found the unmarked winger.

From there it was punch and counter-punch as Manly scored through Matai and Stephenson either side of another Eels try to Luke Burt. The home side hit the sheds up 18-8 and looking pretty comfortable.

They continued to lead from the front with O?Dwyer crossing again just after the break to lead 24-8 and the game was seemingly in the bag for Parramatta.

Shortly after Moimoi was sent from the field and Manly smelt blood in the water, piling on tries to Chris Hicks and Luke Williamson to set the stage for a dramatic final quarter of the game with the scores poised at 24-18.

Parramatta held their resolve though, even with a man down, and pushed further ahead late in the game with a second try to Luke Burt in the 72nd minute followed shortly by a field goal from Morris.

The victory consolidates Parramatta?s chances of gaining a top 8 spot and the Eels now face the Dragons at home on Friday night in what should be a bell-ringer.

For Manly, they enjoy a bye week but probably feel a bit disappointed with the result. They?ve been going well up until now and a win here would have had them pushing for a top 4 spot.


Scorers:
Parramatta Eels: 31
Tries: Luke Burt(2), Luke O'Dwyer(2), Jarryd Hayne
Goals: Luke Burt 5/5
Field Goals: John Morris
Manly Sea Eagles: 18
Tries: Chris Hicks, Paul Stephenson, Luke Williamson, Steve Matai
Goals: Matt Orford 1/4

By the Clock:
Brett Stewart is out for the Sea Eagles with Michael Robertson dropping back to fullback.Steve Bell returns to the centres with George Rose coming on to the bench.

Luke Burt replaces Wade McKinnon in the fullback role.

1 min: Kickoff!

2 min: An early penalty against Steve Matai in the play the ball.

4 min: TRY Parramatta Eels
A grubber through by Jeremy Smith that deflects off Robertson and O'Dwyer is there to score the try for the Eels.
Burt converts on his return to First Grade.
Eels 6-0

8 min: The crowd getting behind both sides in what looks close to be to at its full capacity.

11 min: A penalty on the last tackle against the Eels for a grapple tackle puts the Eagles on the attack.

13 min: Going to the video for an Eels try...

13 min: TRY Parramatta Eels
Oh no it's him again!A long cutout by John Morris is picked up on the half volley by the whizkid Jarryd Hayne who strolls away to score in the corner.
Burt from the sideline puts it over the black dot.
Eels 12-0

18 min: TRY Manly Sea Eagles
A short ball from Orford puts Matai in to a gap who scores the Sea Eagles first try of the night.
Orford from the sideline just misses to the left.
Eels 12-4

20 min: From the kickoff,MoiMoi and Cayless hit King in a bell-ringer.

30 min: Eel Jeremy Smith gives away his second penalty of the night and the Sea Eagles go on the attack.

31 min: The toughjudge is in on a report - Shayne Dunley is on report for putting his knees in to Jarryd Hayne who did well to take a cross field bomb.

34 min: Checking for an Eels try...

34 min: TRY Parramatta Eels
Jeremy Smith threads a grubber through and Luke Burt wins the race to the ball and scores the Eels' third.
Burt converts his own try.
Eels 18-4

36 min: Play is stopped for quite some time as Steve Matai gets a knock to the head.

40 min: TRY Manly Sea Eagles
A grubber through by Matt Orford and Paul Stephenson comes from out of the clouds to score in the corner.
Orford hits the uprights from the sideline.
Eels 18-8

Halftime - The Eels have entertained their crowd with an excellent first half of football.The Sea Eagles have stuck with the Eels for the whole half and a try right on half time to Paul Stephenson has given the visitors a sniff.

Second half underway...

43 min: Somehow Dean Widders gets the ball off a deflected kick,he struggles to pick the wobbling ball up,had he,he would have had a 2 on 1 overlap.

46 min: TRY Parramatta Eels
The ball is shifted to the right and centre Luke O'Dwyer goes over in the corner untouched.
Burt puts it over from the sideline.
Eels 24-8

49 min: Brent Kite down after a horrible high tackle from MoiMoi.He is knocked out cold and it could be the end of MoiMoi's night.

49 min: Sent Off - Fui Fui MoiMoi becomes the third player to be sent off in 2006.

52 min: TRY Manly Sea Eagles
Some scrappy ball movement from the Sea Eagles and Chris Hicks scores in the corner to make a game of it.
Orford misses again from the sideline.
Eels 24-12

53 min: Checking for a Manly try...

54 min: NEWS NO TRY - Michael Robertson drops a bomb in the Eels ingoal area but then scores,he is ruled to have knocked the ball in to an Eels player before that.

57 min: TRY Manly Sea Eagles
Some good ball movement and from an offload,Luke Williamson dives over next to the uprights.Only moments earlier,Luke O'Dwyer dropped a pass cold and would have had a free run to the tryline.
Orford converts.
Eels 24-18

62 min: NEWS Williamson hit by a beauty from Ben Smith

66 min: Kylie Leuleuai goes from dummy half on the last tackle but is held up by Hindmarsh.

70 min: Steve Matai goes on a thirty metre run down the sideline before being taken into touch by O'Dwyer.

72 min: A crowd of just over 15500 is announced as we go the video for an Eels try...

72 min: TRY Parramatta Eels
A grubber through from Mark Riddell is pounced on by Luke Burt who gets his second of the night.
Burt converts his own try.
Eels 30-18

73 min: Crowd - 15404

75 min: FIELD GOAL Parramatta Eels
John Morris seals the clash tonight with a field goal between the posts.
Eels 31-18

76 min: From the short kickoff,Jarryd Hayne sprints down the touchline,passes the ball back on the inside to Luke Burt who runs away to score,but it was ruled to be a forward pass,good call by Clark.

Fulltime in an epic contest which had September like proportions.
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Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - Luke O
2 - Ben Kennedy
1 - Nathan Hindmarsh
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