Storm too strong for Eels

Round 14
Parramatta Eels 22 v Melbourne Storm 34
at Parramatta Stadium
Referees: Paul Simpkins

Match Summary:
The Melbourne Storm have taken outright position at the top of the NRL ladder following a 34-22 victory over the hapless Parramatta Eels at Parramatta Stadium earlier this afternoon.

The game was saw two hat tricks to Jake Webster and John Williams respectively with young Eels winger Jarryd Hayne also bagging a double.

The Eels got off to a strong start with three tries in nine minutes following a try to Jake Webster. Centre Brett Delaney could not convert and the Eels led 12-6.

In a quick change of events, the Storm then ran in three tries in 10 minutes. Cooper Cronk and Steve Turner crossed with the pick of the day to centre Ryan Hoffman. Five-eighth Scott Hill went through the poor Eels defence before finding Steve Turner who turned the ball back on the inside to Hoffman who scored under the posts.

Going into the break down 20-12, the Eels conceded another try early in the second half down their right hand defence. Scott Hill went straight through again before finding Geyer who scored in the corner for a 26-12 lead.

When Jake Webster scored his second of three tries, the game was all but over.

The match was marred by a touch judge report that Eels prop Fui Fui Moi Moi allegedly bit Storm prop Brett White on the right bicep. Moi Moi has denied the claims with close-ups of White's arm showing bite marks.

Late consolation tries to Jarryd Hayne and John Williams got the scoreline back within 12 right on full time however today the Eels were awful despite dominating the first half an hour.

The down side of the match was the abysmal crowd of 7139 that turned up to watch this NRL fixture.

Scorers:
Parramatta Eels: 22
Tries: John Williams(3), Jarryd Hayne(2)
Goals: Mark Riddell 1/1
Melbourne Storm: 34
Tries: Cooper Cronk, Matt Geyer, Ryan Hoffman, Steve Turner, Jake Webster(3)
Goals: Chris Walker 1/2, Matt Geyer 2/5

By the Clock:
One change for the Eels with Daniel Wagon out and Henry Perenara onto the bench and Dean Widders into lock.For the Storm,Steve Turner moves to fullback with Matt Geyer from the centres to the wing and Ryan Hoffman from the back row to centre.Kaufusi goes to the 2nd row while Jamie Feeney goes from the bench to the lock position with Jeremy Smith back to the bench.

Both teams are out onto the field ready for kickoff.Your referee is Paul Simpkins.

1 min: NEWS Kickoff!

6 min: NEWS Storm go on the attack following a penalty from a strip

7 min: TRY Melbourne Storm
Kiwi winger Jake Webster opens the scoring on the right hand flank amid controversy as from the quick tap from a penalty close to the line,referee Paul Simpkins blocked the goal line defence from tackling Jake Webster.
Conversion successful from Geyer.
Storm 6-0

12 min: TRY Parramatta Eels
Dean Widders puts a grubber kick through and finds Luke O'Dwyer who is tackled centimetres from the tryline.On the next play,Tim Smith puts a cross field kick through for an unmarked Jarryd Hayne who scores in the corner.
Delaney from the sideline just shaves the uprights.
Storm 6-4

19 min: TRY Parramatta Eels
Hayne grabs a double as on the last tackle way out on the eastern touchline,he goes from dummy half and gets through some ordinary defence to put the Eels infront.
Delaney from the sideline again misses again.
Eels 8-6

21 min: NEWS The kickoff has gone out on the full!

22 min: TRY Parramatta Eels
A crossfield kick from Tim Smith finds winger John Williams who crosses on another try assist from last years Rookie of the Year.
Delaney from the sideline once again misses badly.
Eels 12-6

23 min: NEWS Out on the full once again from Turner!

24 min: NEWS A repeat set of six here for the Eels and now they get a penalty as Adam Blair and Jeremy Smith are placed on report for a dangerous tackle.

29 min: NEWS Going to the video to see whether Cronk has scored a try for the Storm.

29 min: TRY Melbourne Storm
Cronk slices through the Eels defence and even though Geyer was on his outside, he went himself and momentum took him over the line.
Geyer hits the post with that conversion.
Eels 12-10

36 min: TRY Melbourne Storm
Scott Hill runs the ball close to the line and with a great offload, the former Panther Steve Turner gets through and passes back into Ryan Hoffman scores the try.
Geyer can't convert the try.
Storm 14-12

38 min: TRY Melbourne Storm
Cronk runs the ball on tackle 5, he turns the ball back onto Matty Geyer who finds Steve Turner who scores under the posts.
Geyer converts.
Storm 20-12

Halftime - The Eels dominated the middle passage of the first half on the back of a solid foundation by their forwards and the Storm not being able to put the Eels players on the ground which resulted in a large number of offloads.This meant that the Eels were able to score three tries in nine minutes to race to a 12-6 lead.The Storm then hit back with three quick tries to lead 20 to 12 at the break.

41 min: NEWS Second half Underway.

42 min: TRY Melbourne Storm
Scotty Hill busts the Eels defence again on halfway, comes to the fullback and Geyer scores in the corner.
Walker from the sideline converts!
Storm 26-12

53 min: TRY Melbourne Storm
Centre Jake Webster gets a double on the back of a Chris Walker intercept from a Tim Smith pass.In the next play 20 metres out, quick hands and on the right hand flank Webster scores.
Geyer can't convert the try.
Storm 30-12

55 min: NEWS Going to the video for an Eels try ...

55 min: NEWS NO TRY - Young winger Jarryd Hayne when looking for a hattrick, dives for the line but his feet just scrapes the sideline.

55 min: NEWS The game turns spiteful as there is a touchjudge report in for Fui Fui Moi Moi for allegedly biting Brett White.

58 min: NEWS Steve Turner has left the field with a knee injury.

63 min: TRY Melbourne Storm
A chip over the top from Cooper Cronk finds Jake Webster to score his hattrick.
Walker from out wide misses.
Storm 34-12

64 min: TRY Parramatta Eels
A long ball from Johnny Morris finds young gun John Williams who scores in the corner.
Jarryd Hayne takes over the kicking misses the conversion.
Storm 34-16

74 min: NEWS The crowd is 7139.

79 min: TRY Parramatta Eels
A consolation try to the Eels as young winger John Williams streaks away to score un touched.
Riddell converts from the sideline.
Storm 34-22

Fulltime - The Storm have taken 2 vital points without their origin stars in a solid performance against a poor Eels side in the second half.
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Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - Cooper Cronk (Storm)
2 - Scott Hill (Storm)
1 - Nathan Friend (Storm)
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