Error-riddled Titans no match for crisp Eels

Embed from Getty Images

Parramatta Eels v Gold Coast Titans

The Parramatta Eels have put in an impressive performance to keep their hopes of dodging the wooden spoon alive following a 28-12 victory over an error-ridden Gold Coast Titans side in front of 6,100 fans at ANZ Stadium.

The Parramatta Eels were looking to put in an eighty minute performance tonight after their fade out last week against the South Sydney Rabbitohs where they lead 20-6 and got run down. Back-to-back wins were on the agenda for the Titans following their big win last weekend against the New Zealand Warriors.

The scoring opened after just seven minutes with the most unlikely first try scorer getting across the stripe for the Eels. Carrying three defenders, Tim Mannah used his strength and experience to get himself to the try line and over it to score just his sixth try in 221 career games.

The Titans hit back with back to back tries on both sides of the field. The first try came off some good catch and pass play in the middle of the field for the Titans when they spread the ball out to Brenko Lee who was able to draw in the Parramatta defenders before finding Anthony Don who scored in the corner although the bunker was needed to confirm that Don stayed in the field of play.

The Titans second try was another catch and pass shift play and it came when the Titans ran from right to left starting with Don before spreading the ball out to Phillip Sami who got through some flimsy Parramatta defence to score. The conversion was missed from Gordon but the Titans were still in front by two points.

The Eels then added three tries in the space of eight minutes to finish the first half with three different pieces of class play. The first of the three came on the 27 minute mark when Jarryd Hayne used his experience to get down low and use his strength and get his way to the line and get the ball down, again the bunker needed to confirm it and it was confirmed as a try in quick fashion.

The next Eels try came through Bevan French when Hayne went from one-side of the field to the other and some lovely wrap around play gave Bevan French on the outside to score. The final try of the of the half came for the Eels when the home side showed their often absent class when a serious of tap-ons left the Titans defence static and George Jennings got through out wide to score the try. Following Mitch Moses conversion, the Eels lead 22-6 at the half time break.

The second half saw the best of the chances go to the Gold Coast Titans although a serious of errors cost them points. The Titans were denied by the bunker on two separate occassions in the second half with Michael Gordon and Konrad Hurrell both initially denied by Chris Sutton's live decision of No Try before the bunker upheld the live calls with knock on rulings coming from the bunker. The one highlight of the second half for the Titans came in the 51st minute when Anthony Don swooped on an iffy pass from the Eels to take a 90m intercept and race away for the Titans only try of the second half.

The Eels didn't have many chances but they finished off the game in style when Corey Norman cleaned up his own kick that was knocked on by a Titans player to score under the sticks and cap off an impressive performance for the Eels. The last twist of the game with just two seconds remaining when Moeaki Fotuaika was sin binned for a professional foul and the Eels put in a half-hearted last play for a try but the Titans were able to defuse it.

Next weekend, the Eels are hosting the Dragons at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night whilst the Gold Coast Titans will host the Penrith Panthers on Saturday in the 3pm game.