Eels hold out willing Warriors

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Parramatta Eels v Warriors

An exciting, tense game of Saturday afternoon footy saw the Parramatta Eels hold on for a 24-22 win over the Warriors at Bankwest Stadium today.

After a typical five-minute softening up period, the Warriors hit the scoreboard first when Ken Maumalo crossed out wide - Issac Luke having kicked a superb 40/20 to put his side in position for the attacking opportunity. Luke then converted the four pointer for a 6-0 lead.

The scoring kicked off a flurry of points in the opening quarter of the match, Brad Takairangi scoring not long after Maumalo's opener after a handy break down the far touchline. The 6-all scoreline didn't last with Ethan Parry crossing for his second try in as many NRL games on the right wing. Moses converted both and the Eels were up 12-6 after fifteen minutes.

Not content to trail after a strong start, the Warriors hit back when Issac Luke climbed over from dummy half to score under the posts, and just a few minutes after the visitors had leapfrogged the Eels, with Gerard Beale scoring after they had repeat sets on the opposition line.

The 18-12 margin would prove as handy as a tube of Selley's, with no more gaps appearing in either side's line before the break and the Warriors leading by six at the change of ends.

A handy ten-minute period mid-way through the second half would prove decisive for the hosts, with Maika Sivo capitalising on some messy play for the Eels near the 50 minute mark, then Moses adding a penalty goal to put them ahead by two.

A superb long-range try from Clint Gutherson had Parramatta ahead by six as the clock ticked toward 60 minutes, but the Warriors hit back almost immediately, their desperation earning Maumalo his second of the afternoon. Sadly Luke's conversion went wide and the visitors trailed by two - a margin that would be remain til fulltime, despite some late controversy where the visitors were looked to have been denied a fair try after Roger Tuivasa-Sheck turned a long flick-pass out to Beale - but it was ruled forward. Replays suggested it was an unfair call.

Luke and Lachlan Burr will be sweating on tomorrow's match review process with both placed on report for dangerous tackles, and as such may be in doubt to face the Raiders next Friday at home. Parramatta head to Kogarah to face the struggling Dragons.