Monday, May 31, 2004
Comic ineptitude
Roy Masters in the Sydney Morning Herald put it succinctly when describing Parramatta's "comic's ineptitude".
"Parramatta's almost comic ineptitude was evident in their first set of six tackles, when they failed to execute a clearing kick. From the kick-off at 12-0, Michael Witt sent the ball over the sideline on the full. In the 43rd minute, the Eels' English halfback Chris Thorman sliced through only to lose the ball over the line. Two minutes later, centre Ashley Graham made a long break down the left-hand side before fumbling the ball. In the 56th minute, Craig Stapleton spilt the ball with a try certain. Then, two minutes after that, the Eels lost a scrum against the feed and were forced to watch, ignominiously, as Wests Tigers halfback Scott Prince kicked a field goal."
Masters wrote that the field was now splitting into contenders and pretenders and the Eels had now firmly dropped into the latter pack.
"Parramatta's almost comic ineptitude was evident in their first set of six tackles, when they failed to execute a clearing kick. From the kick-off at 12-0, Michael Witt sent the ball over the sideline on the full. In the 43rd minute, the Eels' English halfback Chris Thorman sliced through only to lose the ball over the line. Two minutes later, centre Ashley Graham made a long break down the left-hand side before fumbling the ball. In the 56th minute, Craig Stapleton spilt the ball with a try certain. Then, two minutes after that, the Eels lost a scrum against the feed and were forced to watch, ignominiously, as Wests Tigers halfback Scott Prince kicked a field goal."
Masters wrote that the field was now splitting into contenders and pretenders and the Eels had now firmly dropped into the latter pack.
