Saturday, July 24, 2004
Eels suffer heart breaking loss
The Parramatta Eels have lost in heart-breaking circumstances to the Melbourne Storm after Matt Orford scored in the final 20 seconds.
The Eels had shown tremendous grit and determination to level the scores at 16 all, when Lee Hopkins scooted over from dummy half with just a couple of minutes to go. A Luke Burt conversion tied things up and a golden point game looked certain.
However, Matt Orford make a break in his own half to put the Storm on the attack. A couple of plays later the half, who had already scored two tries for his team, managed to get the ball over the line in a three-man tackle to demoralise the Eels.
Brian Smith entered the game with a much different team to the one named on paper. Young guns Ben Smith and Feleti Mateo both made their debuts, Chris Thorman replaced Michael Witt and Fuifui Moimoi started, with Michael Vella moved to the interchange bench and Adam Peek missing out.
Once again, the Eels got off to a great start. Matt Peterson should have scored but for being pushed out of play by Matt Geyer, who earned 10 minutes in the bin for the indiscretion. The Eels took advantage of the overlap on the ensuing set of six and good hands saw Luke Burt score.
Despite having the one-man advantage and completing every set of six, the Eels still had the worst of possesion and the Storm fought back via two tries to Matt Orford. First Chris Thorman made a shocking miss of the Storm half, after rushing out of the line, and allowing Orford an unimpeded run to the tryline. Then Wade McKinnon failed to clean up a Scott Hill grubber and somehow Orford managed to reach over the top of a diving McKinnon as the ball sailed towards the dead ball line and touch down inches in side.
A penalty left the Eels trailing 12 to four at half-time.
For most of the second-half, the Eels looked the better team with Chris Thorman finally starting to look comfortable in NRL football. He created the Eels next try when he busted the line. While his final pass went to ground, fortunately for the Eels Fuifui Moimoi was on hand to pick the ball up score. The Burt conversion, from in front, left the Eels only two points behind.
Luck once again deserted Parramatta when Matt King scored out wide not long after, after Ashley Graham attempted an unsuccessful intercept. King juggled the ball on a number of occassions and miraculously regathered and touched down before the cover defence could push him out.
With Orford missing the sideline conversion, the Eels only needed a coverted try to get back on terms and they got that when Lee Hopkins scored in the 79th minute. However, it only served to make the heart-break more painful, with the Eels failing to maintain the impressive defence that had served them so well throughout out game, to the final whistle.
Unfortunately, despite the much improved performance from the Eels, the final eight is now probably only a mathematical possibility.
The Eels had shown tremendous grit and determination to level the scores at 16 all, when Lee Hopkins scooted over from dummy half with just a couple of minutes to go. A Luke Burt conversion tied things up and a golden point game looked certain.
However, Matt Orford make a break in his own half to put the Storm on the attack. A couple of plays later the half, who had already scored two tries for his team, managed to get the ball over the line in a three-man tackle to demoralise the Eels.
Brian Smith entered the game with a much different team to the one named on paper. Young guns Ben Smith and Feleti Mateo both made their debuts, Chris Thorman replaced Michael Witt and Fuifui Moimoi started, with Michael Vella moved to the interchange bench and Adam Peek missing out.
Once again, the Eels got off to a great start. Matt Peterson should have scored but for being pushed out of play by Matt Geyer, who earned 10 minutes in the bin for the indiscretion. The Eels took advantage of the overlap on the ensuing set of six and good hands saw Luke Burt score.
Despite having the one-man advantage and completing every set of six, the Eels still had the worst of possesion and the Storm fought back via two tries to Matt Orford. First Chris Thorman made a shocking miss of the Storm half, after rushing out of the line, and allowing Orford an unimpeded run to the tryline. Then Wade McKinnon failed to clean up a Scott Hill grubber and somehow Orford managed to reach over the top of a diving McKinnon as the ball sailed towards the dead ball line and touch down inches in side.
A penalty left the Eels trailing 12 to four at half-time.
For most of the second-half, the Eels looked the better team with Chris Thorman finally starting to look comfortable in NRL football. He created the Eels next try when he busted the line. While his final pass went to ground, fortunately for the Eels Fuifui Moimoi was on hand to pick the ball up score. The Burt conversion, from in front, left the Eels only two points behind.
Luck once again deserted Parramatta when Matt King scored out wide not long after, after Ashley Graham attempted an unsuccessful intercept. King juggled the ball on a number of occassions and miraculously regathered and touched down before the cover defence could push him out.
With Orford missing the sideline conversion, the Eels only needed a coverted try to get back on terms and they got that when Lee Hopkins scored in the 79th minute. However, it only served to make the heart-break more painful, with the Eels failing to maintain the impressive defence that had served them so well throughout out game, to the final whistle.
Unfortunately, despite the much improved performance from the Eels, the final eight is now probably only a mathematical possibility.
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Went to the game in Melbourne. The refereeing was influenced by home town pressure. Billy Slater is a Koala Bear - a protected species. Some of the decisions by the ref were ordinary 100%. No 22 - was that Ben Smith? looked a little lost defensively at times. He's a big bloke, and will be a good assett in future years. Thought Lee Hopkins,Matt Petersen Mick Vella and Hindy,had very good games. The team gave 100%. The match should have gone to golden point and would have if it was at Parra Stadium
Parra Pete.
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Parra Pete.
# posted by 
: July 25, 2004 at 7:19 PM
: July 25, 2004 at 7:19 PM << Home
