Originally Posted by
charged2go
The Gold Coast Titans under-20s have missed a chance to jump ahead the Eels on the ladder, going down 35-22 in a tight encounter at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday night.
The first score of the day came after a clumsy Titans penalty piggy-backed the Eels down the field after starting the set on their own 10-metre-line. Some strong carries from the Parramatta forwards created space for their playmakers, with a nice ball from five-eighth Dylan Izzard putting winger Abbas Miski over in just the fourth minute.
Just three minutes later the Eels were on the scoreboard again. A fifth tackle bomb towards Titans winger Zac Spring resulted in a mistimed jump with Miski swooping on the loose bouncing ball to waltz in under the posts and score his second try with just ten minutes gone, for the Eels to lead 10-0.
After defending for the opening phase of the game, the Titans completed a clinical set, with a neat Brayden Torpy kick into touch giving the Eels the ball on their 10-metre-line. The subsequent set resulted in a Parramatta error gifting Gold Coast the ball with halfback Brayden Torpy sending a nice ball out wide to Brian Kelly who drew in a defender before passing to Zac Spring to score in the corner and make up for his earlier error.
Each side exchanged the ball for the next ten minutes, when Eels fullback Bevan French knocked on a kick just outside his own line. The Titans looked dangerous with each carry from the ensuing set, with big forward Oshae Tuiasau crashing over the line despite the attention from three defenders to level scores at 10-10 after 20 minutes.
Eels fullback French made up for his earlier error on the stroke of half-time, diving full length to gather and score an in-goal grubber which was seemingly out of bounds. The miraculous try was converted as the half-time siren sounded, giving the Eels a 16-10 lead at the main break.
Any momentum the Eels took into half-time didn’t seem to affect the Titans, with the Gold Coast side scoring through Anthony Colman just three minutes into the second half. Some neat lead up play led to Colman splitting a gap to race in under the posts and set up an easy conversion for Torpy.
Ten minutes later, a bobbling grubber from Parramatta half Zach Dockar-Clay resulted in a crucial fumble, gifted the Eels an easy four points under the posts and a six-point lead 13 minutes into the second half.
Under-20s Maroons forward Tuiasau hit back for the Titans in a replica of his first half try, using his huge frame to bust over the line despite defenders hanging all over him to even scores at 22-all with 15 minutes left on the clock.
Not long after, Eels fullback French was again in the thick of the action, pulling off another miraculous play. The dynamic number one contesting a high ball only to catch the ricochet and pass to a teammate while lying on his back. The try gave the Eels a six-point buffer and set up an exciting finish.
Despite possession in their attacking half, the Titans were unable to mount a comeback, the Eels defence holding strong in the final stages. Eels halfback Dockar-Clay slotting a field goal with just two minutes left after the Eels had gained good field position.
A desperate Titans outfit then regathered the kick-off and got the ball down to their 10-metre line, only for an attempted grubber kick to bounce off the leg of an Eels player and land in the lap of Dockar-Clay who passed to French to score a length of the field try and cap off an impressive game.
The Titans under-20s travel to Melbourne to take on the Melbourne Storm next Sunday.
Parramatta Eels 35 (Miski 2, 2 French Gafa, Stowers, Dockar-Clay 5 goals, field goal) def. Gold Coast Titans 22 (Tuiasau 2, Colman, Spring, Torpy 3 goals)
IMO where the game was lost.
Middle and ruck defence wasnt up to recent weeks standards.
Poor execution of set plays
Completions
Uncharacteristic mistakes
and i hate to say it, but it just looked like the boys didnt wana be on the field, there were a few trying their hardest but there were a few that really let the team down.
Hudson - played well, good under the high ball. Execution in attack was a bit off.
GL - looked unfit, was lazy at crucial times which resulted in tries off grubbers and was not good under the high ball at all.
Kelly - Solid game, made a few good runs out of their own half, good catch/pass to put spring over.
Berkers - Usual standard from Berkers, didnt let anyone down with anything he did, tried his hardest
Spring - Wasnt the greatest under the high ball, but was good in attack.
Schwass- Tried hard, kicked well, but hard to put a set together off a middle that is getting bashed in the ruck. few stray passes.
Torpy - Tried hard, kicking well, had some good shape that led to Springs try
Tuisau - Solid without being outstanding.
Lawton - Looked unfit, didnt play his best game.
Gillham - Got dominated in defence, in attack was not too bad. Lacked effort at crucial times.
Wright - Ran some good lines and held his own in defence.
Schwass - Usual game, worked hard and ran some good lines, strong carries.
Wilson - Only played 20 minutes or so (dont know why) but was good whilst he was on.
Duke - Good when he came on, defended solid. Would like to see more of him in attack (playing in the middle, out of position).
Colman - Ran hard and tackled hard, (playing in the middle, out of position).
Law - Usual game, electric out of dummy hard. however had a few questionable kicks (one out on the full).
Pelo - Brought in late due to Elliot being ruled out on the day. One of his better performances.