Full Time
80:00
7:00pm Mon August 29, 2016
Round 25 - Pirtek Stadium, Parramatta / Burramattagal - Crowd: 13553
80

FULL TIME: EELS 30 DRAGONS 18. Parramatta farewell their home ground with a win beating St George by 12 points. The Eels turned on the style in the 2nd half scoring some fabulous tries as the Dragons then score a couple of late consolation tries.

Parramatta Eels 30-18

79

Lafai gets away down the sideline and his kick back infield is then kicked into French and he is grounded in goal as the siren sounds

Parramatta Eels 30-18

78

SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS: Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop successful.

Widdop converts keeping his 100% record

Parramatta Eels 30-18

77

TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS: Scored by Kurt Mann. Kick to come.

Mann has 2 tries in 2 minutes with Widdop's kick falling straight into the winger's arms and the away side get another consolation try

Parramatta Eels 30-16

76

SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS: Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop successful.

Widdop converts just keeping it inside the near post

Parramatta Eels 30-12

75

TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS: Scored by Kurt Mann. Kick to come.

Lafai produces some of his old form getting away from the defence and flicking it to Mann who runs away to score in the corner

Parramatta Eels 30-10

74

UNFORCED ERROR PARRAMATTA EELS: Kaysa Pritchard makes an unforced error.

Pritchard loses the ball in the tackle

Parramatta Eels 30-6

74

UNFORCED ERROR ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS: Gareth Widdop makes an unforced error.

Widdop knocks on a ball by Rein. That sums up the Dragons night

Parramatta Eels 30-6

73

Hutchison's kick isn't a good one as it's taken by the Eels. Dragons attack has been limp tonight

Parramatta Eels 30-6

71

Radradra knocks on a kick to the wing and the Dragons survive this time but this game is most certainly over.

Parramatta Eels 30-6

70

Gordon's kick back in field is touched by the Dragons and Robson has it back

Parramatta Eels 30-6

69

SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PARRAMATTA EELS: Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon successful.

Gordon converts his own try expertly from the sideline as it goes right over the black dot. The winger has been great with the boot tonight

Parramatta Eels 30-6

67

TRY PARRAMATTA EELS: Scored by Michael Gordon. Kick to come.

Razzle-dazzle rugby league from Parramatta as they post another try with Takairangi producing a lovely grubber kick for Gordon to chase and the winger gets there first to score. Lovely assist again from the Eels centre Takairangi.

Parramatta Eels 28-6

67

UNFORCED ERROR ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS: Josh Dugan makes an unforced error.

Dugan throws an impossible ball which goes forward giving the home side possession back on halfway

Parramatta Eels 24-6

65

Eels now throwing the footy around and Gordon is put into touch by Widdop just before he could get the ball down.

Parramatta Eels 24-6

63

SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PARRAMATTA EELS: Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon successful.

Gordon goes to 4/4 putting the lead back out to 18

Parramatta Eels 24-6

61

TRY PARRAMATTA EELS: Scored by Bevan French. Kick to come.

That is a magnificent rugby league try as the Eels go down their right side with Takairangi getting on the wing and on the outside of the Dragons defence and the centre kicks it back in field straight onto the chest of French who goes into score his 3rd try of the night. Parramatta are saying farewell to their stadium in a brilliant fashion

Parramatta Eels 22-6

60

Robson's kick bounces over everyone but Mann is there to clean it up and does well to stay in the field of play.

Parramatta Eels 18-6

58

Hutchison's kick is too deep and the attack again doesn't produce any result for the away side.

Parramatta Eels 18-6

58

Nightingale gets away from the defence with Rein then kicking to the wing for Mann who is tackled short of the line. Lafai then goes himself on the last but his pass back in field is intercepted by Takairangi who is then pushed into touch. Most exciting passage of the game so far.

Parramatta Eels 18-6

56

Hutchison did well to catch a Gutherson kick and get back into the field of play. Eels concede the penalty trying to put the halfback back into his own in goal

Parramatta Eels 18-6

53

UNFORCED ERROR ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS: Joel Thompson makes an unforced error.

Thompson can't hang onto a long pass with the Dragons trying to create an opportunity on the right edge

Parramatta Eels 18-6

52

Eels create an opportunity on the right but Takairangi's pass to Gordon goes forward letting the Dragons off the hook

Parramatta Eels 18-6

52

UNFORCED ERROR ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS: Jake Marketo makes an unforced error.

Marketo loses it in the tackle giving the Eels the ball back near halfway

Parramatta Eels 18-6

51

SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PARRAMATTA EELS: Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon successful.

Gordon converts again to put the Eels back out to a 12 point lead

Parramatta Eels 18-6

49

TRY PARRAMATTA EELS: Scored by Bevan French. Kick to come.

Gutherson makes a half break and draws the defenders in before offloading on his outside to French who goes into score his 2nd of the night untouched.

Parramatta Eels 16-6

48

Hutchison's kick isn't a good one and the Eels defend it easily. Dragons attack again is poor and they are unable to adequately test out the home side's defence. Radradra makes a good run and the penalty is conceded and the home side make their way up to halfway to start a set

Parramatta Eels 12-6

47

Parramatta lose the ball and give possession back to the Dragons who get another chance for an attacking set

Parramatta Eels 12-6

45

That play wasn't on and the Dragons cough the ball up with Dugan unable to hold onto the ball. Poor attack from the away side

Parramatta Eels 12-6

45

UNFORCED ERROR PARRAMATTA EELS: Semi Radradra makes an unforced error.

Nightingale gets an offload away but the ball goes to Radradra who then loses the ball. Dragons scrum 10 metres out from the try line

Parramatta Eels 12-6

44

St George get a pressure relieving penalty and they can mount their first attack of the 2nd half

Parramatta Eels 12-6

42

Robson's kick is touched back towards Takairangi who then gets in a great kick to keep the ball alive and the centre then taps the ball into Widdop so the Dragons now will have the 20 metre restart

Parramatta Eels 12-6

40

Back underway in the 2nd half

Parramatta Eels 12-6

40

HALF TIME: EELS 12 DRAGONS 6. Parramatta go into the sheds with a 6 point lead at half time over the Dragons. The home side dominated large periods of the half and looked comfortable but they allowed the Dragons back into it just before the break to cut the gap. Anyone's game in the 2nd half

Parramatta Eels 12-6

39

SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS: Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop successful.

Widdop converts well curling it between the middle of the posts

Parramatta Eels 12-6

38

TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS: Scored by Drew Hutchison. Kick to come.

Big try for the Dragons as Hutchison goes himself dummying to his outside men, stepping inside the defence and using great strength to get past French to score his side's first try of the night

Parramatta Eels 12-4

37

Widdop puts in another good kick turning up the pressure on Parramatta as Gordon is forced to put it dead again.

Parramatta Eels 12-0

36

Sims is held down on the last tackle and the Dragons have a fresh set 5 metres out from the line. Big chance now for the away side.

Parramatta Eels 12-0

35

Widdop's grubber is taken by Takairangi but is then dragged back into the in goal. Another drop out goes to the away side as they try to get back in this game before half time

Parramatta Eels 12-0

33

Dragons last tackle play is terrible but the ball goes to Dugan who then breaks the line and throws a pass out to Mann whose kick is taken by Gordon and then the winger is taken back into his own in goal to concede the drop out

Parramatta Eels 12-0

32

SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PARRAMATTA EELS: Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon successful.

Gordon converts from in front

Parramatta Eels 12-0

29

TRY PARRAMATTA EELS: Scored by Ken Edwards. Kick to come.

Edwards is held down on the last tackle and the penalty goes to the Eels and the big man takes the quick tap on the mark and goes trhough to score under the posts with the Dragons rooted to the spot. The referee's allowed the quick tap this time and the benefit of that decision sees Edwards score a simple try

Parramatta Eels 10-0

27

Robson's high kick is taken well by Mann and the Eels once again defending very well and the away side are trapped in their own end and have not had an attacking set so far this game

Parramatta Eels 6-0

24

Hutchison's kick is a good one and it finds touch 10 metres out from the Eels line. Not a bad ploy for the away side as they have done most of the defence tonight and they can have a little breather before the scrum is packed

Parramatta Eels 6-0

23

Gutherson kicks on the 3rd tackle but Hutchison reads it well and dives on the loose ball 5 metres out from the try line. That play wasn't on for the Eels and they should have kept possession and waited for another opportunity to present itself

Parramatta Eels 6-0

23

UNFORCED ERROR ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS: Tariq Sims makes an unforced error.

Sims loses the ball after he couldn't handle a De Belin offload at the line

Parramatta Eels 6-0

22

French puts in a kick for himself but it is a bit long and Mann comes up with it to run it back at the defensive line. No real attacking opportunities yet for the Dragons

Parramatta Eels 6-0

20

Jennings kick goes straight to Dugan and the fullback is trapped 10 metres out from his own line. Dugan's positioning was good there as he stopped a dangerous attack. Dragons again caught in their own end.

Parramatta Eels 6-0

19

Parramatta now starting to get on top of this game with their lead and are doing well to keep the Dragons in their own end. The away side are forced to kick inside their own half and now the Eels can get back to halfway on just the 2nd tackle

Parramatta Eels 6-0

17

SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PARRAMATTA EELS: Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon successful.

Gordon's kick is a good one and he adds the extras from near the sideline

Parramatta Eels 6-0

17

TRY PARRAMATTA EELS: Scored by Bevan French. Kick to come.

Parramatta do take advantage of the good field position as Radradra gets a long pass to his wing and he then offloads on the inside to French who was in the right place at the right time and the fullback goes into score the first try of the night

Parramatta Eels 4-0

16

De Belin is caught not being square at marker by Jennings and the Eels have the easy penalty 30 metres out from the try line. The home side opt to kick for touch and start another set in a good position. They'll want to take advantage of this opportunity

0 all

15

UNFORCED ERROR ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS: Michael Cooper makes an unforced error.

Cooper now loses the ball on the last tackle giving Parramatta possession back 30 metres out from the Eels line. Neither team's attack has really clicked yet.

0 all

13

UNFORCED ERROR PARRAMATTA EELS: Brad Takairangi makes an unforced error.

Takairangi loses the ball as he looked up at the defensive line too soon and didn't focus enough on catching the ball

0 all

12

Rein holds down Radradra and the hooker concedes a penalty on the first tackle and the Eels can go up to near halfway to start a fresh set

0 all

11

Terepo gets a long pass from dummy half which stays low to the ground and the front rower can't hang onto it and he knocks it on. Dragons get the hand over and they now work it away from their own line. Still scoreless after 12 minutes in this one.

0 all

10

Gutherson's kick evades everyone and the ball bounces into the in goal and the Dragons have to bat it dead to concede the drop out

0 all

10

Hutchison's kick is too deep and it rolls dead giving the Eels the 20 metre restart and the 7 tackle set.

0 all

8

Dugan is hit well by Radradra and the Dragons fullback stays down. He's got to be winded after that one. Semi has hit him with a great shot.

0 all

7

Parramatta give away a penalty for crowding around the play the ball and the away side find touch 30 metres out from the Eels line. First opportunity for the Red V now to mount an attack

0 all

5

Both teams are completing their sets well and the battle in the middle for field position has begun. French now decides to let a Hutchison kick roll into touch a metre out from the try line. Confident start from both teams who look to be closely matched

0 all

2

Terepo loses the ball trying to force his way over from close range next to the posts. Dragons scrum 10 metres out from their own line

0 all

1

Moeroa is held down by Lafai in the tackle and the home side get the first penalty and find touch 30 metres out from the line. They will have the first attacking set of the night

0 all

We're underway. Dragons will get first use of the football running from left to right.

Welcome to Pirtek Stadium where the Eels host the Dragons. It's a unique night as we farewell the old Parramatta Stadium which will be demolished after this game and it also the last ever Monday Night Football game as the early Friday night kick off comes into affect next season. Kick off is next.

Referees & scorers:

Referee: Adam Gee, Gavin Reynolds

Touch Judges: Michael Wise, Tim Roby

Video Referee: Bernard Sutton, Luke Patten

PARRAMATTA EELS (30)
Tries: Bevan French (3), Michael Gordon, Ken Edwards
Field Goals:
Conversions: Michael Gordon (5/5)
Penalty Goals:

ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (18)
Tries: Drew Hutchison, Kurt Mann (2)
Field Goals:
Conversions: Gareth Widdop (3/3)
Penalty Goals: