Match Reports - Grade v Eastern Suburbs May 8

First Grade Report
Eastern Surburbs 125 Parramatta 5

What does one say about this loss? It would have to be the record for a defeat in first grade for Parramatta . Where did we go wrong? It was always going to be a difficult task coming off a loss to Randwick where we played strongly and made some good tackles but were carrying injuries. Coach Fear from Eastern Suburbs made the classic under statement after the game about the result. “We (Easts) have been travelling pretty well.” Easts put us to the sword and were relentless. Every time they threw the ball wide they scored and every Easts player supported the other and there was always someone there to take the final task. We didn’t tackle; I can’t remember that one big hit, at any time in the game. The hit that lifts the team and has the opposition looking. It is all about attitude and I know it’s really hard to lift when they keep running at you. Because the opposition have the momentum the referee’s calls always seem to go against you.

At half time the result was 64 -0. It was going to be a long day at the office. Again the call to arms by Coaches Hartill and Carter was made. We have to number up, take the space, shut Easts down at every opportunity. Tackle, tackle, tackle and tackle some more.

Easts started off where they left off - they ran straight and hard and created the over lap, try. It was like ground hog day. Aaron Ioanne was practising his kicking and was becoming deadly accurate at his short game. Pity he wasn’t playing golf. At 82 -0 a Parra spectator was heard to say, “We are not far off as a good team”. This is very true, we need the belief. Easts continued to run the gaps, as a team we were not very physical. Easts continued to dominate then Parra started to get some ball. We even had a 50 metre backline move and Easts were penalised 2 times in a row. Again we turned the ball over and East were on our line. Tor Killman stopped a certain try on the line with a great head on tackle, we then cleared the ball. Good work Parra, however, from the line out Easts were able to run back at us another try: 98-0.

The worst thing about losing is that you are working harder than when you are winning. 10 minutes out from full time we had 4 players down: 3 forwards and our half. The defensive work was beginning to take its toll. There was a call from the sideline,”Get the Bobcat”. Three players were replaced. At 99-0 we lost hooker Jono Ede. The score went to 104 -0. Another pertinent sideline call was heard, “Parra doesn’t deserve this, they have played hard every other game. The football gods must have heard this as Parra had a resurgence - we threw the ball left, there were quick hands and Richie Williams scored in the left hand corner. The score is 111– 0 and the referee has to consult with his touch judge. Amazing they deliberate for eternity and finally award the try. It was though Richie didn’t deserve it. There was a scream of excitement when it was awarded. Well done Richie. Easts weren’t finished they continued with the kill. 125 -5

The Easts half back Brendan McKibbin had a great general’s game as he slotted goal 12 goals and scored 4 tries, 36 points in all. Congratulations Brendan. For the Parramatta side I thought our tighthead prop Tor Killman was the pick. He led by example and was always in the thick of it. What a great name ,and Tor is such a handsome brute for a prop.

What did we learn out of this loss? We need to number up, we need to be more physical and have a sense of urgency. We need to think smarter and be fitter. There was call for pride in our jumper. I disagree; the call is stand tall for each other. Remember, “ Tough Times don’t last forever, tough people do and no one comes between us.”

Second Grade Report

Eastern Suburbs 55 Parramatta 14 ( D Moore N Lane tries T Holliday 2 goals)

Parramatta kicked off and we were following the game plan of staying down their end. Parra was nearly in for a try in the first few minutes. However, it’s not long before Easts cleaned out and kicked deep resulting in a try. 5-0 The next try comes through inexperience and East's punched a hole through our backs that a train could have travelled through. 12 -0. Easts scored again, we are not moving up quick enough 19-0. We are waiting for them to come and join us. Nick Boland captured the ball and ran at the opposition, he is caught by Easts second rower Jordan Brown and lifted above horizontal. Must be a record, our first yellow card to the opposition. Easts have 14 men, Parramatta never want to be seen as being unfair: Naz gets yellow carded. Every one would be disappointed if Easts had to play one man short while Parra had 15. Centre Tui Faasislia is played well and made some good runs at the line. He was well supported by Centre Danny Moore.

Nathan Lane had a good game and used his speed to advantage. We went to the break at 33-0.

Coach Bell asks whether it is reasonable to ask that we don’t allow Easts any more tries. We are waiting for Easts to come to us. We need to increase out line speed, get vocal and mix it up. Keep going up, don’t let Easts get to the gain line. Above all let’s have crack and back ourselves.

Eastern Suburbs commence well and we are looking a little brittle. Easts spread it wide and the score became 40-0. I t looks like another long afternoon.

Parramatta are not gone, we attack and spin the ball to our left in Easts 22. Danny Moore receives the ball and is able to show a good pair of clean heals and ran to the line. Tim Holliday converts. 40-7. Parra stood flat footed and didn't move up on Easts. Easts score 45- 7. We played well and Tim Holliday is displaying some deft kicks into the box. Easts threw the ball around. There is a call from the sideline, “What do you call backs?, Blokes who hang around football players.” 17 minutes out with the score 50-7 Number 8 Sam Mau is yellow carded for driving into the maul. A very tough call. One man down Easts put another try into us. 55-7. No matter what Easts do it turns to gold. The Easts winger is kneeling down in the middle of the park doing up his shoes laces and the ball goes to him and off he goes... unbelievable!!! Parra got the ball back and played with vigour, when the ball came to the left side, Nathan Lane gets a nice pass and he is away 25 metres out. With a little bit of space Nathan is unstoppable. He runs an "in and out" and he scores between the posts. Is Rex Mossop still alive? Nathan, put the ball down with 2 hands! Full time Score 55-14

In summing up, Coach Bell spoke about the team having a much better second half, we didn’t drop our heads. It was a massive improvement from last week. Captain Lui Sakaria talked about taking a leaf out of our second half, we might not be as skilful as other teams, however, we can do it for each other and we need lots of talk.

Best and Fairest 3pts Nick Boland 2pts Ryan Aniseko 1pt Nathan Lane.

Third Grade Report

Eastern Suburbs 26 Parramatta 7 ( Solomono Latu try Sinsi Paea conversion)

Third grade commenced strongly and with a strong run by Parra No. 8 Sipani Ngata. The game was close and tight. Easts winger scored after 17 minutes then virtually from the kick off Easts scored again and we went to the break 12 nil down.

Coach Bortolussi asked of the team to wake up and to keep their heads up..... straighten the attack and take Easts on up the middle. Most of all keep talking to each other.

We started the second half sloppily - we didn’t value the ball and our ball security was poor, which was compounded by knocking the ball on and running into our own players. However, their was some great defence on Parra’s own line by our half back and our wing Telekoni when Easts split us. Centre Simon Davies made some nice runs. Easts were able to score and convert again 19-0. Easts then kicked through centre Simon Davies was able to drop onto the ball in a try saving move. Unfortunately the ball came up into Easts hands try between the post. 26-0. Parra were not finished there some flourishing moves Solomono Latu ran hard and scored. Sinsi Paea converted. The Parramatta forward pack played strongly with our props and No 8 the pick.

Best and Fairest 3pts Sipani Ngata 2pts Paea Fannu 1pt Joe Paea.

Fourth Grade Report

Easts 48 Parramatta 5.

Once again Fourths were lucky to start because the referee pulled out just before the game. Thank you to Easts for supplying a ref who like last week was extremely good. There are some passionate rugby people out there. The game wasn’t one to write home about. Fourths have a lot of potential. They have the skills and we just have to work together. The result was disappointing, however, as Coach Paea pointed out “Nobody can defend the whole game and win.”

Best and Fairest 3pts Ofa Amone 2pts Mika Polota-Nau 1pt Adrian Meurant

Thommo