Eels’ Finals aspirations still alive

Parramatta has continued its charge towards the 2006 Finals series with a comprehensive 34-6 victory over the Wests Tigers this afternoon at Telstra Stadium.

The premiers were off to a promising start, enforcing repeat sets of six on the Eels in the opening passages of play.

The Tigers’ work was brought undone however, with a converted intercept try to Eels flyer Jarryd Hayne after seven minutes and a Tigers attacking siege.

Wests managed to keep themselves in the game after the subsequent missiles fired by the Eels. They locked things up at 6-all with a try to Robbie Farah from dummy half and a difficult conversion from Scott Prince.

Although consecutive blows from the Eels; a solo try to halfback Jeremy Smith, and another intercept try on the stroke of halftime to Hayne, ensured that it was a long road back for the Tigers who trailed 16-6 at the break.

We were then treated to a lacklustre second half from both sides. The Eels managed to cross three times in the second stanza but the Tigers really had raised the white flag at the halfway point after the scintillating Hayne Try.

Both sides have worries on the injury front but the Tigers’ are far more serious. The 2005 premiers can add Bryce Gibbs (elbow) and Brett Hodgson (knee) to their injury list, although Gibbs should be fit to play next weekend.

Parramatta hooker Mark Riddell was taken ill before the start of the match and Chad Robinson was ruled out of this match, but both injuries appear to be minor.

In Round 21, Parramatta will resume its rivalry with Manly at home on Saturday night, while the Tigers travel meet the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium next Sunday afternoon.

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