Hopes of a second straight win for the Vodafone Junior Warriors were thwarted when Parramatta scored three second half tries to prevail 22-6 in tonight's 13th-round NYC clash at ANZ Stadium in Sydney.
The Vodafone Junior Warriors went into the match with their confidence boosted after their first win of the season against Brisbane last weekend.
They went to halftime level at 6-6 tonight with everything to play for in the second half but couldn't add to their total in the second term.
The game was a slugfest in the middle early on with the two teams making simple errors or giving away penalties.
With 22 minutes gone Emosi Alamoti crossed for the first points of the match, slicing through on the right edge to cross under the sticks. Troy Dargan’s conversion gave the Eels a 6-0 lead.
Five minutes later the Vodafone Warriors responded through Paul Turner with the livewire standoff stepping through the Eels’ right edge defence to score to the left of the uprights. Chanel Harris-Tavita converted to bring the score level at 6-6.
Troy Dargan looked to have broken the deadlock five minutes after the half time break but was pulled up for an obstruction by Sean Keppie.
After being denied earlier in the match Denzal Tonise wouldn’t be denied a second time, barging over from close range to break the deadlock in the 55th minute. Dargan made no mistake from next to the uprights and the Eels led 12-6.
The Eels proceeded to build some pressure with repeat sets on the Vodafone Warriors' line but were unable breach the New Zealanders’ defensive line.
With the clock beginning to tick away John Fonua crossed for Parramatta’s third try of the evening off a floating cut-out pass from Dargan. He landed the sideline conversion and the Blue and Golds had jumped to an 18-6 lead with 12 minutes remaining.
The Vodafone Warriors weren’t willing to give up though with Javvier Pitovao crashing over only to be held up by some desperate goal line defence.
The Eels proceeded to ice the match when they went to their right edge 40 metres from the Vodafone Warriors' line.
Dargan sliced through before hitting Reed Mahoney who found Haze Dunster down the left touch line.
Match details
ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Parramatta Eels 22 (Emosi Alamoti, Denzal Tonise, John Fonua, Haze Dunster tries; Troy Dargan 3 conversions)
Vodafone Junior Warriors 6 (Paul Turner try; Chanel Harris-Tavita conversion).
Halftime: 6-6.
Vodafone Junior Warriors | Lee Turner; Lewis Soosemea, Melino Fineanganofo, Kane Telea, Gibson Popoalii; Paul Turner, Chanel Harris-Tavita; Kenese Kenese (c), Eiden Ackland, Tayhler Paora; Tyler Slade, Joe Vuna; Chris Sio (c). Interchange: Dean Kouka-Smith, Kelepi Lui, Javvier Pitovao, Nathan Newton.
