1981 1982 1983 1986 
Post by Electric Eel on Aug 2, 2020 22:17:57 GMT 10
5th May 1985
The English connection is on the way home. Parramatta are clear second in the Winfield premiership and they have avenged the grand final defeat to Canterbury in the most convincingly way.
At this stage of the season the critics predicted the Eels would be wallowing midfield on the competition table, eagerly awaiting the return of their six players in England.
And even last Sunday morning, after the Eels had played well enough in previous weeks to have them in touch with the league front-runners, one critic claimed they would fall in a heap. "Parramatta have got to the stage where their stop-gap players won't be good enough," he said.
It was criticism the Eels absorbed before the match. And they delighted in proving it wrong.
"Not bad for a team of spare parts," prop Paul Mares said. "The English blokes are going to have to fight their way into this team."
While the Parramatta forwards made their opponents look ordinary, it was the Eels' 'old man', Mick Cronin, and his regular partner in crime Steve Ella who reaped the rewards.
Cronin, the 33 year old who is playing well enough to be picked for Australia but wants only to devote his energy to Parramatta, was glorious.
He somehow got rid of the ball with three defenders clinging to him to create the first try-the gem scored by Ella. Mark Laurie, another 'spare part' who has come into his own, miraculously scooped up the bouncing ball for Mike Eden. It went to Tony Chalmers and Ella who kicked over and regathered to score.
It was Cronin who put winger Graeme Atkins away with a superb cut-out pass for the Eels' second try and it was Cronin who continually launched attacks out wide and sent Canterbury backwards with his line and chip kicks.
The game was over even before Atkins' second try made it 16-2 after 62 minutes. The Bulldogs lacked imagination and thrust in attack and were woefully brittle at times in defence.
Parramatta 22 (G.Atkins 2, S.Ella, G.Mansfield tries, M.Cronin 3 goals) defeated Canterbury 2 (A.Farrar goal). Referee: K.Roberts. Crowd: 16,459.
Mick Cronin
The English connection is on the way home. Parramatta are clear second in the Winfield premiership and they have avenged the grand final defeat to Canterbury in the most convincingly way.
At this stage of the season the critics predicted the Eels would be wallowing midfield on the competition table, eagerly awaiting the return of their six players in England.
And even last Sunday morning, after the Eels had played well enough in previous weeks to have them in touch with the league front-runners, one critic claimed they would fall in a heap. "Parramatta have got to the stage where their stop-gap players won't be good enough," he said.
It was criticism the Eels absorbed before the match. And they delighted in proving it wrong.
"Not bad for a team of spare parts," prop Paul Mares said. "The English blokes are going to have to fight their way into this team."
While the Parramatta forwards made their opponents look ordinary, it was the Eels' 'old man', Mick Cronin, and his regular partner in crime Steve Ella who reaped the rewards.
Cronin, the 33 year old who is playing well enough to be picked for Australia but wants only to devote his energy to Parramatta, was glorious.
He somehow got rid of the ball with three defenders clinging to him to create the first try-the gem scored by Ella. Mark Laurie, another 'spare part' who has come into his own, miraculously scooped up the bouncing ball for Mike Eden. It went to Tony Chalmers and Ella who kicked over and regathered to score.
It was Cronin who put winger Graeme Atkins away with a superb cut-out pass for the Eels' second try and it was Cronin who continually launched attacks out wide and sent Canterbury backwards with his line and chip kicks.
The game was over even before Atkins' second try made it 16-2 after 62 minutes. The Bulldogs lacked imagination and thrust in attack and were woefully brittle at times in defence.
Parramatta 22 (G.Atkins 2, S.Ella, G.Mansfield tries, M.Cronin 3 goals) defeated Canterbury 2 (A.Farrar goal). Referee: K.Roberts. Crowd: 16,459.
Mick Cronin
