1981 1982 1983 1986 
Post by Electric Eel on Aug 9, 2020 11:59:44 GMT 10
16th March 1986
The Eels were finally home at last and it was more the rebirth of Cumberland Oval rather than the launching of Parramatta Stadium.
A 36-6 victory over arch-rivals St George just never entered anyone's plans for the big day. An Eels victory was a must for them-but it was supposed to be tough, tight and fought down to the wire.
Instead it was like the Saints had written the wrong script-as if they were spellbound by the atmosphere of the Eels homecoming and by a man called Peter Sterling.
From the time he gave a great short pass to Steve Sharp for the first top grade try scored at the stadium, Sterling controlled the match.
Stan Jurd, as unlikely a tryscorer as the historic Sharp, also burst through to the line from a Sterling gem. Neil Hunt twice scored, firstly after Sterling began a raid and later after magnificently leaping high to take a Sterling bomb that deflected off Saints half Perry Haddock.
And that was just the first half. With the score at 18-6 at halftime, and with Saints already looking like a lost legion who could not handle a football, Sterling could of relaxed but he was enjoying himself too much.
He directly set up only one of the three second half tries scored within six minutes of each other, with a neat stab kick that was picked up by rookie centre Brian Jackson. But his kicking, his probing and calling of the play was majestic.
Parramatta were out to make history, for themselves, for their mate Mick Cronin whose only part in the big match was to kick off, and for their trainer Kerry Sargent who died only four days short of seeing the team run out onto the stadium.
And they made history in a bigger way than they realised as they celebrated in their new dressing rooms after. The win was the biggest in history against the Saints, beating their 33-4 win in their first clash of 1983.
Parramatta 36 (N.Hunt 2, S.Sharp, S.Jurd, B.Kenny, B.Jackson, R.Price tries, Hunt 4 goals) defeated St George 6 (M.O'Connor try and goal). Referee: K.Roberts. Crowd: 26,870.
Welcome Home Parramatta
The Eels were finally home at last and it was more the rebirth of Cumberland Oval rather than the launching of Parramatta Stadium.
A 36-6 victory over arch-rivals St George just never entered anyone's plans for the big day. An Eels victory was a must for them-but it was supposed to be tough, tight and fought down to the wire.
Instead it was like the Saints had written the wrong script-as if they were spellbound by the atmosphere of the Eels homecoming and by a man called Peter Sterling.
From the time he gave a great short pass to Steve Sharp for the first top grade try scored at the stadium, Sterling controlled the match.
Stan Jurd, as unlikely a tryscorer as the historic Sharp, also burst through to the line from a Sterling gem. Neil Hunt twice scored, firstly after Sterling began a raid and later after magnificently leaping high to take a Sterling bomb that deflected off Saints half Perry Haddock.
And that was just the first half. With the score at 18-6 at halftime, and with Saints already looking like a lost legion who could not handle a football, Sterling could of relaxed but he was enjoying himself too much.
He directly set up only one of the three second half tries scored within six minutes of each other, with a neat stab kick that was picked up by rookie centre Brian Jackson. But his kicking, his probing and calling of the play was majestic.
Parramatta were out to make history, for themselves, for their mate Mick Cronin whose only part in the big match was to kick off, and for their trainer Kerry Sargent who died only four days short of seeing the team run out onto the stadium.
And they made history in a bigger way than they realised as they celebrated in their new dressing rooms after. The win was the biggest in history against the Saints, beating their 33-4 win in their first clash of 1983.
Parramatta 36 (N.Hunt 2, S.Sharp, S.Jurd, B.Kenny, B.Jackson, R.Price tries, Hunt 4 goals) defeated St George 6 (M.O'Connor try and goal). Referee: K.Roberts. Crowd: 26,870.
Welcome Home Parramatta
