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Post by Electric Eel on May 23, 2020 18:58:18 GMT 10
Round 6, 2005: Parramatta 26 d Melbourne 14
SMH.com
Eels see the light again
By James MacSmith at Olympic Park
April 17, 2005
The Sun-Herald
Eels 26 Storm 14
The Eels bounced back from one of the darkest days in their history with a stunning upset win against the Storm in Melbourne last night.
Only six days earlier Parramatta had been lapped 54-14 by Brisbane and, despite a number of high-quality off-season buys, their season looked set to unravel.
But they found the resolve that had been missing last week by taking two points from one of the toughest road trips in league at Olympic Park.
On the back of a dominant performance from their forwards, rookie halfback Tim Smith and utility John Morris steered the visitors around the park and were instrumental in the win. After last week's thrashing many predicted the Eels would be NRL also-rans.
But in defeating one of the premiership favourites on their home turf - where the Storm are rarely beaten, thrashing the Broncos 50-4 in their last start there - Parramatta proved they can be a force this year.
The Eels turned an 18-10 half-time lead into a 12-point win in front of 9649 fans. They scored four tries to three with goalkicking providing the buffer - fullback Luke Burt kicked five from six.
The Storm lacked their usual enthusiasm and their potent attack backfired through much of the match. They looked like world-beaters in disposing of the Broncos two weeks ago, but have since lost two matches in a row.
In a game that the Storm were expected to dominate the Eels started slowly and looked rusty in attack. But Parramatta's defence had the starch it was so desperately missing last week. After failing to score a point in the first half against the Broncos the visitors struck first after 15 minutes through Henry Perenara, who started the game after Paul Stringer withdrew on the eve of the match with illness.
From 30 metres out John Morris popped a short ball to Perenara, who broke the line then slipped out of a weak tackle from Storm fullback Billy Slater for the converted try.
Parramatta stretched further ahead five minutes later on the back of successive penalties in the Storm 22-metre zone.
Morris was again instrumental, throwing cut-out pass to Eric Grothe on the right wing. Grothe dragged three defenders over the line with him before plonking the ball down with his left arm.
Luke Burt landed the sideline conversion and after 21 minutes the Eels led 12-0. The Storm looked lethargic and lacked their usual flowing attack. In-form centre Matt King took it upon himself to bring the home side back into the contest when he stormed over in 28th minute.
Hooker Craig Smith worked a runaround with halfback Matt Orford before passing to the hard-running King, who touched down for the unconverted try.
The Eels began to dig a hole for themselves with handling errors and silly penalties.
In the 33rd minute Matt Geyer spilt the ball just out from the Parramatta line and a try went begging. But five minutes later the Storm got their second try after a forward pass from Eels back-rower Nathan Hindmarsh to Dean Widders forced a scrum 10 metres out from their line.
On the ensuing set of six Orford fooled the Eels defence with a dummy, broke the line and scooted over to score. Smith landed the conversion and a minute before half-time the Storm trailed 12-10.
SMH.com
Eels see the light again
By James MacSmith at Olympic Park
April 17, 2005
The Sun-Herald
Eels 26 Storm 14
The Eels bounced back from one of the darkest days in their history with a stunning upset win against the Storm in Melbourne last night.
Only six days earlier Parramatta had been lapped 54-14 by Brisbane and, despite a number of high-quality off-season buys, their season looked set to unravel.
But they found the resolve that had been missing last week by taking two points from one of the toughest road trips in league at Olympic Park.
On the back of a dominant performance from their forwards, rookie halfback Tim Smith and utility John Morris steered the visitors around the park and were instrumental in the win. After last week's thrashing many predicted the Eels would be NRL also-rans.
But in defeating one of the premiership favourites on their home turf - where the Storm are rarely beaten, thrashing the Broncos 50-4 in their last start there - Parramatta proved they can be a force this year.
The Eels turned an 18-10 half-time lead into a 12-point win in front of 9649 fans. They scored four tries to three with goalkicking providing the buffer - fullback Luke Burt kicked five from six.
The Storm lacked their usual enthusiasm and their potent attack backfired through much of the match. They looked like world-beaters in disposing of the Broncos two weeks ago, but have since lost two matches in a row.
In a game that the Storm were expected to dominate the Eels started slowly and looked rusty in attack. But Parramatta's defence had the starch it was so desperately missing last week. After failing to score a point in the first half against the Broncos the visitors struck first after 15 minutes through Henry Perenara, who started the game after Paul Stringer withdrew on the eve of the match with illness.
From 30 metres out John Morris popped a short ball to Perenara, who broke the line then slipped out of a weak tackle from Storm fullback Billy Slater for the converted try.
Parramatta stretched further ahead five minutes later on the back of successive penalties in the Storm 22-metre zone.
Morris was again instrumental, throwing cut-out pass to Eric Grothe on the right wing. Grothe dragged three defenders over the line with him before plonking the ball down with his left arm.
Luke Burt landed the sideline conversion and after 21 minutes the Eels led 12-0. The Storm looked lethargic and lacked their usual flowing attack. In-form centre Matt King took it upon himself to bring the home side back into the contest when he stormed over in 28th minute.
Hooker Craig Smith worked a runaround with halfback Matt Orford before passing to the hard-running King, who touched down for the unconverted try.
The Eels began to dig a hole for themselves with handling errors and silly penalties.
In the 33rd minute Matt Geyer spilt the ball just out from the Parramatta line and a try went begging. But five minutes later the Storm got their second try after a forward pass from Eels back-rower Nathan Hindmarsh to Dean Widders forced a scrum 10 metres out from their line.
On the ensuing set of six Orford fooled the Eels defence with a dummy, broke the line and scooted over to score. Smith landed the conversion and a minute before half-time the Storm trailed 12-10.
