Wests Tigers NYC have suffered a 52-12 defeat today at the hands of the Parramatta Eels in what was a tough opening trial match of 2015 for the Under 20s at Kirkham Oval, Elderslie.
With ten squad members unavailable due to their selection in the NSW Cup team playing later in the program, the Brett Kimmorley coached outfit were out-classed by a strong Eels side that ran in 13 tries to two.
Parramatta opened the scoring early when prop Alex Twal burst through the defence 40 metres out and sent fullback Bevan French in to the clear, with the custodian scoring under the posts for a 4-0 lead after three minutes.
Winger Abbas Miski extended the Eels’ lead moments later, gathering in a sharp inside ball out on the right edge to make it 8-0 after 11 minutes.
Wests Tigers hit back though backrower Esan Masters, who barged his way through the Eels’ defence in a barnstorming run to the line - making it 8-4 in favour of Parramatta after 17 minutes.
Miski went over for a second try just before the first quarter break, scoring off the back of a slick backline move as they held a 12-4.
Tyrell Fuimaono was next to cross for the Eels on their right edge, with Miski setting him up with a crisp inside ball. The try extended the Eels lead to 16-4 after 23 minutes.
Centre Nathan Davis scored next to the posts just moments later off the back of a perfectly weighted grubber from Michael Doolan – putting the Eels ahead 20-4 after 26 minutes.
Parramatta interchange player Craig Field scored out wide next, with the Wests Tigers side well and truly on the back-foot with the score at 24-4 after 29 minutes.
Fuimaono was at it again on the Eels’ left edge, setting up Jason Vidal for a try on the 38 minute mark for a 28-4 lead just before the half time break.
Parramatta spread the ball left early on in the second half and winger Atini Gafa finished the move in the corner for the visitors to make it 32-4 after 42 minutes.
The Eels backline put on another slick move with French crossing for his second of the game, this time on the right edge, to make the score 36-4 after 48 minutes.
Gafa was in for a second try soon after, making a line-break on the 40 metre line and racing away to make it 40-4 after 50 minutes.
Miski fielded a towering bomb on the right flank and gave it to centre Reimis Smith, who scored his first of the day, and extended the lead to 44-4 after 55 minutes.
Parramatta were at it again with winger Miski crossing for his third try of the afternoon, doing well to get on the outside of Wests Tigers’ Makaere Bush to make it 48-4 after 62 minutes.
Wests Tigers finally got one back on the Eels, putting up a huge cross-field bomb which Obeid Kharwin leaped above the pack to take. The winger then threw a ball on the inside to backrower Jaleel Seve-Derbas who bagged the four-pointer and brought the score back to 48-8 after 67 minutes.
Wests Tigers halfback Jacob Follent ensured his side finished the game strong, with the playmaker dummying his way through the Eels defence to make it 48-12 with three minutes remaining.
However on the stroke of full-time, the Eels had one more try in them and resulting in a final score-line of 52-12.