It was a tough day at the office for the Steelers with all three teams going down to the Parramatta Eels in Round Eight of the NSWRL junior reps at Kellyville Park.
The Eels defeated Illawarra Steelers 22-12 in the Harvey Norman Tarsha Gale Cup. The Eels were the first to strike after some power running through the middle sent their captain Ruby-Jean Kennard crashing over.
The Eels crossed again on the stroke of half-time after halfback Rosemarie Beckett looked outside before opting to run the ball, carrying several defenders over the line with her. The conversion was unsuccessful and the Eels led 10-0 at the break.
The Steelers needed to be the next to score and they did exactly that, after hooker Salma Nour caught the defence napping. Lily Rogan converted and the Steelers trailed 10-6.
[Video] Watch the match highlights here
The Eels scored back-to-back tries through Katalina Vave and Alysha Bell and to take a 22-6 lead with 20 minutes remaining.
There was plenty of fight left in the Steelers. Nour bagged herself a double with two minutes left on the clock, but it was too little too late as the Eels secured their fifth win of 2022.
In Harold Matts, the Steelers were outscored six tries to three, the Eels winning 34-18 after leading 24-6 at the break. Tom Kirk scored a brace for the scarlet and whites with James Walsh also scoring a four-pointer and three conversions.
[Video] Watch the match highlights here from 1min 55 sec mark
In SG Ball, the Steelers trailed the home side 12-8 at halftime before hitting the lead 10 minutes into the second half through a converted try to winger Te Umuariki Heremia-Tukere. However, it wasn’t long before the Eels hit back with two tries to take the win 22-14.
[Video] Watch the match highlights here from from 2m22sec mark
Match report courtesy of nswrl.com.au
