NSWRL Harold Matthews Cup - GRAND FINAL (1st HALF) - Parramatta EELS v Newcastle Knights Sat 05 May 2012 @ St. Marys Stadium
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2012 GRAND FINAL (1st HALF)
Parramatta EELS v Newcastle KNIGHTS
1:00 PM @ St. MARY'S STADIUM
Newcastle Knights NEWCASTLE
KNIGHTS
32 - 39
Parramatta EelsPARRAMATTA
EELS
TRIES : Sione Mata - Utia 3, Dean Gavin 2
GOALS : Jake McNamara 4 		TRIES : Joseph Tramontona, Dillon Khoury 2, Atini Gafa, Reagan Rona
GOALS : Dillon Khoury 5
F/GOAL : Jason Vidal
HALF TIME : 8 - 18
Newcastle Knights harold matthews cup
2012 harold matthews cup
PARRAMATTA EELS SING VICTORY SONG IN THE SHEDS AFTER THE GRAND FINAL
Parramatta EELS - 2012 Harrold Matthews Cup Champions (Photo : OurFootyMedia)
Parramatta EELS - 2012 Harrold Matthews Cup Champions (Photo : OurFootyMedia)
Dillon KHOURY - 2012 Harold Matthews Cup - Man of the Match award (Photo : OurFootyMedia)
Dillon KHOURY - 2012 Harold Matthews Cup - Man of the Match award (Photo : OurFootyMedia)
PARRAMATTA WIN 2012 HAROLD MATTHEWS CUP
Story By : NSWRL MEDIA
Photo's By : ourfootyteam logo
The Parramatta Eels have won the 2012 Harold Matthews Cup after they held off a fast finishing Newcastle Knights outfit 39-32 at St Marys Leagues Stadium today (5/5/2012).

Doubles to Man of the Match Dillon Khoury and hooker Jason Tramontana saw the Eels race to a 28-8 lead with 20 minutes remaining but back to back tries to Knights captain Sione Mata’Utia had the score back to 28-20 just minutes later. The Eels steadied the ship however with Khoury’s second and a try to replacement Ryan Holman, moving the score to 38-20 at the 45th minute.

The Knights managed to scramble late with tries to Mata’Utia and Dean Gavin but it was too little too late for the Knights as the Eels ran out seven point victors.

Newcastle were starved of possession in the early exchanges due to mistakes which lead to two Eels tries. A repeat set from Parramatta’s first kick set the platform for Tramontana’s first and just minutes late, Brad Mullins dropped a bomb cold which gifted Khoury his first try.

The Novocastrians had their first attacking set of six 10 minutes into the match and once they started to get more possession began to trouble the Eels out wide. Tevita Panagi turned provider for Dean Gavin when he threw a perfect cut-out pass sending the winger over in the corner.

The Knights brought the score back to 12-8 when a hard-running Mata’Utia crossed for his first out wide but the Eels would answer back through Tramontana as they took an 18-8 lead into half time.

Parramatta were far too strong up the middle and were served well by hooker Jason Tramontana, fullback Dillon Khoury and second-rower Michael Black, while for the Knights captain Sione Mata’Utia was outstanding along with winger Dean Gavin.

The Eels now face Souths Logan, who won the Cyril Connell Cup (Queensland’s version of the Harold Matthew Cup), in the 2012 National Junior Representative Championships in Brisbane next weekend.

Parramatta Eels 39 (D Khoury 2, J Tramontana 2, A Gafa, T Oloapu, R Rona tries; D Khoury 5 goals; J Vidal field goal) def. Newcastle Knights 32 (S Mata'Utia 3, D Gavin 2, T Pangai tries; J McNamara 4 goals).
Sione Mata-Utia runs onto St. Marys Stadium for the Qualifying Final (Photo : OurFootyMedia)
Sione Mata-Utia runs onto St. Marys Stadium for the Qualifying Final (Photo : OurFootyMedia)
KNIGHTS DEFEATED IN THRILLING GRAND FINAL
Story By : Newcastle Knights

Knights defeated in thrilling Grand Final

Despite a courageous performance and late comeback the Newcastle Knights’ Harold Matthews side has been defeated 39-32 by the Parramatta Eels during Saturday’s Grand Final at St Marys Leagues Club Stadium.

The Knights got off to a shaky start, letting the Eels in for two converted tries, 12-0.

Back to back penalties offered the Knights their first opportunity and they didn’t let it go to waste, with Tevita Pangai throwing a beautiful cut out pass to Dean Gavin who ran over for four points, 12-4.

The Knights attack continued, this time with captain Sione Mata’utia running on his own to put the ball down on the far left, 12-8.

With only a minute left in the first half Tramontana crossed for the Eels before Khoury converted to increase their lead by 10-points, 18-8.

The Eels continued to dominate early in the second half, scoring two quick tries to blow the score out to 28-8.

With the game looking all but over, the Knights refused to give up and embarked on a comeback, lead by Mata’utia who crossed for his second before McNamara converted, 28-14.

The momentum continued for the young Knights with Mata’utia running an impressive 70 metres to score his third, which with McNamara successfully converting, saw the score sit at 28-20 with only 15 minutes left on the clock.

Despite a gutsy performance the Knights couldn’t keep the Eels out, with Khoury scoring his second and Vidal kicking a field goal with less than 10 minutes to go, 33-20.

The Knights scored another two tries before the full-time buzzer but it wasn’t enough to win them the game, 39-32.

Knights 32 (Tries: S Mata'Utia 3, D Gavin 2, T Pangai. Goals: J McNamara 4/6)

Photo credit: ourfootyteam.com
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