Last-placed NRL side earns a morale boosting win.
The Parramatta Eels have given their long-suffering fans something to cheer about after they earned just their fifth win of the NRL season, downing St George Illawarra 26-22.
In a battle between the last two sides in the competition, the game on paper did not promise much.
But the Eels put their horror season behind them to earn a gusty win, thanks to doubles from winger Semi Radradra and prop Fuifui Moi Moi.
The loss was largely the Dragons’ own fault with their completion rate an average 25-34, giving the Eels just enough chances to score.
Dragons hooker Mitch Rein captalised on some soft defence by the Eels close to the ruck to open the scoring, darting out of dummy-half to cross next to the posts to make it 6-0.
Jack de Belin crossed the line but after being held up and an extensive video review the red light was shown.
However, it did not take long for the Dragons to bag their second as Tyson Frizell crashed his way across to make it 12-0 for the away side.
For the second time in the game the Eels gave away penalty late in the tackle count which led to a try.
The first try for the Eels came from the most unlikely of sources, as prop Moi Moi left the ground to collect a bomb.
Parramatta collected their second, again it was off the back of a penalty, as the home side captalised on sloppy defence on the short side giving a clean passage to the line for Radradra.
Moi Moi then gave his side the lead as he bashed his way across the line to bring a smile to the faces of the long-suffering Eels fans as they grabbed a four-point lead.
It was just the first time in his his career that Moi Moi had earned a double in a game, as he took his 2013 tally to three as the Eels led 16-12 at half-time.
The Dragons got the prefect start to the second half as they, again, scored off the back of a penalty as Daniel Vidot scored from close-range.
Radradra bagged his second for the game in what was a sensational effort before Ken Sio crossed as the scored became 26-16.
The Dragons closed the gap when Jack Stockwell bashed his was across the line as he kept his side’s chances alive off pulling off the come-from-behind victory.
However, the home side hung for the win as the Dragons will again be left to wonder what might have been for this round and their season to date.
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