- Parramatta vs Newcastle clash hit by long wait
- Eels apologized for shocking mistake on Saturday
Newcastle moved back into the NRLW top four with a convincing 36-16 win over Parramatta, a match that was bizarrely postponed due to a lack of medical staff.
Kick-off at the Eels’ Eric Tweedale Stadium was scheduled for 11am on Saturday, but the match could not start without the presence of a qualified paramedic, as required by NRL rules.
When the match finally kicked off at 11.43am local time, almost 45 minutes later than scheduled, the Knights were in hot form and dominated the third-placed Eels.
An NRL spokesperson said the delay was ‘due to a technical compliance issue, which has been discussed with the clubs’.
According to the Eels, the problem was ‘a matter of having enough qualified independent paramedics for the match’.
“Once the issue was identified the club deployed the appropriate qualified paramedics and the match was able to go ahead,” a club spokeswoman said. Nine.
‘We would like to apologise to the fans and broadcasters for the delay in kick-off.’
The two consecutive reigning champions looked back on their best performances after successive defeats ended their 11-match unbeaten run and dropped them out of the places.
Parramatta’s Elsie Albert (centre) takes the ball to Newcastle’s defence during Saturday’s match, which was delayed for almost 45 minutes
Officials from both teams and an NRL representative (in black uniform, centre) are pictured talking during the delay caused by the lack of medical staff.
Tries from Tamika Upton, Olivia Higgins, Lilly-Ann White and Abigail Roache saw them take a 20-0 lead within the first 20 minutes.
Newcastle manager Ben Jeffries was pleased with the maturity with which his players did not let the delay faze them.
“We started the game very well,” he said.
‘I’m very happy with how they responded to that.
“I think some leaders in that situation have taken control.”
It was the first NRLW or NRL match ever held at the small venue in Sydney’s west.
Host clubs are typically responsible for booking a paramedic to attend NRLW matches.
The NRL is expected to investigate the circumstances of the delay.
The Eels threatened to come back with three tries from Rosemarie Beckett, Mahalia Murphy and Cassey Tohi-Hiku in the space of 14 minutes, but the Knights held their nerve.
Fullback Upton shone with two try assists and a line-break, raising her brace and set the game up with a dazzling 70-metre try in the final minute.
In Saturday’s second game, which started before the first game had even finished, North Queensland all but ended Canberra’s season with a 28-18 victory.
When the action finally got going, Newcastle made short work of the Eels (pictured is Knights star Tenika Willison running with the ball)
The Raiders’ fourth straight defeat means they remain in eighth place and are unable to secure 12 league points – the cut-off point for a finals place last season.
Jasmine Peters and Vitalina Naikore both scored twice to put North Queensland in the lead from the second minute until the final whistle.
Krystal Blackwell was a nuisance for the Raiders defence after being moved to fullback while regular No. 1 Fran Goldthorp was injured.
The 21-year-old produced the best performance of the match, scoring a stunning try from the length of the pitch to give the Cowboys an eight-point lead in the 12th minute.
After the Raiders scored through Felice Quinlan and Sophie Holyman, Simaima Taufa scored with five minutes to go to close the gap to one try.
But Peters’ second goal of the afternoon ended the Raiders’ nascent comeback and their hopes of a first finals berth.