Aiken & Davis Star as Easts Scorch Eels in Gosford

The Roosters looked incredibly dangerous in their first set, with Tarryn Aiken brushing straight through the defensive line and racing upfield before offloading to Keeley Davis, only to have the pass ruled forward. 

After trading blows with the Eels for nine minutes, an inspiring defensive effort by Jocelyn Kelleher - who applied the pressure from marker to turn the ball over in good field position - gave the Tricolours a golden opportunity to test Parramatta. 

Aiken provided the spark once more, unleashing Isabelle Kelly through the line before the Skipper found Otesa Pule back on the inside.

The young back-rower stepped off her left foot to school the defence, fending off Eels centre Cassey Tohi-Hiku as she crashed down for first points. Kelleher converted the try to take the Roosters to a six-point lead. 

A short kick-off paid dividends for the Eels, who gained the ball back after it bounced over the sideline. The visitors continued to test the Tricolours defence in strong territory after gaining further possession through a drop-out but the Bondi Wall refused to surrender. 

Jessica Sergis fought for a quick play the ball which allowed the Roosters to track 30 metres towards the try-line before being awarded a penalty. 

The Tricolours sensed blood in the water with a storming run from Corban Baxter taunting the Eels defence.

On the following set, the Roosters made Parramatta pay for a handling error with Sergis sending Mia Wood over in the corner for her fourth try in two weeks. 

Four minutes later, a show and go from Aiken saw the stellar five-eighth breeze through the defence before finding Amelia Pasikala back on the inside to add another four-points to the tally. Kelleher nailed the conversion to make the score 16-0. 

A textbook play from the Tricolours resulted in more points, with Sergis blitzing through the scattered defence and racing to ground the ball between the uprights in the 31st minute. Kelleher's conversion carried the hosts to a 22-point advantage. 

The Eels claimed their first points on the stroke of the break with a Rachael Pearson penalty goal after Pani Hopoate was penalised for a hip-drop tackle.

The young Tongan representative came into the second half firing to claim first points in 42nd minute through a crash play after Keeley Davis broke through the defence to carry the hosts into attacking territory a few tackles earlier. Kelleher's conversion made the difference 26-points.  

The Eels short restart attempt was fumbled by Pearson, resulting in more possession for the Roosters. Aiken sliced through the defence with another show and go, before Kernick set up Sergis for a double in the 46th minute with a short-ball. Kelleher converted the try to make the score 34-2.

Receiving a penalty within 10 metres of their try-line, Parramatta claimed their first try through Mahalia Murphy who cut straight through a gap in the line and planted the ball down before Pearson reduced the margin to 26 with a conversion.

The Roosters rallied in defence to force Talesha O'Neill to make an error off the restart, taking full advantage of the possession as Davis supplied Pule a crisp short-ball before the back-rower twisted her way down for a double. Kelleher extended the Roosters' lead to 32-points in the 55th minute. 

Only two minutes later a brilliant run from Kelleher allowed Davis to claim her own try, diving over from dummy half before the Tricolours halfback converted the four-pointer to make the score 46-8. 

A perfectly executed kick from Pearson was gathered by undefended winger Kimberley Hunt who leapt into the corner on the siren to cement the final score as 46-12.

Sydney Roosters 46 (Otesa Pule 2, Mia Wood, Amelia Pasikala, Jessica Sergis 2, Pani Hopoate, Keeley Davis tries, Jocelyn Kelleher 6 goals) def Parramatta Eels 12.