Dragons fall to Eels in golden point

Christian Tuipulotu went close to finding early points for the Dragons off a fifth-tackle shift but was dragged down inches from the goal-line.

It was instead the Eels who were the first on board with Lomax knocking over a gift penalty goal courtesy of a stripping infringement.

The visitors lodged a Captain’s Challenge 10 minutes into proceedings claiming that Tuipulotu had been thrown into touch illegally on an attacking raid but were knocked back.

In poetic fashion, the first try of the afternoon came courtesy of Gutherson who finished off a sequence in which Jack de Belin and Valentine Holmes came up with handy offloads.

Gutherson weaved his way through centre-field and slammed the ball down under the sticks with Holmes knocking over the conversion to make it 6-2.

An escort penalty gave Holmes the opportunity to slot a penalty goal of his own and make it 8-2 a little over a quarter of the way into the clash.

An error off the corresponding kick-off gifted Parramatta an opportunity to answer with Josh Addo-Carr taking in an Isaiah Iongi cut-out to dive over in the left corner and tie things up.

The Dragons marched back down the field and wrestled back the lead via Tuipulotu who was on the end of a slick left-side shift with Gutherson throwing the final pass off the back of a pair of powerful Toby Couchman and Jaydn Su’A carries.

Eels interchange forward Luca Moretti was placed on report for a dangerous tackle as the players left the field for half-time.

Will Penisini was placed on report early in the second forty for an apparent hip drop on Luciano Leilua with Gutherson nabbing his second of the afternoon off the back of it after he jumped in at acting half off a quick Kyle Flanagan play-the-ball and burrowed his way over.

Holmes added the extras to remain a perfect four-from-four off the tee and extend the Red V’s edge out to 20-8.

Iongi crossed off a left-side sweep play for Parramatta just short of the hour-mark to bring the hosts back within six points.

The Eels found another moments later through Kitione Kautoga who collected a spilt Dean Hawkins kick to dive over in the right corner and tie it at 20-apiece.

The Dragons roared onto the attack shortly after thanks to a Gutherson line break with Lachlan Ilias forcing a repeat set off the back of it.

Parramatta’s drop-out sailed out on the full gifting Holmes a chance to knock over a penalty goal from in front and give his side a 22-20 lead.

The Red V looked to have extended their lead with seven minutes to play through Tyrell Sloan only for the winger’s boot to brush the chalk as he attempted to ground the ball.

Parramatta were awarded a penalty for a crusher tackle the following set with Lomax coming in to have a shot at goal from over 40 metres out and hitting it to make it 22-all.

Lomax had an unsuccessful shot at a two-point field goal with two minutes to play before Holmes attempted one the following set which was waved away as the sides prepared for golden point.

Lomax instead had the first shot of the extra time period and hit it to win it for the hosts 23-22.