The Illawarra Steelers will be keen to bounce into the winner's circle when they take on Newcastle at WIN Stadium today.
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Matches between the two steel cities are generally keenly contested and today's games are likely to follow that tradition.
The Steelers lost their S. G. Ball Cup under-18 and Harold Matthews Cup under-16 games to Parramatta in atrocious conditions at New Era Stadium, Cabramatta, last Saturday. Both games were played in torrential rain.
In the Matthews Cup, although the Steelers played some good wet-weather football, the Eels led 14-6 at half-time.
Illawarra could not add to their score in the second half and Parramatta won out 28-6.
Front-rower Luke Chalker scored the Steelers' only try between the posts after a great bust through the Eels' forwards. Fullback Jai Brooker converted.
Illawarra was off to a great start in the S G. Ball with a try to centre Dee-Jay Harris in the fifth minute.
Steelers left winger William Tom scored in the 19th minute after a brilliant cutout pass by halfback Adam Clune.
This gave them an early 8-0 lead.
Five minutes from half-time, centre Euan Aitken scored.
After the conversion by Jackson Hastings, the Steelers led 14-0.
Following an Illawarra error, Parramatta registered their first points of the match with a try right on half-time by second-rower Tyrell Fuimaono.
But Parramatta scored five unanswered tries in the second half to win the game 32-14.
The Steelers' games against Newcastle today kick off at 1.30pm for Matthews Cup and 3pm for Ball Cup.