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THE Parramatta Eels are off to a flying start for the 2013 season after their crushing 40-10 defeat over the Newcastle Knights.
The game was a one-sided affair with the Eels putting points on the board in the early stages of the first quarter.
Heading into the break the Eels led the Knights 16-nil and the damaged continued.
There were notable absences of key players on both sides but the Eels dominated in defence.
The Knights struggled to gain momentum in converting opportunities into points and went into the half-time break down 26-nil.
Eels’ Dylon Gilbert scored a try; his second for the day in the opening minutes of the second half and went on to score another two quick tries.
This damaged the Knights’ hopes of a revival in the second 40 minutes.
The Eels stretched the score out to 36-nil before the Knights secured an unconverted try.
The Knights scored another try to close the gap marginally to 36-10 at the end of the third quarter.
Stepping over the try-line again, the Eels finished the game 40-10.
More than 5,000 people filled the stands at the University of New England’s Bellevue in the first NRL trial match held in Armidale since 1993.
In games held earlier in the day the Greater North West Academy under-16 side outplayed the Parramatta Eels to win 10-4.
While the under-18 Parramatta Eels side were all class in their 46-10 domination of the Greater North West Academy side.
