Semi Radradra hat-trick against St George Illawarra Dragons brightens life for Parramatta Eels fans

Eels 16 Dragons 12

They're no more certain about whether Kieran Foran will don their colours next year but the Parramatta faithful found something to cheer about in their side's gritty 16-12 victory over the Dragons on Saturday night.

Only a Gareth Widdop penalty goal separated the two sides at the break in a contest far more open than the 8-6 scoreline would suggest but a hat-trick to Fijian tearaway Semi Radradra - who now boasts 21 tries from 17 games at Pirtek Stadium - proved the difference in the match.

The game finished three tries to two but the Dragons had a right to feel aggrieved after being twice denied by video referee Shayne Hayne most tellingly in the 59th minute with the match on a knife-edge at 12-8. Dylan Farrell appeared to have laid on a brilliant try for Euan Aitken when he batted back a clever Benji Marshall kick for the 19-year-old to cross. The ball looked to travel backwards but Hayne didn't see enough evidence to overturn on-field referee Ashley Klein's no try ruling. It proved a crucial call with Radradra's third try just minutes later effectively putting the match to bed.

No way through: Josh Dugan is held in the tackle. Photo: Getty Images

In a week dominated by the botched Foran deal the Eels second straight win in front of 15,046 people at Pirtek Stadium will temporarily ease the pressure on the embattled board and coach Brad Arthur whose close relationship with Foran is the only thing keeping the deal afloat. 

For the Dragons it was a third consecutive loss for the first time since Paul McGregor took the coaching reins and could see them drop out of the top four for the first time since round six. While they showed all their usual defensive grit on their own line to repel countless attacking raids from the home side in the minutes before halftime, the five-day turnaround from their Monday night loss to the Roosters appeared to take it's toll late in the match. 

The Dragons were on the board from their first set of the match when Farrell collected a clever kick from Marshall and found Aitken in support for the opening try and a 6-0 lead. The Eels hit back immediately through Radradra after Leeson Ah Mau spilled the ball from the kickoff locking the scores at 6-6 after just six minutes.The Dragons re-took the lead eight minutes before the break through a Gareth Widdop penalty goal.

The Eels scored first after the break with David Gower and Chris Sandow combining cleverly on a blindside play to allow Radradra to score his second. Sandow slotted the extras from the sideline to push the Eels lead out to 12-8 after 44 minutes. Radradra's third try just two minutes after Aitken was denied by Hayne gave the Eels an eight-point buffer heading into the final quarter and they were never headed.

The Dragons finally made an impression on the scoreboard when Eto Nabuli finished off a sweeping backline move to cut the Eels lead to 16-12 with 13 minutes to play but they couldn't find the go-ahead try despite a late surge.