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Herbie Farnworth, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow save game for Dolphins with heroic try-saving tackles

Zachary Gates
Zachary Gates

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Two phenomenal try-saving tackles in the dying minutes saw the Dolphins hold on for a spirited and pulsating 20-16 victory over the Eels on Thursday night.

The second of the tackles came in the final 30 seconds when Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow brought down Eels playmaker Dylan Brown on Parramatta's left edge.

The Eels would have had time for another crack at the Dolphins if Brown hadn't coughed up the ball in the tackle — an error the Knights-bound star described as "embarrassing" in a post-match interview.

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With his side trailing 20-16 in the final minute of the CommBank Stadium clash, Eels halfback Mitchell Moses sparked a try-scoring opportunity out of the blue when he threw a long, spiralling pass toward the left wing.

Addo-Carr scooped up the ball on the bounce about 70 metres out, burst through a tackle, and bolted down the field.

Met by Tabuai-Fidow, he passed inside to Brown, and although Brown was able to turn "The Hammer" inside out, the Dolphins No.1 would make amends with his fearsome turn of speed.

Dylan Brown is chased by Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.

Dylan Brown is chased by Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow in the dying seconds of the game. Nine

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In the 76th minute, Dolphins centre Herbie Farnworth had saved a try on the other side of the field by denying Will Penisini.

One moment, Penisini appeared to have muscled through Farnworth on the last tackle. The next, the Englishman had wrestled him to ground about a metre short of the try line.

Farnworth produced such a stellar game that his try-saving tackle on the Parramatta centre was not his best play of the match; in the 65th minute, he'd pierced the Eels' line 60 metres out and shot past fullback Isaiah Iongi to score a spectacular solo try.

Farnworth also racked up 195 metres in the game — a tally only bettered by Addo-Carr (239 metres) and Tabuai-Fidow (219).

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"The only thing I could do was [a] right-foot [step]," Brown told Nine's Emma Lawrence at full-time, breaking down the last-ditch play.

"I dummied and he caught me straight back, so I dunno, he's that quick.

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"Fox [Josh Addo-Carr] just should have kept going [instead of passing to Brown].

"That was a Hail Mary pass, too [Moses]. We were very lucky to even get there.

"It's pretty embarrassing dropping it there."

Parramatta's defeat will be soured even further if lock forward J'maine Hopgood is suspended for a crusher tackle.

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The Eels were penalised and Hopgood reported after he performed a crusher tackle on Farnworth with 10 minutes remaining.

Moses argued with the referee but had no success in doing so.

The Eels led 12-6 with 20 minutes to go but the Dolphins piled on two converted tries to take an 18-12 lead, before going another two points ahead via a penalty goal.

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Parramatta responded on the back of a brilliant offload from second-rower Kitione Kautoga, who linked with Iongi before the Eels No.1 found Brown who dashed away to score.

But that try, which wasn't converted, left the Eels trailing 20-16, and the two try-saving tackles followed.

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