Eels run away with it
NRL Results 
/ Andy Morris / 21 September 2009 / Leave a comment Bet Now
Parramatta secured a grand final qualifier against the Bulldogs after beating the Titans in the elimination semi-final at the Sydney Football Stadium, writes Andy Morris.
The Eels led 13-2 at the break and ran away with the match in the second half, to leave themselves one game away from a first grand final appearance in eight years.
Parramatta only just squeezed into the top eight, but has now beaten the Dragons and the Gold Coast in the play-offs.
Scott Prince gave the Titans an early lead through a penalty goal, but from that point on it was one-way traffic.
Feleti Mateo scored the first try after 20 minutes, with Luke Burt adding the extras. Then second-rower Ben Smith scored five minutes before the break, with Burt's conversion and a Jarryd Hayne field goal giving them an 11-point cushion at the break.
Kevin Kingston ran 20m for another Eels try, then Jonathan Wright sealed the deal as Burt ended with five goals.
The Broncos will face Melbourne in the preliminary final after they beat the Dragons 24-10 at Suncorp Stadium.
The Dragons became the first minor premiers to lose two successive play-off matches since the introduction of the McIntyre system 10 years ago.
Karmichael Hunt scored twice in the first-half for the Broncos, while Jharal Yow Yeh and Lagi Setu went over early in the second half.
The Broncos' only worry is that they may be without star half-back Peter Wallace for the Storm match after he suffered an ankle injury.
With the Broncos leading 24-6 after 53 minutes, they looked safe. But the Dragons hit back with a Brett Morris try in the corner, his second of the match.
There was no way the Broncos' solid defence was prepared to let them back into the match, however, and after being top dogs for most of the season the Dragons limped home.
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