Newcastle suffered a heart-breaking 13-12 loss to Parramatta in their inaugural NRLW match with Eels halfback Maddie Studdon kicking the competition's first field-goal to ice victory with 15 seconds left to play.
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The match between the two expansion clubs looked destined for golden-point extra time until the final stages after the Eels twice fought back from behind to level the scores.
Making their debut as part of a McDonald Jones Stadium triple-header to open the season, the Knights displayed plenty of effort in their first outing and did well to stop the Eels from scoring more points in the first half.
Newcastle scored first to lead 6-0 and then led 12-6 in the second half but the visitors equalised in both periods to put the pressure back on the home side.
However, with 20 errors and 14 penalties between the two sides, neither team managed to consistently test their opponent's defensive resolve throughout the game.
The Knights could have easily been behind on the scoreboard at halftime with Parramatta having two tries disallowed and a third opportunity pulled back for a forward pass.
Knights captain Romy Teitzel scored the club's first try after just three minutes, catching a silky pass from debutant halfback Tahlulah Tillett to cut through from close range.
The Knights kept the visitors at bay for most of the first half but Eels fullback Botille Vette-Welsh broke the line inside 20 metres to gift centre Tiana Penitani a try five minutes before halftime. The Knights claimed a 12-6 lead early in the second stanza after Singleton junior Phoebe Desmond barged over the try line in the 42nd minute, the interchange forward set up by Knights hooker Emma Manzelmann from a metre out.
Manzelmann, a 20-year-old from Mackay who came off the bench in the first half, made a couple of crafty runs either side of the break and looked a threat with the ball.
With 20 minutes to go, the Knights gave away a penalty near the halfway line and it proved costly as Eels captain and lock Simaima Taufa burst through a few plays later to score outside the left upright. There was a throwback moment after the try with an Eels player having to hold the ball for kicker Maddie Studdon to take the conversion.
The Knights had a chance with three minutes to play through Katie Green on the left wing but she couldn't grasp a pass from five-eighth Autumn-Rain Stephens which was ultimately ruled forward anyway.
Earlier in the day, St George Illawarra beat newcomers Gold Coast 20-12 and Brisbane defeated Sydney 20-4.
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