In terrible conditions, points were always going to be hard to come by but the home fans had something to cheer about in the 17th minute.

A shift to the right saw fullback Jimmy Scott put a grubber kick in, which he then regathered and slammed the ball down, despite a courageous effort by Eagles forward Tom Warner.

James Andraos failed in his conversion attempt, as the Rays led their must-win clash 4-nil.

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The Eagles levelled the scores in the 26th minute when a sharp pass by Jack Walsh put Buddy Braddick into space down the left edge and although he shaped to pass, the Rays defenders hung off the back-rower allowing him to score.

Centre Blake Jones failed to covert, as the two sides went into the break locked up at 4-all.

The hosts were again the first to score after the resumption when Jack Bostock pounced on a Braddick kick and raced 85 metres to score.

Despite Andraos missing another conversion attempt, the Rays led by four with 35 minutes to play.

Less than 10 minutes later, the Park hit back when Tom Warner won the race to a Sam Clune grubber kick.

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Jones' conversion from just to the left of the uprights made it 10-8 with 23 minutes to play.

Despite the best efforts of both sides, that proved to be the final points scored in the match, as the Park, who had Declan Brazulaitis on debut, held on to win by two points.

The Eagles' sixth win of the season cements their spot in the top three, while the Rays have dropped down to eight after that loss.

Next up for the Park is a fixture with league-leaders Jamberoo at Centenary Park on Sunday - the same day the Rays head to Ron Costello Oval to take on the Sharks in the second Shellharbour Showdown on 2021.

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