Western
Suburbs responded six minutes later to Dayne Craig, who pushed through the
scrambling Cabra defence which had not recovered after a booming 80 metre
intercept run by Sam Aiga. Michael Stevens locked the scores up from in front.
Cabramatta
regained the lead on 19 minutes through Jason Gray as Western Suburbs were
unable to deal with a Cabramatta bomb. Gray failed to convert his own try, the
Two Blues up 10-6 at the quarter mark. The Two Blues extended their lead when
Henry Taufaao ran onto a wonderful inside ball from Blake Cavallaro. Jason Gray
added the two and Cabra led 16-6 after 28 minutes.
Cabramatta
immediately added to their tally as a left side spread ended with James Trotter
backing up on the inside to touch down, the Two Blues leading 22-6 after Jason
Gray’s conversion.
Cabramatta
coughed up the ball with a minute to the break and prepared their defence for a
last minute onslaught from the black and white backline. However, proving that
sometimes in life the simple things are best, Adrian Ha’angana picked up the
ball from the scrum base and bolted 40 metres to score. Michael Stevens
converted from in front, Wests trailing 22-12 at oranges.
Both
sides sensed that Wests had started to develop some momentum and started the
second half accordingly, Cabra desperate to take control back, while the
Magpies sought to capitalise on the swing.
The
game went more than 20 minutes into the second half before more points were
posted in the form of a try to Cabramatta’s Ivan Penehe, who took advantage of
an offload to bolt through the middle of the ruck. Jason Gray potted the two,
Cabra ahead 28-12 with 15 minutes to go.
Wests
needed to hit back quickly and four minutes later, a Nathan Waters chip kick
was given up as being too big by everybody except by the barnstorming Nathan
Scarano, who came from the clouds to pluck the ball out of the air to notch his
second try of the season. Michael Stevens nailed the touchline conversion and
Wests were back within 10 points with as many minutes on the clock.
Wests
showed considerable attacking creativity and energy in their efforts to take
the points, but these efforts proved their undoing as Jason Gray nabbed his
second of the day with an intercept in the final minute. Gray converted from in
front, sending Cabramatta out 34-18 victors.
Magpies
coach Leo Epifania said the scoreboard was almost the only negative he could
find in his team’s performance, as Wests were reduced to 16 men after 20
minutes, 14 men with 25 minutes remaining and then seeing out the final eight
minutes with just 12 men. Epifania said his team played with a finals like
intensity and showed enormous heart in the face of considerable adversity.
For
the 2013 minor premiers, Blake Cavallaro, James Trotter and Pat Lennard were
best, while for Wests, Dean Rysko, Adrian Ha’angana and Sonny Bristow dominated
in a great battle of the forwards.
Wests will now wait to see who they play in
the elimination finals on Saturday 7 September 2013.
CABRAMATTA 34
(Jason Gray 2, Pierce Sarsford, Henry Taufaao, James Trotter, Ivan Penehe
tries; Jason Gray 5 from 6) def WESTERN
SUBURBS 18 (Dayne Craig, Adrian Ha’angana, Nathan Scarano tries; Michael
Stevens 3 from 3). Penalties: Wests
5 Cabramatta 7. Halftime score:
Wests 12 Cabramatta 22,
Western
Suburbs
1.
Sam Aiga
16.
Nathan Scarano
2.
Fusi Toutai
12.
Tom Morrison
5.
Amanono Tovio
6.
Michael Stevens
7.
Nathan Waters
22.
Soni Paasi
9.
Dayne Craig
10.
Sonny Bristow
15.
Mason Talolua
21.
Adrian Ha’angana
8.
Dean Rysko
11.
Seffa Silafau
17.
Nofoa Leapai
18.
Frederick Tevaga
20.
Daniel Rakvin
Cabramatta
1.
Don Thompson
2.
Jason Gray
3.
Ivan Penehe
4.
Danny Barakat
5.
Chris Taripo
20.
James Trotter
7.
Blake Cavallaro
8.
Pat Lennard
9.
Gus Jasmine
10.
Ene Folau
11.
Matt Hall
12.
Nick Eshman
18.
Pierce Sarsford
13.
Henry Taufaao
16.
Judaii Lavulu
17.
Jerry Key
19. Fetongi Tuiavanu
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