Defence went out the window as Blacktown held on to defeat a
gallant Western Suburbs side 44-36 at a blustery and chilly HE Laybutt Reserve
last Saturday.
Blacktown took full advantage of the first penalty of the
game, a short ball sending Michael Worrincy over the line. Pat Weisner’s
conversion attempt was straight, Blacktown leading 6-0 in just the third
minute.
Blacktown added their second eleven minutes later as a Wests
grubber popped up for the Workers, an offload finding a flying Sakeo Dibeci who
motored 60 metres to touch down, leaving Blacktown ahead 12-0 after Weisner’s
conversion.
The crowd was left confused after the referee sent Luke
Williams to the sin bin, but Blacktown quickly regathered their composure,
Joshua Grant burrowing over from dummy half. Pat Weisner threaded the needle
for an 18-0 lead after 22 minutes.
Wests needed to score quickly and did so, a series of long
passes to the left finding Rusty Bristow, who pushed through three tackles to
touch down inside the cornerpost. Dayne Craig pulled the kick wide, Blacktown
ahead 18-4 after 32 minutes.
A Magpie penalty 20 seconds from the siren saw Tom Morrison
surprise everyone by tapping and running hard, but he showed enough strength to
get through five players and touch down. Dayne Craig was again unsuccessful
with the kick, leaving Blacktown ahead 18-8 at the break.
Only five minutes had elapsed when Wests recorded their
third consecutive try, Shane Lalogafau going through a gaping hole off a great
short ball. Dayne Craig found his radar, and the Blacktown lead was down to
four.
Blacktown quickly hit back, a clearing kick from the Workers
getting caught in the stiff wind and being put down by Wests, a quick passing
interchange seeing Sakeo Dibeci racing away for his second. Pat Weisner needed
the assistance of the woodwork to put away the simple conversion, the Workers back
out to a 24-14 lead.
The Workers wasted no time getting their extended lead back
on the next set, as offload after offload eventually allowed Charlie Latulipe
to score out wide. Pat Weisner pushed the kick wide, Wests looking at climbing
the mountain all over again at 28-14.
Defence was quickly becoming a dirty word, as Wests hit back
quickly, Jacob Folent pushing over from dummy half. The kick from Dayne Craig
split the posts down the middle, and Wests were back to 28-20 after 58 minutes.
Blacktown decided to give the ball some air and they tired
the Magpie defence out and burst the line, Charlie Latulipe going in for his
second. Pat Weisner pushed the kick wide, Backtown ahead by 12 heading into the
final quarter of the game.
Wests took advantage of a penalty to set up in the Blacktown
end and some great offloads allowed Shawn Craig to put Tala Mapesone over.
Dayne Craig’s kick didn’t have the legs into the wind, Blacktown ahead 32-24
with 15 minutes remaining.
Consecutive penalties allowed Wests to march straight back
downfield, and Dayne Craig moved as fast the gale which was enveloping HE
Laybutt reserve to go in under the sticks. Craig converted his own try, setting
up a grandstand finish with 12 minutes remaining, as Blacktown led 32-30.
Wests were making good inroads against the Blacktown
defence, but none more than Nu Akeripa, who seemingly beat the entire Workers
lineup in a weaving 50 metre charge to the line. Dayne Craig converted from in
front and, for the first time of the day, Wests led 36-32 with six minutes
remaining.
Blacktown weren’t done, and a towering bomb from Pat Weisner
was put down by Sam Aiga, Jerry Key on hand to score alongside the posts for
the Workers. Weisner took his time with the simple conversion attempt to return
Blacktown to a two point lead with as many minutes on the clock.
Wests needed the ball back, and Sam Aiga’s efforts to pluck
a grubber were unsuccessful, Sakeo Dibeci sealing the game with his hat trick.
Weisner added the extras, Blacktown running out 44-36 winners.
BLACKTOWN 44 (Sakeo Dibeci 3, Charlie Lautlipe 2, Michael
Worrincy, Joshua Grant, Jerry Key tries; Pat Weisner 6 from 8) defeated WESTERN
SUBURBS 36 (Rusty Bristow, Tom Morrison, Shane Lalogafau, Jacob Folent, Tala
Mapesone, Dayne Craig, Nu Akeripa tries: Dayne Craig 4 from 7)
Penalties: Wests 11 Blacktown 7
Halftime: Wests 8 Blacktown 18
WESTERN SUBURBS
1. Sam Aiga
2. Tala Mapesone
7. Shawn Craig
3. Rusty Bristow
5. Jayden Wheelhouse
4. Nu Akeripa
6. Jacob Folent
19. Elemeleki Taumololo
9. Dayne Craig
10. Tunui Maurangi
8. Shane Lalogafau
11. Tom Morrison
13. Luke Williams
12. Cruse Iosefa
16. Ronnie Palumbo
17. Fred Tevaga
20. Dwyane Lemafa
BLACKTOWN
1. John Taaga
25. Daniel Cassone
2. Charlie Latulipe
4. Byron Fruen
5. Sakeo Dibeci
6. Gus Jasmin
7. Pat Weisner
8. Jake Shearer
9. Joshua Grant
10. Lupati Eni
11. Micheal Worrincy
12. Iszak Taalili
13. Jerry Key
3. Sione Fakafua
14. Jad Mahmoud
15. John Leapai
17. Jordan Strickland
