Cabramatta were on the board inside three minutes, a poor
last tackle from Wests on the last allowing Cabramatta to establish some good
field position, Tupou Kavaefiafi being put away down the left wing before
chipping over Sam Aiga to touch down, Cabramatta ahead 4-0 after Hala Katoa’s unsuccessful
conversion attempt.
The Magpies hit back on the quarter hour, as Nu Akeripa
popped an inside ball up for a steaming Sam Aiga, who was too quick and strong
for the cover defence. Dayne Craig slotted the kick with aplomb for a 6-4
advantage to the visitors.
Wests won a penalty off the restart and, with ruthless
efficiency, found a gap in the Two Blues line, Dayne Craig backing up to touch
down. Craig converted his own try, the Magpies ahead 12-4 at the quarter.
Cabra were quickly collapsing, another break, this time down
the right, saw Tala Mapesone kick inside, Sam Aiga leaping high to bag his
second. Dayne Craig puts the kick wide, Wests getting away to a 16-4 lead after
23 minutes.
Wests saw red as Jeff Hartup marched Sam Aiga to the bin for
a professional foul on 28 minutes, Cabramatta taking immediate advantage as Chris
Taripo snapped up a grubber in behind the line to score in the corner. Hala
Katoa again put the kick wide, Wests up 16-8 with ten minutes until halftime.
Playing shorthanded was no issue for Western Suburbs as
Jerome Mose was the beneficiary of a Cabramatta error, Mose touching down in
the corner on 33 minutes. Craig’s kick was again offline, Western Suburbs
regaining their 12 point advantage at 20-8.
The 12 man Wests outfit was every bit as dangerous as the 13
man edition, Vieru Mapesone making another break down the right before a
passing exchange allowed Luke Williams to dive over to put Wests out to a 2x-8
lead, Craig’s kick off target.
The Magpies were flying high and finished with their sixth
try, Tala Mapesone bursting onto a kick to grab a well deserved try of his own,
Wests ahead 28-8 at the break after Trent Jennings, filling in for a rested
Dayne Craig, shaved the upright.
Cabramatta needed to be first on the bard after the break
and succeeded, Adrian Ha’angana burrowing over after a penalty for a late
tackle. Hala Katoa made it third time lucky five minutes into the second half,
Wests pulled back to 28-14.
Cabramatta continued their climb back into the match, Chris
Taripo leaping high to snaffle up a bomb to go around under the posts. Hala
Katoa converted from in front to further reduce the deficit to eight points.
Cabramatta made it three for the second half after an
intercept set up possession in centre field, Saxon Fischer-Gray weaving and
ducking through to go 50 metres to score under the sticks, Cabramatta right
back in the game at 28-26 down after Katoa potted the simple kick.
Cabramatta completed their Lazarus-like comeback off the
restart, Luke Lavender backing up down the middle to go 45 metres to score, the
home side taking a 32-28 lead courtesy of Hala Katoa’s kick from in front.
Cabramatta were proving unstoppable as a penalty for a mid
air tackle on an attacking player allowed Cabra to set up, Morris Higham going
through a gap to score. Hala Katoa made it 5 from 7 and 38-28 to the home side
with seven minutes on the clock.
Wests hit straight back from a Cabra knock on, Tala Mapesone
going 60 metres and rolling over with momentum to score. Craig finally had some
luck from the touchline, splitting the uprights and setting up a grandstand
finish in the final five minutes, but Wests could not find a way through, Cabra
holding on for a 38-34 win.
CABRAMATTA 38 (Chris Taripo 2, Tupou Kavaefiafi, Adrian Ha’angana,
Saxon Fischer-Gray, Luke Lavender, Morris Higham tries; Hala Katoa 5 from 7)
defeated WESTERN SUBURBS 34 (Sam Aiga 2, Tala Mapesone 2, Dayne Craig, Jerome
Mose, Luke Williams tries; Dayne Craig 3 from 6, Trent Jennings 0 from 1)
Penalties: Wests 5 Cabramatta 7
Halftime: Wests 28 Cabramata 8
WESTERN SUBURBS
1. Sam Aiga
2. Tala Mapasone
3. Shawn Craig
16. Ronnie Palumbo
5. Jerome Mose
4. Nu Akeripa
6. Vieru Mapasone
8. Soni Paasi
9. Dayne Craig
11. Mason Talolua
13. Rusty Bristow
19. Trent Jennings
21. Luke Williams
12. Shane Lalogafau
17. Fred Tevago
20. Hayden Johnson
22. Cruise Iosefa
CABRAMATTA
1. Luke Lavender
2. Amanono Tevio
3. Chris Taripo
4. Hala Katoa
20. Tupou Kavaefiafi
6. Jake Watts
7. Jamie Blewitt
22. Andrew Pearn
9. Saxon Fischer-Gray
11. Brad Croad
16. Mitchell Simpson
12. Morris Higham
19. Max Nappa
5. Henry Iuta
13. Adrian Ha’angana
17. Lomio Mafi
21. Jeremy Safi
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