Anthony Eltarraf
The Kaiviti Silktails have secured a strong and convincing 42-20 victory over the Ryde-Eastwood Hawks at Belmore Sports Ground with winger Timoci Bola and hooker Apimeleki Lutuimawi both grabbing doubles.
The Hawks began strong, mounting early pressure on the Silktails defence before Tyler Seymour barged his way over the line to touch down for the away side. Hawks centre Semisi Kioa missed the conversion, hitting the post to keep the score at 4-0 inside five minutes.
It was all the Silktails for the remainder of the first half, starting with a try for Penioni Tagituimua, who scored off the back of a brilliant spiralling bomb catch and line break by Bola. Mosese Qionomacawa converted to take his side to a two-point lead.
Bola continued to inspire his team by barging over ten minutes later to score near the corner to give his side a six point lead. A missed conversion attempt by Qionomacawa kept the score at 10-4.
The Silktails continued their first half onslaught of the Hawks, scoring three tries in ten minutes through Manama Kalou, Lutuimawi and Maika Serulevu, two of which were converted to set up a 26-4 lead at halftime.
Both teams traded blows in the second half, with the Hawks grabbing the first try through Josh Rizk, who touched down between the posts to keep their hopes alive. Kioa converted to reduce the margin to 26-10.
The Silktails hit back after Lutuimawi scored his second try of the game before another conversion miss left twenty points between the two teams.
The Hawks continued the back and forth run, with Regan Hughes diving on a loose ball in the in-goal area to score the Hawks' third try. Another missed conversion, this time from Rizk took the score to 30-14.
Apakuki Tavodi pushed the Silktails further in front yet again, through a strong effort to push his way over the line to touch down near the posts. Sunia Naruma attempted the conversion this time and converted to take his side to a 22-point lead.
Two tries to either team within the last seven minutes including a second to Rizk for the Hawks, and a second for Bola as well left the score 42-20 at full time, with the Silktails securing a convincing victory over the Hawks.
The Silktails’ participation in the NSWRL’s Ron Massey Cup is proudly supported by the Australian Government through PacificAus Sports.
The NSWRL receives funding from the Australian Government through PacificAus Sports to support the Silktails’ participation in the NSWRL’s Ron Massey Cup.
