A two try haul from prop Lloyd Perrett saw the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles record a 26-24 win over the Newtown Jets at Lottoland today in the Canterbury Cup.
Some early pressure from the Jets saw Newtown score the first try through full-back William Kennedy. Kyle Flanagan converted for a 6-0 lead after nine minutes.
Blacktown replied two minutes later with a try to centre Tevita Funa in the corner off the back of a dominant forward run from Perrett for a 6-4 scoreline.
The Jets continued to exploit the gaps in the Blacktown midfield defence as hooker Grant Garvey shot through from dummy half to set the foundation for a Jack Williams grabber. Blacktown’s unsuccessful attempt at a short dropout gave the Jets decent field position, allowing winger Luke Polselli to demonstrate his athleticism, diving over the left corner to score Newtown's second try. Flanagan converted for a 12-4 lead after 20 minutes.
Newtown winger Sione Katoa set up the last try of the first half with an 80-metre run gifted to him from a poorly placed short bomb. Katoa dished an inside ball to his edge partner Tyrone Phillips who scored underneath the posts. Flanagan converted the try for an 18-4 lead at half-time.
The Jets extended their lead through an early penalty goal in the second half for a 20-4 lead before a try to winger Abbas Miski in the 46th minute saw the Sea Eagles trail 20-10.
Blacktown continued to pressure Newtown through the middle with Perrett falling over the line underneath the posts off the back of a short ball from crafty hooker Zach Docker-Clay. Kane Elgey converted for a 20-16 scoreline.
Katoa then put the Jets in front with a second try for a 24-16 lead after 57 minutes.
Some fine play by Elgey and Williams kept the Blacktown Workers in the game through a try to hooker Zach Docker-Clay with 17 minutes to go. Elgey converted for a 24-20 scoreline.
Perrett then crashed over for his second try in the 74th minute. Elgey converted to give Blacktown a 26-24 lead.
The Sea Eagles dug deep in the final minutes to record their fourth win of the season.
- by Jarrod Ryan
