Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles suffered a 32-6 loss to the Penrith Panthers at Lottoland today in round four of the NSW Cup.
Workers centre Christian Tuipulotu helped his side get possession five minutes in when he dragged his opposite winger over the sideline 10 metres out from his own line. In the set that followed, they made their way down the field and five-eighth Brad Keighran put a bomb up, which was dropped by Panthers fullback Sunia Turuva.
Sea Eagles full-back Morgan Harper was strong in defence early, tackling Penrith’s winger Ratu Luke Nadurutalo in the corner to force the ball out of his hands to stop an almost certain try in the 13th minute.
Penrith opened the scoring in the 20th minute when centre Izack Tago ducked out of dummy half to race past Dylan Smith and Harper to score. Halfback Kurt Falls missed the conversion for a 4-0 scoreline.
Winger Taylan May broke through the line for the Panthers in the 35th minute before drawing and passing to forward Billy Tsikrikas who dived over under the posts for a 10-0 lead. The score remained that way to half-time.
Penrith winger Thomas Jenkins went close to opening the scoring in the second half, managing to stay in on the left edge and fight past two defenders, only to be short of the tryline.
Workers second-rower Jordin Lieu wrestled Penrith’s Turuva and just about managed to get the ball down, after he ran a short ball hard at the line to break through to score his side’s first points in the 51st minute. Keighran converted for a 10-6 scoreline.
Penrith took a 16-6 lead when forward Alex Susino burrowed underneath the defence to score in the 55th minute.
With 20 minutes remaining, Falls placed a cross-field kick in the path of winger Thomas Jenkins, who timed his jump to grab the ball to score. Falls missed the conversion from the sideline to make the score 20-6.
Penrith almost had another try with five-eighth Jaeman Salmon linking up with one of his forwards to break through the line, only to drop the ball five metres out thanks to some pressure from Harper and forward Ben Trbojevic.
Taylan May and Ratu Luke Nadurutalo combined down the right edge, with the latter making a massive break downfield, only to be run down 10 metres short of the line by Smith and Harper. A quick play the ball allowed for Salmon to sneak through to score in the 68th minute. Falls made the conversion for a 26-6 scoreline.
Salmon grabbed his second try three minutes later as he crashed over a defender at the line to score. Falls made the conversion to bring the score to 32-6.
The Sea Eagles had a chance late in the game to grab a consolation try thanks to a Zac Saddler strip. They were unable to take the opportunity, dropping the ball over the line.
Blacktown Workers now play the Newcastle Knights on Sunday, April 11 at HE Laybutt Field, Blacktown, at 3pm.
