Three late tries saw the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles go down 30-22 to the Parramatta Eels at HE Laybutt Field on Friday night in round three of the NSW Cup.
Leading 22-6 lead with just over 20 minutes of play remaining, a series of errors and injuries to Samuela Fainu and Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega saw Blacktown Workers concede three tries in the final 13 minutes.
The NRL experience of Cooper Johns, Ben Condon, Karl Lawton, Toafofoa Sipley and Morgan Harper wasn’t enough for Blacktown to get their first win of the season.
Parramatta winger Isaac Lumelume was sent to the sin-bin in the 10th minute for a high tackle on Blacktown fullback Clayton Faulalo, leading to a try to Tuaimalo Vaega after good work from centre Brad Abbey. Five-eighth Cooper Johns converted from the sideline for a 6-0 lead.
Six minutes later, Johns was instrumental in forcing a repeat set, driving a kick from 35 metres out to perfectly sit in-goal. Winger Morgan Harper chased hard and managed to force the Eels player back into the in-goal area, winning possession back.
From the drop-out, the Sea Eagles scored again through fullback Clayton Faulalo on the right edge. Johns was once again influential in the lead up, running at the line to find space before popping it up for Faulalo. The fullback ducked and weaved out of tackles and crashed over the line, grounding the ball for a 10-0 scoreline after 17 minutes.
Centre Zac Cini scored for Parramatta four minutes later in the right corner after crashing through a handful of defenders. Five-eighth Jordan Rankin converted from the sideline to cut the deficit to four points.
Blacktown prop Morgan Boyle showed his skills deep in his own half in the 30th minute, getting down low to scoop the ball up after Parramatta drilled a grubber kick towards the in-goal. Abbey muscled up earlier in the set with smart tackles from marker only a few metres out from his own line.
Two minutes later, Abbey was rewarded with a try of his own on the left edge. Faulalo made a barnstorming tackle break down the left wing, only to be stopped a few metres out from the line. In a quick play from dummy half, Abbey ducked past his opposite number to ground the ball for the four pointer. Johns’ conversion attempt bounced in off the post to extend the lead out to 16-6.
The Eels pushed to get back into the game at the stroke of halftime and once again found themselves deep in Blacktown’s territory. Despite the chance, lock Luca Moretti fumbled the ball after taking a hard pass from halfback Jake Arthur.
Another chance came a set later for the away side but they were once again met with some stellar defence, being stopped a few metres out from the line by the combination of Morgan Harper and Fletcher Myers to close out the first half. Blacktown holding a 10-point lead.
The Sea Eagles took only two minutes for their first chance of the second half, coming on the left edge through Tuaimalo Vaega. The winger was unable to maintain possession of the ball after a crossfield kick landed perfectly in his corner, fumbling the ball over the deadball line in a decent effort.
Blacktown continued to push the pressure and had several chances in the next 15 minutes of play, testing the Eels on their own line with punches at their defence on either side but to no avail.
The pressure finally amounted in the 58th minute with a smart play from hooker Gordon Chan Kum Tong. The youngster scooped the ball out of dummy half and powered through the defence to score. Johns converted from next to the posts for a 22-6 scoreline.
Parramatta cut the margin back to two converted tries three minutes later after a try through back-rower Dan Keir on the left edge. Rankin converted to bring the score to 22-12.
Daejarn Asi picked up the ball off the ground and scored the Eels’ second try in a row in the 68th minute on the right edge after a dropped ball from Blacktown on their own 15 metre line. Rankin converted from next to the posts to make it 22-18.
Haze Dunster then scored on the right wing for Parramatta after a big cut-out pass with just under five minutes to play. Rankin converted from the sideline, taking the lead for the first time in the match at 24-22.
Lumelume then scored a long-range try following a Blacktown error at the halfway line to seal victory for the Eels. Rankin converted from in front for a final scoreline of 30-22.
Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles now play the South Sydney Rabbitohs in Round 4 of the Knock-On Effect NSW Cup at Accor Stadium on Saturday March 25. Kick-off 3.05pm.
