Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles turned in their most impressive performance of the NSW Cup season with a crushing 36-6 victory over the Newcastle Knights at Blacktown today.
The Sea Eagles ran in six tries to one to completely dominate the Knights after leading 12-6 at half-time in the round five match at HE Laybutt Sporting Complex.
Winger Raymond Tuaimalo and second-rower Josh Stuckey crossed for doubles each with fellow winger Clayton Faulalo and prop Toff Sipley also crossing for tries under new Blacktown Coach Greg Boulous.
New Manly Sea Eagles prop Aaron Woods played a solid 30 minutes of the match after only meeting some of his new team-mates after arriving in Mudgee last Tuesday night ahead of the NRL game there yesterday.
“It was a very good result for the boys,’’ Boulous said.
“We played with more consistency and played a lot more direct with better connections.
“Sipley and Stuckey played very well in a fine team performance.””
The Sea Eagles got off to a dream start when Newcastle lost the ball on the first tackle from the kick-off 10 metres out from their line. The home side capitalised a few plays later when the ball was shifted left for winger Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega crashed through two defenders to score in the corner. Full-back Jake Toby failed to convert for a 4-0 lead.
Four minutes later, Stuckey was in for his first try when five-eighth Dean Matterson delivered a perfect pass for the second-rower to steam through to score near the posts. Toby converted for a 10-0 lead after seven minutes.
The Knights hit back in the 16th minute with a converted try to winger David Armstrong to trail 10-6.
Woods then entered the game in the 22nd minute. The only further points recorded in the first half was through a penalty goal to Toby in the 31st minute that saw the Sea Eagles take a 12-6 lead into the break.
Blacktown were left a player short three minutes before half-time after forward Zac Fulton was sin-binned after being involved in a melee.
The second half was all one way to the home side with Blacktown dominant throughout the second 40.
Stuckey grabbed his second try 11 minutes after half-time for a 16-6 lead before winger Clayton Faulalo crossed for a nice try to give the home side a 22-6 lead after 63 minutes.
The last 15 minutes saw Blacktown in full gear with further tries to prop Toff Sipley and Tuaimalo Vaega much to the delight of Sea Eagles supporters.
Toby finished the game with a personal haul of 12 points through four conversions and two penalty goals.
Blacktown Workers will be looking to make it back-to-back wins when they tackle the third place Penrith Panthers in a local derby clash at Penrith on Saturday, April 8, as the curtain raiser for the NRL match.
