Blacktown Workers recorded a gritty and hard fought 19-12 win over the Canberra Raiders at GIO Stadium today in round 12 of the NSW Cup.
It was a tough and determined win by the ninth placed Blacktown Workers with the Sea Eagles upsetting the fifth placed Raiders to return to the winners circle under Coach Greg Boulous.
The Raiders opened the scoring in the fourth minute through a converted try to second-rower Luke Webley out wide for a 6-0 lead.
Blacktown Workers lost hooker Gordon Chan Kum Tong with an injury in the 16th minute, replaced by Nathaniel Roache before later returning to the field.
With both sides making some errors, Blacktown Workers were next to score when Roache crashed over out wide. Jamie Humphreys converted for a 6-all scoreline after 30 minutes. The score remained that way to half-time.
A slow start to the second half came to life in the 47th minute when winger Jackson Ferris took an intercept off his line to race 50 metres before being run down by half-back and captain Brad Schneider, who was then sin-binned for holding Ferris down too long in the tackle.
Blacktown Workers capitalised quickly in the next set when five-eighth Latu Fainu and full-back Clayton Faulalo combined to put centre Brad Abbey through a huge gap to score in the corner. Humphreys failed to convert from the sideline for a 10-6 lead after 50 minutes.
Humphreys stretched Blacktown’s lead to six with a penalty goal 10 minutes later for a 12-6 lead.
The Sea Eagles went to a 16-6 lead when exciting full-back Clayton Faulalo slid his way over out wide with 13 minutes remaining. Humphreys converted for an 18-6 lead.
The Raiders hit back five minutes later when Schneider crossed next to the posts for an 18-12 scoreline.
Humphreys then gave Blacktown Workers some breathing space with a field goal three minutes out from full-time for a 19-12 lead.
