Silktails get first back to back win of the season

The Kaiviti Silktails got their first back to back win of the season after they thrashed Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs side by 34-12 at Churchill Park in Lautoka yesterday in the Ron Massey Cup competition round 11 match.

The Silktails started strong with a couple of good set-piece play and combining passes. Meli Nasau pouched on a grubber kick and touched down to put the Silktails on the board in the 15 minute, to lead 6-0.

The Bulldogs piled pressure on the Lautoka-based side as 10 minutes later, Epeli Sukanaivalu went over the try line and with Kallum Weathesall-Stacy conversion, the score was tied at 6-6.

The Sydney-Australia based side barnstormed towards the Silktails defence with 46 seconds left in the first spell to lead by 12-6 at half-time through a try from Joseph Teapa.

The Silktails came out firing early in the second half with in-form player Tomasi Seru scored a try breaking the defense line of the Bulldogs through a straight forward run.

His conversion minutes later levelled the score line at 12-all. Timoci Kotoisuva went over the try line after a couple of good passes as the Silktails led 16-12.

The Silktails stretched their lead to six points in the 64 minute as replacement Iliasa Toko went over the line with the Silktails leading by 22-12.

Season captain Rusiate Baleitamavua who made a return from injury, extended Silktails lead to 28-12 through a brilliant team-play try.

With minutes left on the clock, Tomasi Seru got his brace to seal off the match for the Kaiviti Silktails. Silktails head coach Wes Naiqama said the boys came back strongly in the second spell to get the win.

“In the first spell, we didn’t get to how we wanted to play and got behind but the boys had a really good reaction in the second spell,” he said.

The former Fiji Bati captain said the young boys stepped up when it was most needed.

“The crowd was good as well plus the women’s rugby league matches are being played as well.”

Bulldogs head coach Mitchell Lewis said physically the Silktails was a more stronger side and his boys could not play at their place.

“We have a young side and we go back to the drawing board to iron out our mistakes because we play the Hills Bulls two weeks later.”

Bulldogs (1-13) Tryone Nean, Montel Lisala, William Afvalo, William Kie, Kallum Weathesall-Stacy, Joseph Teavpa, Aston Pollard, Baily Coxl, Penioni Tagitumua, Josh Kalati, Zac Hetherington, AJ Jones, Jack Stringer.

Silktails (1-13) Timoci Bola, Eparama Veivuke, Simione Cakauniqio, Tomasi Seru, Timoci Kotoisuva, Rusiate Baleitamavua, Sunia Naruma, Malakai Kovekalou, Ratu Tabusakia, Sefanaia Bola, Meli Nasau, Fenton Williams, Manoa Vilikesa.