Alo hat-trick drives Two Blues into top six
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Saturday, 24 May 2008
NSWRU Media Unit
Parramatta has shown they are the real deal in 2008 with a 40-31 victory over last year's runners up Eastern Suburbs at Woollahra Oval.
Parramatta celebrate a Dave Alo try
Parramatta celebrate one of Dave Alo three tries [2008 Tooheys New Shute Shield Round 9 - Eastern Suburbs v Parramatta at Woollahra Oval]
Randwick prop Lotu Taukeiaho
Randwick prop Lotu Taukeiaho [2008 Tooheys New Shute Shield Round 9 - Northern Suburbs v Randwick at North Sydney Oval]
Sydney University made a second half comeback to defeat Warringah, while Gordon, Manly, Eastwood and Randwick each scored bonus point wins.
EASTERN SUBURBS V PARRAMATTA AT WOOLLAHRA OVAL
Parramatta has stamped themselves as semifinal contenders with a 40-31 victory over Eastern Suburbs at Woollahra Oval.
The Two Blues were never headed in their six tries to five victory, with three tries scored by powerful centre Dave Alo.
It took just 90 seconds for Parramatta to show how dangerous they can be when Junior To'o took the ball from the back of the scrum, broke down the blind and Tito Mua was on the end of the movement to score in the right corner.
Parramatta doubled their lead in the eighth minute when good hands put Dave Alo over in the left corner, and when Paula Kaveinga chipped and chased before setting up Brian Sefanaia, the Two Blues were out to a 17-0 lead in just eleven minutes.
Two Josh Weeks penalties extended the lead to 23-0, before Alo intercepted and ran 50m for his second try, Parramatta's fourth, and the Two Blues were up 30-0 after 31 minutes with a bonus point already secured.
Eastern Suburbs finally got on the board in the closing stages of the first half when a chip and chase from John Collignon was finished off in the left corner by Tom Azar, however Parramatta went to the break with a commanding 30-5 lead.
It didn't take long for Parramatta to get the scoreboard ticking over in the second half, with a breakdown turnover on halfway leading to a try to Winney Paulo and a 35-5 advantage.
Eastern Suburbs weren't to be give up however, and two converted tries in four minutes to Vitori Buatava and Ben Hopkins reduced the margin to 35-19 with 25 minutes to play.
Ed Brenac crossed after some sustained forward pressure in the 62nd minute, and when Buatava again converted from close range a 30 point lead had been whittled back to just nine and Easts had earned a bonus point.
Easts missed a penalty opportunity which would have brought the margin to within a converted try in the 31st minute, and soon after Parramatta also failed with a three-pointer which could have extended the lead.
As the shadows grew in the closing stages, handling errors increased from both sides, most costly those from Easts.
In the 37th minute Easts spread the ball well on a promising play, however Alo plucked his second intercept of the day and raced away for a hat-trick with the match-sealing try.
Easts skipper Tom Egan crossed after full-time, however the damage was done with Parramatta scoring their fourth victory in the last six weeks, 40-31.
Parramatta 40 (Dave Alo 3, Tito Mua, Brian Sefanaia, Winney Paulo tries; Josh Weeks 2 cons, 2 pens) d Eastern Suburbs 31 (Tom Azar, Vitori Buatava, Ben Hopkins, Ed Brenac, Tom Egan tries; Vitori Buatava 3 cons) at Woollahra Oval. Half-time: Parramatta 30-5. Referee: James Scholtens.
GORDON V WEST HARBOUR at Chatswood Oval
Gordon has leapfrogged West Harbour into second place on the Tooheys New Shute Shield ladder with a 45-31 victory at Chatswood Oval.
Sisa Waqa crossed for two of Gordon's six tries as the Highlanders ran away with the game in the second half, extended on their three-point half-time lead.
West Harbour showed their renowned try-scoring ability to secure a bonus point from the loss with John Sinisa scoring a double.
Gordon 45 (Sisa Waqa 2, Billy Rainima, Terry Preston, Viliame Ratu, Ofa Fainga'anuka tries; Dave Harvey 6 cons, pen) d West Harbour 31 (John Sinisa 2, Rory Sidey, Sam Raymond tries; Ben Martin 4 cons, pen) at Chatswood Oval. Half-time: Gordon 20-17. Referee: Julian Pritchard.
PENRITH V MANLY at Nepean Rugby Park
Manly have scored their third win of the year with a 34-24 victory over Penrith at Nepean Rugby Park.
The Marlins and Emus scored four tries apiece to earn bonus points, however it was the superior kicking which saw Manly home.
Daniel Collins scored 19 of Manly's 34 points as the Marlins continue to creep closer to the top six.
Manly 34 (Daniel Collins, Steven Scoles, Luke Johnson, Matt Hopper tries; Daniel Collins 4 cons, 2 pens) d Penrith 24 (Liam Winton, Patrick Mekuri, Solomona Fainifo, Brent Varga; Brendan Craig 2 cons) at Nepean Rugby Park. Half-time: Manly 13-10. Referee: Nathan Pearce.
EASTWOOD V SOUTHERN DISTRICTS at T.G. Millner Field
Eastwood has put in a commanding second half performance to overcome Southern Districts 48-20 at T.G. Millner Field.
Ben Batger scored 23 points as the Woodies turned a five point advantage at half-time into a six tries to three victory.
James McCormack crossed twice for Southern Districts however they fell one try short of a bonus point and remain on the bottom of the ladder.
Eastwood 48 (Ben Batger 2, Lachlan McCaffrey, Mark Frost, Dave Rimmer, Tim Corcoran, Filipo Toala tries; Ben Batger 5 cons, pen) d Southern Districts 20 (James McCormack 2, Grant Trouville tries; Michael Black con, pen) at T.G. Millner Field. Half-time: Eastwood 15-10. Referee: Damien Mitchelmore.
WARRINGAH V SYDNEY UNIVERSITY at Pittwater Rugby Park
Sydney University survived a scare at Pittwater Rugby Park today but eventually ran out 28-26 victors over Warringah.
Coming off their victory in the Australian Club Championship in Brisbane last week, Sydney University trailed Warringah 21-11 at half-time however came home with a wet sail to out-gun the Rats.
With Sam Harris and Mark Gerrard returning to the Shute Shield Warringah were able to turn around their 59-point hammering last week, however fell just shy of the upset of the season.
Sydney University 28 (Jono Jenkins, Leo Afeaki, Lachlan Mitchell tries; Daniel Halangahu 3 pens, 2 cons) d Warringah 26 (Pat McCabe 2, Ed Doyle tries; Clint Eadie 3 pens, con) at Pittwater Rugby Park. Half-time: Warringah 21-11. Referee: Daniel Cheever.
NORTHERN SUBURBS V RANDWICK at North Sydney Oval
Randwick have returned to the top three with a 32-23 victory over Northern Suburbs at North Sydney Oval.
Exciting prop Lotu Taukeiaho scored two tries for Randwick in a match dominated by the forwards who scored five of the six tries.
Prop Ben Alexander crossed for a try on his return from Super 14 football with the Brumbies, however Norths simply couldn't hold back a Randwick side which racked up yet another bonus point victory.
Randwick 32 (Lotu Taukeiaho 2, Mat Whittleston, David Batiratu tries; Toby Browne 3 cons, 2 pens) d Northern Suburbs 23 (Ben Alexander, Will Hunt tries; Chris Burnett 3 pens, 2 cons) at North Sydney Oval. Half-time: Randwick 19-13. Referee: Ian Smith