By David Nagel
Pakenham Eels felt the full force of the best team in NRL Victoria’s Second Grade Men’s competition on Saturday after a 62-6 defeat at the hands of the Casey Warriors.
The Warriors, flying at the top of the ladder, had too many weapons for the Eels, who stuck to their guns in the local rivalry.
The atmosphere is always on edge when the two ‘local’ teams collide and Casey Fields provided a warn environment for the Eels to play in.
It didn’t take long for the Warriors to get on the board, with their 12 tries spread evenly across the board.
Two players from the Warriors scored hat-tricks, with Tiraa Ua and Maeli Seve in red-hot form, with six of their teammates also crossing for tries.
Jimmy Douch, John Faoa-Palalagi, Fitu Pailegutu, Codey Jerkovich, Malachi Vaeau and Daniel Alefosio all crossed the line for four-pointers, with Douch converting seven of his team’s tries with the boot.
The Eels were up against it in the first half, with Damascus Lota being sin-binned after 19 minutes of play.
Despite the score-line, the Eels continued to persist and were rewarded in the 69th minute when Konisitutone Latu crossed for their only try for the match.
David Jonassen-Hammond converted the spot kick, giving Eels supporters a ray of sunlight amongst the clouds.
The Eels hit the road again this week to take on second-placed Eastern Raptors.
The Eels under-18 team also had a disappointing day – going down 58-4 to Casey, while the under-16 team put up a brave effort, narrowly losing 18-10.
Half-back Epine Faafaga scored the Eels opener, before full-back Isileli Tuitopou put the visitors’ second on the board.
But Casey proved slightly too strong, with Alijah Waetford crossing twice and Latrelle Cordtz putting the winning touch on the scoreboard.
The 16 boys head to Colchester Reserve in Boronia this Saturday to take on the Doveton Steelers.
The under 18 team has the bye.
Senior Results R6: Casey Warriors 62 def Pakenham 6, Sunshine Cowboys 18 def Waverley Panthers 16, Eastern Raptors 48 def Truganina Rabbitohs 12.
Ladder: Casey 10, Eastern 8, Sunshine 8, Waverley 6, Pakenham 4, Truganina -2.
Fixture R7: Eastern v Pakenham, Casey v Sunshine, Waverley v Truganina.
