By PETER ROWE
WA got their 2024 CAS Championship campaign off to a flyer on Friday afternoon in Melbourne with a convincing 50-6 victory over South Australia to complete a great day’s football for the State after both the Under-17s and the Women’s League Tag sides had also recorded wins.
The U-17s were solid in the 34-6 defeat of an Invitational side and the ladies came way with the points after defeating Victoria Country 20-12.
And the men didn’t disappoint either.
With over half the team making their State debut the game was stop-start for periods as players adjusted to rep football and the combinations required.
“Everyone stepped up and played well,” team manager Scott Swadel said.
“We’re not the finished product though yet – I think we only completed three from 10 sets in the second half.”
North Beach Sea Eagles backrower Tyler Moeau opened the scoring after six minutes and straight from the kickoff the Black and Golds were in again as his Beach teammate Jesse Rafferty crossed.
Then 10 minutes from halftime South Perth’s Corban Daniel picked up a Korey Craig kick to ground the ball to widen the lead to 16 points.
Jaylen Grey kicked the extras before Daniels was in again on a devastating run down the left edge before Rafferty also made it a double with a solid sprint fr the line from 40 metres out to see WA lead 30-0 at the break.
South Australia opened the second half strong, giving the WA defence plenty to think about but Craig, a major threat for the Sea Eagles during their 2024 premiership run, picked up a lass from Rockingham’s Tom Murphy on his own 35m line to race there remaining metres to increase the score again.
Fremantle’s Elijah Beattie showed his pace next, breaking from 20 metres out to cross and Moeau then grabbed his double minutes later as the margin blew out.
With ten minutes to go South Australia scored a consolation try but WA were not finished.
Rafferty, again on that dangerous left edge outside of Daniels, crossed for his third of the day – six tries coming down that side as WA set themselves up for Day Two on Saturday against the Northern Territory.
“No injuries, so we go into our second game against the Territory full of confidence, but with lots of work to do,” Swadel added.
