Men’s Combined Affiliated States & Territories Championships
WA 36 NT 6
BY PETER ROWE
Thirty unanswered second-half points was enough to see WA secure a double over the Northern Territory at Seabrook Oval on day one of the Combined Affiliated States and Territories Championships in Melbourne.
Locked up at 6-all at the break after the Territory had taken an early lead, only to be cancelled out by Fremantle’s Eli Beattie six minute froms halftime, the Black and Golds found shape and kept possession in the second half with a succession of tries that continually had their opponents on the back foot.
“We didn’t hold on to the footy well in the first half, but once we got the football the second half was much, much better,” assistant coach Ryan Foster said.
Foster was impressed with Rockingham’s Chris Siddons and Willagee’s Manfred Kelly, as well as Eli Beattie.
“Siddo came off the bench and was enormous, a real leader,” Foster said.
“And Manfred was really good under the high ball – and Eli did a great job up the middle.”
Willagee’s Kelly was first to cross six minutes after the resumption of play, before North Beach’s Bailey Millar, playing for the State on the wing, found plenty of space down the left edge to score.
Fellow Sea Eagle Jeremy Wallace was the architect of the next score, a break up the middle as the NT defence tired, to set up Eddie Proudler to cross under the posts.
Captain Kainoa Gudgeon was to follow him across the try line minutes later and Kelly scored again to keep the momentum going seven minutes from time.
Willagee forward Malakai Chan Boon finished the scoring three minutes later to see WA triumph 36-6 and go into day two against South Australia full of confidence.
“Once we got our systems working and we held on to the ball, it came good,” Foster added.
Hooker Kobi Aiesi came off with an ankle injury but is hoped to be fit for tomorrow’s game against South Australia.
If not, then South Perth’s Jayden Evans is likely to figure.
“A very different proposition,” Foster said. “But we will be ready.”
Earlier in the day Victoria beat South Australia 66-0.
Watch a replay of the game here
