Ellenbrook Rabbitohs 6 – Willagee Bears 38
By PETER ROWE
The Willagee Bears took a big step towards the Fuel to Go & Play Minor Premiership at Charlotte’s Vineyard, outclassing the Ellenbrook Rabbitohs in the second half as speedy winger Saimoni Qaranivalu grabbed a hat-trick on his return to first grade action.
Both sides were locked in a scoreless dogfight after 30 minutes before the Bears scored three lates tries through Tommy Fifita (2) and hooker Kobi Aeisi with a four-pointer from Ellenbrook prop Riapo Jones.
The second half belonged to the visitors as the Bunnies tired and coach Dan Manning said his side’s sliding defence wasn’t up to it as his team fell away.
“We were missing several players,” Manning said. “We lost Chase Rye with an ankle injury in training on Thursday. Five or six of our first grade squad were away, so it was tough.”
Willagee coach Nelson Davis was pleased with the result, but said several unforced errors let them down.
“We have a new halves combination in Tamaho Tierney and Matty Lansdown and it’s still coming together. Fair play to Ellenbrook, they muscled up and gave us a game,” Davis said.
Qaranivalu was first to cross after the break with further tries coming from Malakai Chan Boon, before the Fijian winger added two more in the seven try to one win with Lansdown kicking five from six.
Chan Boon was best on field, closely followed by lock Rangi Thomson and backrower Iverson Mapu-Satiu.
“It wasn’t an easy game and we had to hold them several times on our line,” Davis said.
Davis is hoping injured skipper Kainoa Gudgeon will be back within two weeks. “He is back training, but non-contact,” Davis said.
For Manning Unawin Clarke was his best. “He was playing out of position and put in a great shift,” he said.
With the gap between the Rabbitohs and the Dogs now down to one point Manning knows his side has to win two of their three remaining games.
‘If we can win two, we should make it,” he said.