By PETER ROWE
Eight second half tries from the North Beach Sea Eagles killed off any chance of a Joondalup upset at Admiral Park on Saturday as the weather played a significant role in round 15 of the NRLWA Fuel to Go and Play Premiership.
And it came after both teams went into the halftime break locked up at 18 apiece, with Rangiwananga Kingi, Dylan Davis and Juronia Raea for the Giants and Jaylen Grey, and a double from Tyler Moeau on the scoreboard.
What then occurred in the second 40-minute period was quite astonishing after the first half battle. The Sea Eagles played the conditions the better as rain and heavy winds swept across the field.
Grey added his second eight minutes in before the floodgates opened with centre Jesse Rafferty crossing four minutes later.
Back rower Roydon Gillett was next to cross before Rafferty scored his second as the Giants defence opened up through the middle.
Halfback Darius Rogers was next up, beating fullback Travis Haney in a footrace down the right edge and seven minutes later Corey Craig was on the scoresheet, taking a kick from Giants halfback Gus Marshall to sprint 90 metres through a sea of players to score the try of the day,
But there was more to come from a North Beach side looking to improve their for and against on the ladder.
Stirling MacDonald crossed in the 73rd minute and Grey added his third – powering over from short metres – and a second hat-trick in as many games – four minutes from time.
Photo – Karmel Potter-Green
“I think it was probably our most complete performance,” coach Phil Douche said.
“We stuck to the game plan and there was contribution from the whole team.
“We know we have some strike around the edges but we also had to match them up the middle and we had a couple of long range tries – yes, it was a good afternoon in testing conditions.
Douche admitted that if they won the coin toss they would face the wind in the first half and was happy they were all square at the break.
“We gave ourselves a challenge and it worked and with wind behind us in the second half we got the job done,” he added.
Joondalup’s Taurean Sheehan couldn’t really explain his side’s second half performance.
“We spoke at halftime about still being in the contest and that we weren’t, “ he said.
“Communication on the field was key – and we didn’t have any in that second period.
“It’s been tough for the past few rounds with so many forced changes through either work or injury, but we will regroup and go again next week.”
The weather also played a major part at Rockingham where the Fremantle Roosters emerged 22-0 winners over the Sharks.
A first half of heavy rain and ferocious wind saw the Sharks unable to hold on to the ball and were forced to defend for long periods as the Roosters applied pressure.
Despite that pressure the first period of play only saw two tries, an eighth minute effort from captain Duane Butler chasing down a clever grubber kick into goal before fullback Logan Barclay failed to hold on to the ball after another kick five metres from goal that saw back rower Tamaho Tierney scoop up the loose ball to dive over.
Photo – Liam Sallur
Every time the Sharks had the ball they failed to hold on to it, and for the early part of the second half, as the rain eased, the Roosters also struggled with ball management.
“It was a tough night, atrocious conditions, but I think we managed our errors better than they did,” Butler said.
“It wasn’t a great game, but we stuck at it and got the points. We knew we would have to play tight and make our middles do the work.
“But in that first half especially Rockingham made us work. Their scrambling defence was superb and they were tight around the markers.
“At halftime we spoke about holding on to the ball. The team that held it on to it the best would win.”
Errors continued from both sides, but it was Rockingham who failed to capitalise on anything offered their way and when returning halfback John McLaughlin was sin binned in the 61st minute it looked ominous.
The Sharks battled to stay in the game before Fremantle scored a third try through Te Toa Parkinson – after another loose ball and with minutes left and Rockingham tiring Tierney made it a double, with winger Alan Cowan, on his 100th appearance for the club, kicking a late penalty.
Coach coach Tom Murphy was very explicit in hosting post match views. “We couldnlt hold on to the ball,” he said.
“Too many individuals and not a team effort. I think there were too many times when a player was looking for that special ‘video clip’ of himself.
“Fremantle were the best team on the night in tough conditions and we were our own worst enemy. But we will get it right. We’ve had lots of team lineup changes because of injuries and that hasn’t helped, but with finals coming up, it’s time to rectify that.”
Photo – Libby McMillan