Minor premiers East Campbelltown Eagles have booked a preliminary final showdown with Moorebank Rams after a convincing 38-4 victory over Asquith Magpies on Saturday at Jubilee Oval, Kogarah.
In what was a dominant 80 minute performance from the Eagles, their clinical attacking raids and defiant defensive efforts ignited the seven-try to one rout, with Alapati Ptoifara and Amanono Tovio each crossing for two tries.
Magpies Hooker Treymaine Brown gave his side a blistering start when he kicked a 40/20 out of dummy-half in the early exchanges, but they were unable to take advantage as the Eagles defence held strong.
On the back of their brick-wall defence, East Campbelltown reaped the rewards with three tries within just nine minutes of play to race out to a commanding 14-0 lead.
John Da Silva was the first beneficiary when he barged his way over from close-range, before Aaron Teariki followed suit with a determined effort, and Theodore Leato sliced through after a slick left-to-right shift.
The Magpies were unable to capitalise on their own respective chances thanks to some resilient defence.
The Eagles struck a crucial blow right on half-time when Potifara latched onto a perfectly placed chip-kick for their fourth unanswered try.
Edwin Connor converted from out wide to give his side a 20 point buffer at the break.
Asquith came out with a point to prove in the second stanza with some brutal efforts in defence, and they earned themselves their maiden try of the contest through Samuela George.
But their short burst of momentum would come to a halt just five minutes later when Potifara grabbed his second try of the afternoon, with Connor converting to extend the lead to 22 after 58 minutes.
Despite the Magpies’ best efforts to salvage some pride late in the second-half, two tries to Tovio, including a four-pointer against the run of play, put the result well beyond doubt and capped off a powerful victory.
Eagles coach Richard Barnes said he was pleased with all 17 of his players.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“The boys’ completions were high but our defensive effort was the most pleasing,’’ Barnes said.[/social_quote]
“But will still have a lot of improvement if we are to defeat Moorebank this week.’’
The Eagles will travel to Leichhardt Oval this coming Saturday for the preliminary final against Moorebank.
Picton vs The Oaks this Sunday also FYI