The Waratah Tigers have maintained their unbeaten start to the season after a determined second-half performance against Darlington Point Coleambally at the Darlington Point Sportsground on Sunday.
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Waratahs were reduced to 12-men after Moahoni Lelei was sent from the field five minutes after halftime for a swinging arm on Roosters centre Sam Bartter and that seemed to spark the side according to coach Kose Lelei.
“I think it took one person to get sent for us to switch on especially in the middle,” he said.
“We scored the points early, and everyone just relaxed and thought it was going to be an easy game.”
Waratahs were able to score three unanswered tries though Graham Levu, Maile Ngu and Eddie Rauluni within the first 15 minutes to give the side a 14-0 lead.
The Roosters were finally able to hit back through Ty Blanchette, and the sides traded tries as Waratahs went into the break up 20-12.
Roosters’ Dillon Bartter got on the end of a perfectly weighted kicked for coach Ryan McGoldrick to get his side to within two points before the Tahs were sparked by the sending off.
They scored three quick tries to get out to a 16-point advantage before the Roosters crossed through a second to Josh Veivers.
Waratahs were able to close out the game with William Jaffrey and Peniona Tamanisave crossing to give their side the 42-22 win.
It was an important win for the Waratahs coach as it meant they retained the possession of the Jack Carroll Cup.
“It means a lot,” he said.
“Me and my brother grew up with Jack, so this is really special.”
Lelei credited his side's defence as the main reason they were able to get the win as they stood tall even with a man off the field.
“We defended really well today there were a few times where we were able to defend our line,” he said.
“Full credit to our forwards in the middle they did all the hard yards for that last half an hour or so when my brother (Moahoni) got sent off.
“It was a good team effort especially with just 12 players on the field, and the guys off the bench did their job as well.”
Lelei is aware there is one thing hanging over his side which could hurt them in the close game to come in the season.
Along with the sending off this week they had two sin-binned the week before, and Lelei knows his side need to keep their heads.
“It is something that we are going to have to work on we can't keep doing this every week,” he said.
The Waratahs will face Yanco-Wamoon next Saturday while DPC takes on Hay.
Liam Warren
As someone with an underlying passion about sport it is a privilege to report on the sporting landscape around the MIA
As someone with an underlying passion about sport it is a privilege to report on the sporting landscape around the MIA
