Date: Saturday, 5th July
Venue: North Harbour Stadium
Competition: NSWRL Jersey Flegg Cup
In a hard-fought battle at North Harbour Stadium, the Kaiviti Silktails faced off against the New Zealand Warriors in the NSWRL Jersey Flegg competition. Despite their valiant efforts, the Silktails succumbed to a 40-18 defeat.
First Half
The match began brightly for the Silktails, as they established an impressive 18-0 lead within the first half. George Satakala powered through the Warriors’ defense to score the opening try in the 10th minute. Hooker Seru Kalounivalu followed suit, adding a second try in the 18th minute. Prop Adrea Ramabuke then contributed with a try in the 22nd minute, giving the Silktails a commanding lead.
However, the Warriors quickly regrouped and mounted a strong counterattack. In a dramatic shift, they scored four back-to-back tries in the last 10 minutes of the first half, with Tallan Egan at the forefront of the Warriors’ revival. By halftime, the Warriors had turned the match around and led 22-18, capitalizing on defensive lapses from the Silktails.
Second Half
The second half saw a continuation of the Warriors’ dominance as they maintained their intensity and continued to apply pressure. The Silktails struggled to keep pace, ultimately unable to score in the second half as the Warriors extended their lead with additional tries. Brandon Norris played a pivotal role for the Warriors, further solidifying their control of the match.
Notable Performances from Kaiviti Silktails
- George Satakala (Prop): The powerful front-rower opened the scoring for the Silktails with a brilliant try in the 10th minute, showcasing his strength and determination to break through the Warriors’ defense.
- Seru Kalounivalu (Hooker): Kalounivalu was a standout performer, demonstrating his versatility and skill. He crossed the try line in the 18th minute to extend the Silktails’ lead and consistently provided vital support in both attack and defense throughout the match.
- Adrea Ramabuke (Prop): Ramabuke displayed excellent positioning and physicality in the forward pack, adding to the Silktails’ tally with a well-timed try in the 22nd minute. His relentless work ethic helped set the tone for his teammates.
Coach’s Comments
“We faced a tough loss today against the Warriors. We started off well, similar to our recent games, but during the last 10 minutes of the first half, we allowed them to score 22 points from an 18-0 lead. That shift in momentum in the first half was something we couldn’t recover from at the start of the second half. We made too many mistakes, which really hindered our efforts to regain the lead. They continued to press us, and losing a player to the sin bin definitely didn’t help our situation. Once again, discipline and errors were key factors in the outcome of the game. I believe we need more experience to help us get back on track when we lose a lead like that.”
Conclusion
Despite the disappointing 40-18 defeat, the Kaiviti Silktails exhibited a spirited performance that highlighted their potential. With a promising start and flashes of brilliance from their forwards, the Silktails will take valuable lessons forward.
Moving ahead, the team is focused on minimizing errors and maintaining consistency throughout the game. They are keen to improve as they return home to host the Raiders in Round 19 of the Jersey Flegg competition at Churchill Park. With determination and a commitment to learning from this match, the Silktails aim to turn their fortunes around and make a strong statement in their next fixture.
