Parramatta Eels defeated Kaiviti Silktails 42-22 in another round of the NSW New Jersey Flegg Cup at Churchill Park in Lautoka yesterday.
The Eels asserted their dominance early on, controlling possession, exhibiting excellent ball control, and showcasing a ruthless defence that propelled them to a commanding 30-6 lead at halftime.
Despite the host side managing to score only once in the first half, the Kaiviti Silktails mounted a spirited comeback in the second half displaying renewed momentum, the Silktails fought back with three tries and two conversions. However, their resurgence was not enough to overturn the score board, as the Eels managed to secure two converted tries in the latter half of the game.
Kaiviti Silktails head coach Wes Naiqama admits their weak areas but expressed confidence in his players’ ability to grow and improve.
“At half time we talked about being better in our scoring areas, there were some discipline issues around the ruck area, the second half showed promise.
“We put ourselves in a position to win but then again if we had been good in those key areas in the first half, we could have made a significant difference in the second half,” Naiqama said.
“There’s alot of learnings that could be taken out from here but as long as the players keep learning and building every week the result will be out soon,” Naiqama added.
Meanwhile Parramatta Eels head coach Jordan Rankin commended his team on their victory while acknowledging areas for improvement.
“It was a good win, there’s definitely bits and pieces there we need to work on, but Silktails really gave us a good run for our money today,” Rankin said.
