Ryan
Journey Man
The Storm Under-20’s have started their National Youth Cup season with a bang, defeating the Sea Eagles 40-12 at AAMI Park.
Thunderbolts coach Dean Pay said his team’s defence was the difference between the teams.
In an impressive team effort, Pay listed triple try scorer Ben Hampton in the best players for the Thunderbolts.
“The boys went really well, we defended really well, it’s just a case of putting it in perspectiveâ€Â, Pay said.
“We need to hang on to the ball a little bit more.
“Ben was pretty good, I thought John Leiataua was really good and Kenny Bromwich played 80 minutes.â€Â
The Thunderbolts opened the scoring when Karl Davies crossed the line after only four minutes of play, setting the tone for what would be a pulsating opening half.
A Ryan Pooley try in the corner, a Ben Hampton line-break and try in the opposite corner, and a carbon copy of Hampton’s try to Eddie Fa’amausili not long after gave the Thunderbolts a 22-12 lead going into the half-time break.
Three minutes into the second half, Hampton struck again, crossing the line after sustained attack from the Thunderbolts.
Matt McGahan converted the relatively easy attempt, increasing Melbourne’s lead to 28-12.
Tensions threatened to boil over at the 10-minute mark, with a brief melee deep in Manly’s defence resulting in Thunderbolt Kirisome Auva’a and Sea Eagle Jorge Taufua both being sent off.
With 25 minutes to go, Mahe Fonua crossed the line to score in the right hand corner, pushing the lead out to 34-12 with McGahan’s conversion.
A blistering run from Hampton earned him his third try with 11 minutes to go to seal the victory.
Storm 40 (Tries: Davies, Pooley, Hampton 3, Fa’amausili, Fonua; Goals: ; Conversions: McGahan 6) def. Sea Eagles 12 (Tries: Anderson, Tim Burrell; Goals: ; Conversions: Matthews 2) at AAMI Park
Thunderbolts coach Dean Pay said his team’s defence was the difference between the teams.
In an impressive team effort, Pay listed triple try scorer Ben Hampton in the best players for the Thunderbolts.
“The boys went really well, we defended really well, it’s just a case of putting it in perspectiveâ€Â, Pay said.
“We need to hang on to the ball a little bit more.
“Ben was pretty good, I thought John Leiataua was really good and Kenny Bromwich played 80 minutes.â€Â
The Thunderbolts opened the scoring when Karl Davies crossed the line after only four minutes of play, setting the tone for what would be a pulsating opening half.
A Ryan Pooley try in the corner, a Ben Hampton line-break and try in the opposite corner, and a carbon copy of Hampton’s try to Eddie Fa’amausili not long after gave the Thunderbolts a 22-12 lead going into the half-time break.
Three minutes into the second half, Hampton struck again, crossing the line after sustained attack from the Thunderbolts.
Matt McGahan converted the relatively easy attempt, increasing Melbourne’s lead to 28-12.
Tensions threatened to boil over at the 10-minute mark, with a brief melee deep in Manly’s defence resulting in Thunderbolt Kirisome Auva’a and Sea Eagle Jorge Taufua both being sent off.
With 25 minutes to go, Mahe Fonua crossed the line to score in the right hand corner, pushing the lead out to 34-12 with McGahan’s conversion.
A blistering run from Hampton earned him his third try with 11 minutes to go to seal the victory.
Storm 40 (Tries: Davies, Pooley, Hampton 3, Fa’amausili, Fonua; Goals: ; Conversions: McGahan 6) def. Sea Eagles 12 (Tries: Anderson, Tim Burrell; Goals: ; Conversions: Matthews 2) at AAMI Park
