By Dylan Beaumont
In a successful week of rugby league the Pakenham Eels took down a heavier-equipped Sunshine Cowboys side 22-4.
The Cowboys’ first division side had a bye for the week, leading them to drop five of their first grade players down for the trip over to Comely Banks.
Despite the additions, Pakenham was able to shut down said players early.
With the first half very much an arm wrestle, Damascus Lota put the first points on the board at the six minute mark.
The Cowboys returned fire in the 21st minute to level things up through Inia Biu to go into the main break at four points each.
In a scintillating second half, the Eels packed on four tries through Troy Pulupaki, Damien Foster-Norris, Abraham Netzler and Jaylen Johansson-Joseph.
Damascus Lota left his kicking boots at home, converting one of five extra-point attempts.
The Eels will play at Betula Reserve this week against Doveton.
Pakenham’s under-13 boys side lost to the Frankston Raiders 14-18 and the under-14 girls side lost 18-62 to the Raiders.
The under-14 boys fell to the Sunbury Tigers 16-44 and the under-16 girls lost 16-58 to the face of the Northern Thunder.
The under-16 boys were able to buck the trend, beating the Sunshine Cowboys emphatically 46-0, while the under-18 boys fell to the Sunbury Tigers 4-24.
In other action, the Casey Warriors defeated Melton 30-12.
Two tries in the fourth minute by Tubuna Rauroro and Paula Veikoso for Casey set up a scoring trend for the first half, getting over the try line another four times before half time.
Frank Laulu managed two tries, while Alijah Waetford and Daniel Alefosio also stuffed the scoresheet.
The margin could have been more telling for Casey, going three for six on conversions.
Neither side scored in the second half, feeding the Warriors an 18-point victory.
The Warriors are now second on the ladder, with a win-to-loss ratio of 3-1.
The Eels are closely behind, sitting in third position at 3-1.
Sitting in second, Casey has a softened schedule before its matchup against the Eastern Raptors in round eight.
The Warriors play Altona on the road next week, before settling into a two-game home stand against the North West Wolves and Truganina Rabbitohs.
The next three weeks could be a percentage-bolstering trio for the Warriors if they play their cards right.
R4 Results: Pakenham Eels 22 def Sunshine Cowboys 4, Casey Warriors 30 def Melton Broncos 12, North West Wolves 52 def Werribee Bears 6, Altona Roosters 10 def by Eastern Raptors 24, Truganina Rabbitohs 6 def by Doveton Steelers 26.
Ladder: Eastern 7, Casey 6, Pakenham 6, Melton 6, North West 5, Doveton 2, Truganina 0, Altona 0, Sunshine 0, Werribee 0.
R5 Fixture: Doveton (6) v Pakenham (3), Altona (8) v Casey (2), Sunshine (9) v North West (5), Eastern (1) v Werribee (10), Melton (4) v Truganina (7).
