East beat West in the first senior WRL Origin series match of 2019

WEST WALES 18 EAST WALES 38
By Ian Golden at The Gnoll

East Wales easily saw off the challenge of West to win 38-18 and open the WRL Origin Series in style.

Kurtis Haile reached over to score first for East on seven minutes. Liam Silver missed the conversion attempt.

West were twice denied on the line as they looked for a try back, so East doubled their advantage on 25 minutes through a Dean Higgs try, that Mike Hurley converted to make it 10-0.

Higgs notched his second, and East’s third on the half hour. Hurley converting again, before going over for the next try but missing the resulting goal attempt.

West Wales finally got over the line on the stroke of half-time when Sam Pridgeon ran through and Chris Harris converted.

East were 20-6 up at the break and they extended their advantage on 52 minutes when Grant Harrington ran through and Hurley easily converted.

West struck back on the hour through a Kevin James try that Harris goaled, but East soon addressed the balance after Byron Edwards burst over on 63 minutes with Silver converting.

They cemented their victory with five minutes to go after Higgs dived through for his hat-trick and Hurley goaled, but West had the last say when Gareth Howells ran over and Jonah Huntley converted.

East will regain their title next Sunday if they can beat North Wales Origin at Shotton RFC (kick-off 3pm).

• In the under 12 encounter that opened the Neath triple header, East beat West 32-14 to take that series 3-0. Lloyd Nash scored a brace of tries for East with Ethan Williams, Kian Williams, Henry Parker and Kade Woodard also crossing. Iestyn Jones and Ethan Paterson each kicked two goals. West’s tries came from Owen Bailey, Luke Ingram and Alex Ridgeway, with Sam Gardner converting once.
• West scored seven tries against East at under 14 level to win their series 2-1. Llewellyn Hawkes and Evan Wood each grabbed two tries, with Jac Gaines, Josh Hanson and Jarrod Hippsley, who also kicked four goals, all crossing once. East replied with two tries by Tre Huddleston and one from Sam Dungey.

WEST WALES
1 Jonah Huntley (Rhondda Outlaws)
2 Rhodri Garland (Rhondda Outlaws)
3 Sam Pridgeon (Valley Cougars)
4 Gareth Howells (Bridgend Blue Bulls)
5 Corey Harris (Bridgend Blue Bulls)
6 Shane Lee (c) (Valley Cougars)
7 Chris Harris (Rhondda Outlaws)
8 Ieuan Griffiths (Rhondda Outlaws)
9 Nathan Morgan (Bridgend Blue Bulls)
10 Jonny Rees (Bridgend Blue Bulls)
11 Ben Rees (Bridgend Blue Bulls)
12 John Lloyd (Bridgend Blue Bulls)
13 Kevin James (Rhondda Outlaws)
14 Jackson Huntley (Rhondda Outlaws)
15 Ben Jones (Valley Cougars)
16 Richie Lewis (Rhondda Outlaws)
17 Max Hendy (Rhondda Outlaws)
18 Anton Ramsey (Valley Cougars)

Tries: Pridgeon (40), James (60) Howells (78)
Goals: Harris 2/2, Huntley 1/1

EAST WALES
1 Liam Silver (Torfaen Tigers)
2 Thomas Hale (Rhondda Outlaws)
3 Liam Watton (c) (Valley Cougars)
4 Jarad Hinnem (Torfaen Tigers)
5 Adam Watton (Valley Cougars)
6 Geoffrey Hick (Torfaen Tigers)
7 Kurtis Haile (Torfaen Tigers)
8 Shaun Watton (Rhondda Outlaws)
9 Grant Harrington (Torfaen Tigers)
10 Luke Royal (Torfaen Tigers)
11 Craig Lewis (Valley Cougars)
12 Charley Bodman (Valley Cougars)
13 Byron Edwards (Torfaen Tigers)
14 Dean Higgs (Valley Cougars)
15 Tom Matthews (Torfaen Tigers)
16 Mike Bagnall (Torfaen Tigers)
17 Ieuan Hancock (Torfaen Tigers)
18 Mike Hurley (Valley Cougars)

Tries: Haile (7), Higgs (25, 30, 76), Hurley (34), Harrington (52), Edwards (63)
Goals: Silver 1/2, Hurley 4/5

Referee: Liam Lintern
Half-time: 6-20