By Jake Bull
The Illawarra Cutters were defeated 32-16 by the Newcastle Knights at Hunter Stadium, Newcastle on Sunday.
The Knights struck first in the seventh minute when winger Honteti Tuha collected an intercept on the 40 metre line and raced away to score.
The Cutters replied to level proceedings eight minutes later when Peni Botiki went over.
Blake Wallace added the extras as they lead 6-4.
However, in the 18th minute the home side regained their lead when Kerrod Holland made a break and sprinted 30 metres down the touchline to score for an 8-6 lead.
The momentum was with the Knights and in the 25th minute Chanel Mata’utia dived over for his team’s third try.
Holland converted his first of the game as they pushed their lead out to 14-6.
Five minutes later the Knights were in again when Jaelen Feeney scored as the lead continued to grow.
Holland found his groove and again converted to make it 20-6.
With half-time looming the home side had one more try in them when Ben Tupou charged through defenders to score under the posts.
It was an easy conversion as Kerrod Holland made it 26-6 at the interval.
Some slick play from Newcastle after the break saw George Ndaira stepped his way past defenders to score.
Holland again converted to make it 32-6.
With 20 minutes to play the Cutters got on the scoreboard when Adam Clune went over.
Wallace converted to bring the game to 32-12.
A try in the 70th minute from Siti Mociedreke was the last points for the game as the Knights got over the Cutters 32-16.
Illawarra Cutters 16 Tries: Botiki, Clune, Mociedreke. Goals: Wallace (2/3).
Newcastle Knights 32 Tries: Tuha, Holland, Mata’utia, Feeney, Tupou, Ndaira. Goals: Holland (4/6).
