The St George Illawarra Dragons were 38-10 winners over the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval on Monday.
The Young Dragon scored seven tries in the victory which included a hat trick to fullback Matt Dufty during the second-half of play.
Had Coach Matt Head had made several changes to the line-up announced midweek including winger Izaac Thompson named on the flank in lieu of Paora Kemp.
The Hurstville United junior was joined by prop Jay Gallgher who had been gifted his debut, and started in the forward-pack in lieu of Jacob Esau.
The visitors had entered the encounter on the back of an eight game undefeated streak and stated their intent on furthering the run courtesy of second-rower Lucian Leilua’s try in the sixth minute.
Dragons five-eighth Jai Field added the extras to make it 10-0.
The Dragons had been testing the home side’s defence for the majority of the period and midway through the stanza added an additional four-points courtesy of captain Patrick Herbert.
The Young Dragons captain notched his second of the encounter seven minutes later after shifting to the right and barging his way through two unsuspecting markers.
Field added the extras to make it 16-0.
Unfortunately, the Sea Eagles secured their first points of the period minutes before the interval when centre Brad Parker got his name on the score sheet and made it 16-4.
The visitors continued where they left off after the break with winger Reuben Garrick cross the stripe on the right edge in the 57th minute.
Field was again on strike from the tee and made it 22-4.
It was during this time that Dufty claimed a brilliant individual hat trick just after the hourmark to further extend his team’s lead.
The fullback scored his first four-pointer courtesy of a blistering run down the middle to instigate the scoring rout before following up down the left flank moments later.
The local Penshurst RSL junior Matt ended his run in similar fashion after some smart link-up player with the Dragons halves with five minutes on the clock remaining.
Field converted two of his three attempts during this period to make it 38-4.
However, the Sea Eagles banked a consolatory try through winger Lucas Price in the dying stages of the game to make it 38-8.
Sea Eagles five-eighth Nicho Hynes converted and made it 38-10.
St George Illawarra Dragons 38. Tries: Dufty (3), Herbert (2), Leilua, Garrick, Goals: Field (5/7).
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 10. Tries: Parker, Price. Goals: Hynes (1/2).
