WESTS snuffed out any hint of a Corrimal comeback, before piling on the points in Saturday Illawarra clash at Ziems Park.
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The Red Devils had the contest in their control in the first half, before conceding a try just before half-time.
However, a late surge ensured last year’s grand finalists ran out convincing 56-6 winners.
“We’ve challenge the blokes to get better defensively,” Wests assistant Peter McLeod said. “And to defend better for longer and in big moments, we thought we did it pretty well against Helensburgh and again on Saturday.
“Corrimal threw some good attacking shape at us, we did well to hold it out and then got away at the end there.
“It was a pretty tough arm-wrestle for a while.”
Corrimal had emerged as the big improver in the competition this season, after beating Berkeley 32-10 and fighting back to a 22-16 loss to premiers Dapto.
“We were a bit wary, we knew they’d be a danger after the Dapto game,” McLeod said.
In a split-round, Wests will now have the weekend off, as Berkeley tackle Collegians and Thirroul meet Dapto next Saturday.
Halfback Justin Rodrigues and centre Taioalo Vaivai were among Wests’ best, while Bryce Gibbs led the way up front.
- ILLAWARRA
Round four
WESTS 56 d CORRIMAL 6
Saturday (split round, 3pm)
BERKELEY v COLLEGIANS at Berkeley Sports Centre, THIRROUL v DAPTO at Gibson Park, HELENSBURGH bye