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The ET Perth Spirit’s new recruits have starred in the 60-15 victory over the East Coast Aces in front of 3,117 fans at Members Equity Stadium in Perth this afternoon.
Winger Ed Jenkins celebrated his call-up by scoring a hat-trick of tries, while fellow debutants Luke McLean and Kane Allen added five pointers as the WA side went about dismantling the young Aces backline.
Scott Daruda was an impressive performer, scoring 25 points and controlling play around the field. Halfback Matt Henjak was his usual dominant self, and was named Man of the Match.
The sides exchanged penalty goals in the first fifteen minutes before the home team exploded with three tries in six minutes. Jenkins and McLean were joined by Ryan Cross in scoring first half tries, before Aces winger, former Emirates Western Force squad member Brett Stapleton, marked his return to Perth with a try to reduce the margin to 22-8 at half time.
The second half was one way traffic as the Perth team added six more tries through Jenkins (2), Daruda (2), Richard Brown and Allen. The Aces added a converted try of their own through Henari Veratau, but struggled to defend against the expansive play of the ET Perth Spirit backs and the dominance of forwards Luke Holmes, Scott Fardy, Tom Hockings and Brown.
4th min: Penalty goal missed by Ben Lucas.
13th min: Penalty goal kicked by Scott Daruda. ET Perth Spirit lead 3-0.
15th min: Penalty goal kicked by Lucas. 3-3.
20th min: Try to the ET Perth Spirit scored by Edward Jenkins. Converted by Daruda. ET Perth Spirit lead 10-3.
23rd min: Try to the ET Perth Spirit scored by Ryan Cross. Not converted by Daruda. ET Perth Spirit lead 15-3.
26th min: Try to the ET Perth Spirit scored by Luke McLean. Converted by Daruda. ET Perth Spirit lead 22-3.
33rd min: Try to the East Coast Aces scored by Brett Stapleton. Not converted by Lucas. ET Perth Spirit lead 22-8.
HALF TIME ET PERTH SPIRIT 22 EAST COAST ACES 8
Dan Bailey replaced by Jackson Mullane for the ET Perth Spirit.
44th min: Try to the ET Perth Spirit scored by Richard Brown. Converted by Daruda. ET Perth Spirit lead 29-8.
49th min: Try to the ET Perth Spirit scored Jenkins. Not converted by Daruda. ET Perth Spirit lead 34-8. AJ Whalley replaced by Kieran Longbottom for the ET Perth Spirit and Sam Batty replaced by Curtis Franks for the East Coast Aces.
55th min: Todd Feather replaced by Kane Allen for the ET Perth Spirit.
56th min: Matt Henjak replaced by James Stannard for the ET Perth Spirit.
58th min: Try to the East Coast Aces scored by Henari Veratau. Converted by Lucas. ET Perth Spirit lead 34-15. Henari Veratau replaced by John Dart for the Aces
61st min: Try to the ET Perth Spirit scored by Scott Daruda. Not converted by Daruda. ET Perth Spirit lead 39-15.
63rd min: Rodney Blake replaced by Lloyd Campbell-McBride.
64th min: Luke Holmes replaced by Tai McIsaac for the ET Perth Spirit.
67th min: Try to the ET Perth Spirit scored by Jenkins. Converted by Daruda. ET Perth Spirit lead 46-15. Josh Afu replaced by Dan Ese for the Aces. Richard Brown replaced by Will Brock for the ET Perth Spirit.
68th min: Quade Cooper and Rob Simmons replaced by James Kriukelis and Waitai Walker for the Aces.
71st min: Try to the ET Perth Spirit scored by Daruda. Converted by Daruda. ET Perth Spirit lead 53-15. Tom Hockings replaced by Luke Doherty for the ET Perth Spirit. Jade Ingham replaced by Joe Tufuga for the Aces.
76th min: Campbell-Lloyd replaced by Blake for the Aces.
80th min: Try to the ET Perth Spirit scored by Kane Allen. Converted by Daruda. ET Perth Spirit win 60-15.
FULL TIME: ET PERTH SPIRIT 60 EAST COAST ACES 15
ET PERTH SPIRIT 60 (Jenkins 3, Daruda 2, Brown, Allen, Cross, McLean tries. Daruda 6 cons, 1 pen)
EAST COAST ACES 15 (Stapleton, Veratau tries. Lucas 1 con 1 pen)