Match Report

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).