Shute Shield: Western Sydney Two Blues prop Kalafi Pongi’s try hat-trick v Penrith
Kalafi Pongi went into the Shute Shield battle of the west with a goal of helping the Western Sydney Two Blues win their first match of the season. He left it in shock and with a bit of history.
Parramatta
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All Kalafi Pongi wanted was to do his part to help the Western Sydney Two Blues record their first win of the Shute Shield.
The former New Zealand and Tongan Under 20s star instead left the field after the game against Penrith with a hat-trick of tries.
“It has to be the first time ever by a prop in the history of the universe,” he laughed.
“We think it’s the first time in Shute Shield at least.
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“The first try was off a rolling maul and the second was off a switch back. The third was the same.
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“I was in shock. The second one I had seven metres to go. I don’t normally have that much space to go.”
And three seems to be the charm for Pongi.
“My son was born on June 3, I wear the No. 3 and I have been with the club for three years,” he said.
Pongi is a new father with a 13-week old son Francis.
“The plan was top have him towards the end of the season but because the competition dates got changed he was born just before it,’’ he said.
“I love being a dad. It brings a different perspective to life.’’
The win was the Two Blues first for the season and will help them avoid the Shute Shield wooden spoon.
Other try scorers for the Two Blues in their 36-29 win over the Penrith Emus on Saturday under lights were Tuitakau Kioa and Niki Dalivusa.
Penriths try scorers were Terry Fanolua, Willie Tooala, Luke Nadurutalo and Jeremiah Faamausili.