Fiji Bati winger Maika Sivo scored a hat-trick of tries in Parramatta Eels narrow 26-24 loss to the Gold Coast Titans in Round 10 of NRL on Sunday.
The Eels got off with a scintillating start as Sivo scored the opening try in the corner just a minute into the match from a Clint Gutherson basketball pass.
But the Eels’ joy was short-lived when the side was reduced to 12 men as Gutherson was sent to the sin bin.
Titans took advantage of the situation as Kieran Foran scored a brace of tries but Tanah Boyd converted once.
Minutes before the break, Alofiana Khan-Pereira further extended Titans’ lead with their third try and Boyd converted for a 16-4 impressive lead at half time.
Eels returned to the second half hungry for points and swiftly posted their second try to reignite proceedings after a terrific exchange of hands down the left edge created havoc for the Titans’ after a slick pass by Bailey Simonsson sent Sivo streaking away for his second try of the night.
However, Khan-Pereira reinstated the Titans’ breathing room with a try to keep the scoreline at 22-8.
Sivo completed his Magic Round hat-trick in the 54th minute following Simonsson sending the winger over the line while Gutherson added another try in favor of the Eels which Mitchell Moses converted.
Just nine minutes to full time, Brian Kelly crossed the stripe with their winning try to put the Titans eight points ahead before Andrew Davey scored a consolation try for the Eels.
