By MARK CASHMAN

Prop Kalafi Pongi scored a hat trick of tries as the Western Sydney Two Blues won an intriguing showdown in the west 36-29 against Penrith on Saturday.

The Two Blues scored five tries to four and had to withstand a late surge from the Emus who were direct and physical as well as creative throughout the 80 minutes.

The Emus in fact scored 17 points in the final minutes to give some real edge to the finish of the game with some great tries to Willie Tooala and scrumhalf Terry Fanolua and a penalty goal and conversions from Dean Blore.

The foundations for the Two Blues victory was through their forwards with Pongi the beneficiary of some excellent work from his fellow “fatties”.