By Adam Kidd
The Wentworthville Magpies confirmed their Premiership credentials in round seven with a 54-24 defeat of Mounties at Ringrose Park.
It took the Magpies just three minutes to open the scoring with a deft Luke Kelly kick over the top of the defence finding an unmarked Vai Toutai to touch down for the opening points.
A mistake from the kick-off provided Mounties with an opportunity to hit back instantly and it was Jake Foster who split the defensive line, running onto a short ball from Mitch Cornish to crash over next to the uprights to take a 6-4 lead.
Mounties almost scored from the kick-off and were on the offensive before Api Pewhairaingi took an intercept before a determined charge from Taniela Lasalo just a few plays later regained the lead for the home team.
Liam Foran increased the lead just minutes later, running onto an offload from Junior Paulo who had beaten four defenders in a herculean run through the defensive line to extend the lead to 16-6.
Mounties hit back once again with Rodney Coates diving over from close range after great lead up work from the forwards, but the resurgence was only short-lived with Daniel Alvaro linking with Liam Foran to send Lorezno Ma'afu over for the easiest of tries and an extended Magpies lead.
Wentworthville had the final say in the first half with Luke Kelly and Ryan Morgan displaying quick hands to send Vai Toutai over in the shadows of half-time to set up a 28-12 lead.
Mounties came out firing in the second-half and looked certain to score before a Justin Hunt intercept allowed him to link up with Pewhairaingi who held off a determined Sami Sauiluma to extend the home sides lead to 32-12 after 50 minutes.
The Magpies were in just minutes later with Ben Jones delivering an exquisite long ball to Bureta Faraimo to touchdown in the corner for a 38-12 lead.
Lorenzo Ma'afu put the result beyond doubt with another try, before a clever Reece Goldsmith kick found Mark Nicholls to give Mounties a glimmer of hope with 15 minutes remaining.
There was to be no fairytale however, with two late tries to Faraimo sealing a convincing win for Wentworthville and sending a warning to the rest of the competition that the Magpies are the real deal in 2014.
Wenty will head to North Sydney Oval this Sunday afternoon to face the Bears while Mounties head up to the Central Coast to take on the Roos.
Wentworthville Magpies 54 (B Faraimo 3, V Toutai 2, L Ma'afu 2, A Pewhairangi, L Foran, T Lasalo tries; L Kelly 7 goals) def. Mounties 24 (J Foster 2, M Nicholls, R Coates tries; M Cornish 4 goals) at Ringrose Park.
