WENTY GO BACK TO TOP OF MASSEY CUP
The Wentworthville Magpies returned to the top of the Ron Massey Cup table with a hard fought 30-20 win over the Auburn Warriors in their catch up postponed game at Lidcombe Oval on Wednesday Night.
In a match that ebbed and flowed a number of times, the Magpies twice got out to handy leads – only to be reeled in twice by Warriors comebacks.
The Magpies started on fire with centre David Sisifa scoring in Wenty’s first set of the match for a four-nil lead after just two minutes.
Sisifa then finished another back-line movement in the 16th minute to bag an early double and extend the Magpies lead to 10-nil with Lindon McGrady’s conversion.
The Warriors then came back for the first time - with a double to centre Cliff Nye late in the first half.
Nye crossed in the 26th minute, before completing his brace of tries on the stroke of half time to level the scores up at 10-all at the break with Addison Demetriou’s conversion.
Wenty then upped the ante with an explosive first 20 minutes of the second half with three tries to take a commanding lead.
Centre Ethan Tangira regained the lead for Wenty with his first try five minutes into the second half, before completing his double five minutes later for McGrady to convert and Wenty to lead 20-10.
When Magpies half Jack Madden scored midway through the second half, Wenty almost looked home with a 24-10 lead.
After finally getting some possession, the Warriors came charging back for a second time in the match.
Prop Will Solway crashed over with 17 minutes left to give Auburn some hope at 24-16 with Demetriou’s conversion.
When Warriors half Brendan Cox started and finished a movement to score with seven minutes left, the Warriors were storming home at 24-20.
Auburn could not take their chances in the closing stages, and Wenty hooker Sam Gorman sealed victory in the last 90 seconds with a try converted by McGrady right on the full time siren for the Magpies to go to the top of the Massey Cup table.
St Marys moved into the Massey Cup Top Four for the first time this season with an equally tough 32-22 win over a gallant Blacktown Workers at Laybutt Fields last Saturday in the other catch up game played at the weekend.
The Saints exploded out of the blocks with two tries in the first 10 minutes – first to blockbusting winger Luke Nadurutalo in the third minute before centre John Tuliatu blew the St Marys lead to 10-nil in just eight minutes after Adrian Davis converted.
Workers’ centre Marli Sini then started Blacktown’s reply in the 12th minute with a neat try for 10-6 with Blake Goodman’s conversion.
Class fullback Alan Eisenhuth extended the St Marys lead to 14-6 when he finished a Davis inspired play in the 28th minute.
Workers winger Falcon Peni finished off a brilliant counter attack in the last minute of the first half to have the Saints only lead 14-10 at the change of ends.
Blacktown took the lead in their first set of the second half when hooker Dean Parata got over from close range. Goodman converted to have the Workers up 16-14.
Davis then made the home side pay from a turnover shortly after the restart when he scored four minutes later. The half duly converted and St Marys had moved back to a 20-16 lead with the stage set for an exciting second half.
The Saints appeared to be grinding their way on top when second rower Sonny Tuigamala scored in the 52nd minute to extend the lead again at 26-16 after Davis landed the conversion.
Blacktown were not to be denied. Goodman scored a superb try to convert himself and give the Workers another chance at a close win at only 26-22 down and plenty of time left to play.
After a thrilling 10 minutes late in the match when both sides had their chances, Tuliatu completed a double with under two minutes left to secure the two competition points for St Marys – and snatch another last minute result away from the Workers in an all too familiar pattern this season.
Davis converted to close out the 32-22 win.
The Concord-Burwood match against Auburn Warriors set down for last Thursday night at Lidcombe Oval was again postponed after Auburn Council officials declared the surface unsafe late last Thursday afternoon due to surface water from recent rains.
As detailed by Matt Buxton in his report here, the Ron Massey Cup representative team narrowly went down 11-4 to the Queensland Rangers side in the annual Representative match last Sunday at Pizzey Park, Queensland.
The Rep. team were more than competitive for long periods in a far better and closer contest than their 2015 defeat – and had their chances after Asquith Magpies backrower Jordan Latham got Chris Yates’ men to 10-4 with the only try for the Blues mid way through the second half.
Wentworthville lead the Massey Cup over Western Suburbs on percentages following their Wednesday Night win with both teams on 28 points, with Mounties in third on 26 and St Marys in fourth on 20 points.
The logjam behind the Saints is still there with five points separating seven teams. Kingsgrove Colts are still bottom of the ladder with six points.
Only four matches will be played this weekend as five teams enjoy their second bye for the season to overcome an anomaly in the original draw where four teams – Guildford, Hills District, Wests and Cabramatta – did not get two byes.
New leader Wentworthville have the opportunity to extend their percentage lead over Wests as they take on Kingsgrove Colts at Hurstville Oval on Saturday.
Saturday’s other games see Blacktown Workers take on Concord-Burwood in a vital clash at Laybutt Fields, while Mounties host Windsor Wolves at Aubrey Keech Reserve.
Sunday’s only game sees Asquith play St Marys at Storey Park in a vital match of the round that will have a huge bearing on the finals makeup.
Triple H FM continues with their coverage of grass roots footy this weekend.
Saturday sees all league issues tackled with talk program “A View From The Hill” at Midday.
Then on Sunday, HHH-FM cover the big double header from Storey Park between the Asquith Magpies and the St Marys Saints – with the Sydney Shield clash at 1pm followed by Ron Massey Cup ‘Match of the Round’ from 3pm.
All the weekend coverage can be heard on 100.1 FM, on the web via streaming at www.triplehfm.com.au, and on the Radio Tunein App.
