The Kaiviti Silktails’ Ron Massey Cup finals aspirations took a hit when they went down to the Wentworthville Magpies 22-12 at Ringrose Park.
Coming off last week’s upset victory over St Mary’s, the fifth-placed Silktails headed to Wentworthville desperate for another win to keep their finals dream alive.
Despite leading 12-6, the Silktails were eventually overpowered by the Magpies in the second half, who scored three unanswered tries to steal the win.
Wentworthville dominated the early field position, yet it took 13 minutes before they found a way through the Silktails’ desperate defence. Lock Blake Cook did the damage, powering through the middle before Jordan Latham backed up to cross under the posts for the opening try.
The home side looked like doubling the tally nine minutes later but a spilled ball was enough for the Fijians to hit back against the run of play, with Paula Walisoliso racing 80 metres to level the scores at six apiece.
A succession of penalties halted the Silktails’ momentum, but they repelled the Magpies with some, at times ferocious, tackling.
Their hard work eventually opened the door for more points, and a rare chance close to the line was all Watisoni Waqanisarav needed to bulldoze his way over and put Kaiviti back in front 12-6.
Wentworthville were quick to strike back after the resumption when a series of repeat sets led to winger Max Lehmann finishing a backline sweep in the right corner.
The Magpies then hit the front at 16-12 with 15 minutes remaining when hooker Jayden Yates burrowed over from dummy-half.
As the clock ticked down the Silktails had their chances level the score-line, but several pressure-building kicks from halfback Mosese Quonimacawa went to waste with sloppy handling.
A second four-pointer to Yates two minutes from full-time put the result beyond doubt, locked down the Magpies spot in the Ron Massey Cup finals.
For the Silktails, however, there’s still plenty to play for.
With a number of postponed games still to be scheduled they remain in finals contention, and a win next Saturday against Ryde Eastwood at Mascot Oval - in the final regular season round - may still be enough to nail down fifth place.
The Silktails’ participation in the NSWRL’s Ron Massey Cup is proudly supported by the Australian Government through PacificAus Sports.
The NSWRL receives funding from the Australian Government through PacificAus Sports to support the Silktails’ participation in the NSWRL’s Ron Massey Cup.
