Wentworthville Magpies will meet Minor Premiers St Marys in next week’s Major Semi-final for a spot in the 2023 Leagues Clubs Australia Ron Massey Cup Grand Final, after a dominant 32-6 win over Glebe Dirty Reds at St Marys Leagues Stadium today.
St Marys enjoyed the week off after finishing top of the ladder, but now they will spend the week preparing to face the Magpies next Saturday afternoon.
The Ryde-Eastwood Hawks have ended the Hills Bulls season with a 26-18 win over the defending premiers on Sunday afternoon at St Marys Leagues Stadium.
Qualifying final: (3rd) Wentworthville Magpies 32 def (2nd) Glebe Dirty Reds 6
Despite going down to Glebe in their two previous club matches, the Magpies were on song for a convincing win over the Dirty Reds in today’s Qualifying final.
A double to hooker Raymond Maroun and impressive try-line defence from the Magpies in the first half helped seal the win for the black-and-white.
With all the momentum behind them, the Magpies flew out to an early lead with two tries in the first nine minutes to Maroun and winger Joshuah Minhinnick – who raced 80 metres down field to score.
Wentworthville didn’t take their foot off the pedal in the second half, once again scoring two tries within nine minutes - centre Liam O’Brien successfully converting all four tries.
A try in the 58th minute for Glebe winger Salesi Malu, who scored off the back of a line break from fullback Harrison McKeon, wasn’t enough to get his team back into the game.
Glebe centre Bilal Maarbani was sent to the bin in the final two minutes of the game for ill-discipline while Magpies second rower Kyle Cassel was placed on report earlier in the game for a dangerous tackle.
Glebe stays alive in Week Two and they now face Ryde-Eastwood Hawks, who won their earlier Elimination final over Hills Bulls.
RESULT: Wentworthville Magpies 32 (Raymond Maroun 2, Joshuah Minhinnick, Ryan Pritchard, Keaton Walkington-Meads tries; Liam O’Brien 6 goals) def. Glebe Dirty Reds 6 (Salesi Malu try; Devon Broyce goal).
Elimination Final: (4th) Ryde-Eastwood Hawks 26 def (5th) Hills Bulls 18
A dominant first half from the Hawks proved to be the difference despite a second half surge from the Bulls, with both teams fighting to keep their seasons alive.
Ryde-Eastwood came out of the blocks in opening 40 minutes scoring four tries with winger Zac Mackay successfully converting all four tries along with a penalty goal to take the Hawks out to 26-0 at half time.\
The momentum shifted in the second half, with the Bulls hitting back with three unanswered tries in 18 minutes to close the score to 26-18.
The Hawks defended strongly in the final 12 minutes to keep their season alive as they now move into Week Two of the finals.
“Our effort, completion and our discipline in the first half, we gave them nothing,” said Hawks coach Jarred Farlow.
“We needed to get through this game, and we did, so I believe we are a red hot chance now.
“We are ready to go again.”
RESULT: Ryde-Eastwood 26 (Anthony Raheb, Simisi Kioa, Jason Smyth, Nick Mougias tries; Zac Mackay 5 goals) def Hills 18 (William Fakatoumafi, Taniela Lasalo, Dion Narayan tries; Brad Keighran 3 goals)
