St Marys made history today by winning the club’s first Leagues Clubs Australia Ron Massey Cup defeating Wentworthville Magpies 40-12 in the Grand Final at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium today.
Despite losing to Wentworthville only two weeks ago, the Saints headed into today’s game as favourites after an impressive 52-0 win over the Glebe Dirty Reds in last Saturday’s Preliminary Final.
“We knew we could do this all year long,” Saints coach Darren Baker told nswrl.com.au
“We had a really good year; we were the most consistent team.
“On the back of last week, we knew that if we played similar we would probably get the same result.
“It was a well-deserved result.”
St Marys lock Jake Butfield was awarded Player of the Match after an impressive performance, which saw the back rower have a hand in everything.
The Saints picked up right where they left off against Glebe, scoring the opening try in the third minute through second rower Joe Vaegaau off the back of a dropped ball by Wentworthville.
The Magpies wasted no time levelling the scores only a few minutes later with hooker Meni Luke kicking a grubber into the in-goal, which was regathered and put down cleanly by Nicholas Walker.
St Marys regrouped quickly with four unanswered tries within 20 minutes. Halfback Zac Greene successfully kicked four conversions to take their lead out to 28-6 at half time.
The opening 20 minutes of the second half saw both sides play set for set football with each team testing the other.
Strong defence from both teams saw things become slightly heated with the Saints being awarded a penalty for high contact. Lock Jake Butfield took over the kicking duties and added the penalty.
The first try of the second half came in the 56th minute through Saints fullback Masi Fidow, who has been impressive all season, hitting the line at speed, breaking past defenders to extend the lead.
Butfield successfully converted Fidow’s try to take the score out to 34-6.
Wentworthville found the line in the 66th minute through Meni Luke timing the pass for forward Keaton Walkington-Meads to crash over. Liam O’Brien’s conversion was on target taking the score to 34-12.
St Marys added a pinch more salt to the wound for the Magpies scoring one final try just before full-time with utility Anthony Layoun putting through a perfectly weighted kick for centre David Fale to regather and score.
With Butfield’s successful conversion bringing the final score to 40-12, the celebrations could begin.
“It’s the first Ron Massey premiership, so everyone at the club is pretty happy.” Baker said.
Scores: St Marys 40 (Joe Vaegaau, Steven Tavita, Stuart Mason, Tony Satini, Christian Crichton, Masi Fidow, David Fidow tries; Zac Greene 4, Jake Butfield 2 goals) def Wentworthville 12 (Nicholas Walker, Keaton Walkington-Meads tries; Liam O’Brien 2 goals)
