Wentworthville Magpies will meet Minor Premiers St Marys Saints in next week’s Major Semi-Final for a spot in the 2024 Leagues Clubs Australia Ron Massey Cup Grand Final, after an impressive 22-12 win over Mounties at St Marys Leagues Stadium today.
In the Elimination Final, the Glebe Dirty Reds have ended the Ryde-Eastwood Hawks’ season with a convincing 32-12 win.
Qualifying Final: (3rd) Wentworthville Magpies 22 def. (2nd) Mounties 12
The opening 20 minutes started with both teams testing each other with and without the ball on each set.
Wenty was the first to break the deadlock through second-rower Kyle Cassel who fended his way past defenders to crash over the line (6-0).
Magpies went back-to-back after halfback Kruz Niutili-Schmidt passed the ball to his fullback Austin Quast who dived over the line (12-0).
The Magpies extended their lead early in the second half off the back of a Mounties knock-on with Magpies hooker Meni Luke making a break off the scrum to score under the posts (18-0).
Mounties scored their first points of the game in the 56th minute through five-eighth Brad Abbey, who found space in the defensive line (18-6).
With 10 minutes to go Mounties closed the score to only trail by six when prop Kayne Kalache fended defenders off him to score next to the posts (18-12).
The Magpies sealed the deal in the 76th minute when hooker Meni Luke broke through the defence once again to race down the field and score (22-12).
RESULT: Wentworthville Magpies (Meni Luke 2, Kyle Cassel, Austin Quast tries; Liam O’Brien 3 goals) def. Mounties (Brad Abbey, Kayne Kalache tries; Roman Ioelu 2 goals)
Elimination Final: (4th) Glebe Dirty Reds 32 def. (5th) Ryde-Eastwood Hawks 12
With the scores locked at 12-all at half time the game was for the taking, however a strong second-half performance from Glebe proved to be the difference.
Glebe got out to an early 12-point lead scoring three tries in the first half of the opening 40, with winger Adam Batty crossing for a double and centre Iverson Fuatimau going over for his ninth try of the season.
With the Dirty Reds looking to have full control in the first half, the Hawks found some momentum before half time, scoring two tries in four minutes. Tries to forward Bruce Ward and utility Matthew Curl, and halfback Zane Camroux successfully converting both tries saw the score levelled at the break (12-all).
Glebe hit back in the second half with two tries to Joseph Whitikama Temara Taipari, and Vito Tevaga followed, but a successful penalty goal extended their lead out to 14 points.
With both teams making a handful of errors, each team struggled to build any momentum until the 75th minute where Glebe found the line once more through Joseph Whitikama Temara Taipari, who crossed for a double (32-12).
A late try to Hawks second-rower Tyler Cassel on full-time closed the score to 32-16.
The Glebe Dirty Reds will progress through to the Minor Semi-Final where they will face Mounties next week at Ringrose Park.
RESULT: Glebe Dirty Reds 32 (Adam Batty 2, Joseph Whitikama Temara Taipari, 2, Iverson Fuatimau, Vito Tevaga tries; Joseph Whitikama Temara Taipari 4 goals) def. Ryde-Eastwood Hawks 12 (Bruce Ward, Matthew Curl, Tyler Cassel tries; Zane C
