Ryde-Eastwood Hawks will meet Minor Premiers Wentworthville United in next week’s Major Semi Final for a spot in the 2024 Sydney Shield Grand Final after defeating Mounties 44-30 at St Marys Leagues Stadium today.
Penrith Brothers will come head-to-head with Mounties in Week Two of the finals after defeating the 2023 runners up St Marys Saints 58-32 at St Marys Stadium on Saturday morning.
Qualifying Final: (2nd) Ryde-Eastwood Hawks 44 def. (3rd) Mounties 30
The Hawks were on song in the opening half, scoring five tries to Mounties’ one to take their lead out to 30-6.
The opening try saw fullback Ryan Garner cross in the sixth minute followed by Neville Verevakabau in the 16th (12-0).
Holding all the momentum in the first half, Hawks continued to pile the points on through utility Ryan Joynes and wingers Raymond Mikaele and Josh Rizk – Rizk crossing for his ninth try of the season (30-0).
Mounties opened their scoring right on half time through forward Mosese Pope who crashed over the line (30-6).
Mounties started the second half the way they finished the first, scoring three quick tries in the opening six minutes of the half. Tries to winger Isaac Williams, second-rower Kaylem Falaniko and halfback Jack Stig saw Mounties only trailing by six.
The scores were levelled in the 56th minute through hooker Filemu Logai-Lusiano who broke past defence, racing down the field before throwing a dummy to race past the fullback and score (30-all).
Off the back of a handful of errors to Mounties, Hawks scored two tries and kicked a penalty goal to run away with a 44-30 win.
RESULT: Ryde-Eastwood Hawks 44 (Neville Verevakabau 2, Ryan Garner 2, Ryan Joynes, Josh Rizk, Ryamond Mikaele tries; Jacob Wright 8 goals) def. Mounties 30 (Mosese Pope, Isaac Williams, Kaylem Flaniko, Jake Sitg, Filemu Logai-Lusiano tries; Kaylem Falaniko 5 goals)
Elimination final: (5th) Penrith Brothers 58 def. (4th) St Marys Saints 32
Brothers started the first half strong, scoring in the opening four minutes with the ball being shifted out to the right before being passed back onto the inside to fullback Dean Kammel who crossed (6-0).
Momentum shifted when Saints received back-to-back penalties which saw the home team march their way down the field.
Holding momentum, Saints went on to score three tries to winger Tim Carson and centres Mason Iaria and Kaleb Farr with each try seeing each player race down the field to score. Halfback Joseph Nohra successfully converted two of the three tries to extend his team’s lead out to 16-4.
Brothers hit back scoring three tries in 10 minutes through winger Michael Pokia and five-eighth Donovan Boney – with Boney scoring a double in three minutes. Boney stayed perfect off the tee kicking all three conversions with Brothers regaining the lead (24-16).
St Marys refused to back down just before half time, finding another two tries to second-rower Leroy Magalogo and forward McCann Livingston – Livingston scoring his 13th try of the season (28-14).
Brothers came out of the blocks firing in the second half, with Pokia scoring his second for the day, however an injury to Donovan Boney saw the Brothers five-eighth stretchered off the field (30-28).
Despite losing one of their chief playmakers, Brothers went on to score another two tries through Kammel and centre Mitchell Owen with both outside backs scoring under the posts. Kye Raven successfully converted both tries after taking over the kicking duties (42-28).
With 15 minutes remaining, Saints hit back through Leroy Magalogo who crossed for his second, however Brothers were back on the attack and lock Noah Nailaagolvia shut down any comeback hopes for St Marys, crossing for Penrith (48-32).
Brothers put the final nail in the coffin for the Saints’ season with Nailaagolvia and hooker Soakimi Fakaua scoring to have the game finish at 58-32.
RESULT: Penrith Brothers 58 (Michael Pokia 2, Donovan Boney 2, Dean Kammel 2, Noah Nailagoliva 2, Mitchell Owen, Soakimi Fakaua tries; Donovan Boney 5, Kye Raven 4 goals) def. St Marys Saints 32 (Leroy Magalogo 2, Tim Carson, Mason Iaria, Kaleb Farr, McCann Livingston tries; Joseph Nohra 4 goals).
