Wentworthville United Magpies have secured a place in the 2024 Sydney Shield Grand Final after defeating Ryde-Eastwood Hawks 38-22 today at Ringrose Park.
The Hawks will now face Penrith Brothers next week in the Preliminary Final to secure the final spot in this year’s Grand Final to be played on 14 September.
The Minor Semi-Final today saw Penrith Brothers survive a late scramble from Mounties, who scored two late tries, to win 25-22.
Major Semi-Final: (1st) Wentworthville United Magpies 38 def. (2nd) Ryde-Eastwood Hawks 22
The Magpies, showing the benefit of a week off, wasted no time opening the scoring, as five-eighth Jaydn Field regathered the ball off a fifth play kick to score (4-0).
But the Hawks soon found themselves in the lead off the back of a double to winger Jay Kirk who crossed in the corner on both occasions (10-4).
An intercept try from Emosi Alamoti saw the Magpies centre race down the length of the field to close the gap (10-8).
Wentworthville United took the lead just before half-time through Koevy Lemusu who crossed underneath the posts (14-10).
The second half started how the first half ended with Lemusu scoring in the corner to extend the lead out to 20-10.
With Magpies holding the momentum, they went on to score another two tries – Field bagged a double and fullback Dermot McKeever-King crossed in the 58th minute (30-10).
The Hawks fought hard, scoring two tries in the final 10 minutes, however a final try to the Magpies’ David Oxley gave them a comfortable 38-22 victory.
RESULTS: Wentworthville United Magpies 38 (Jaydn Field 2, Koevy Lemusu 2, Emosi Alamoti, Dermot McKeever-King, David Oxley tries; Ayden Carling 5 goals) def. Ryde-Eastwood Hawks 22 (Jay Kirk 2, Vaiala Tamati, Samuel McGregor tries; Vaiala Tamati 3 goals)
Minor Semi-Final: (5th) Penrith Brothers 25 def. (3rd) Mounties 22
The opening 10 minutes saw both teams play set-for-set football with each team struggling to break through the opponent’s defensive line.
Off the back the back of a penalty and a six-again call, Mounties were the first team to find the line, shifting the ball out left to create an overlap for winger Kyle Whitton to score in the 14th minute (4-0).
Brothers hit back in the next set, sending the ball out to centre Kytak Chan, flicking the ball out the back to his winger Michael Pokia who crossed in the corner (6-4).
Brothers extended their lead in the 34th minute with a well weighted kick from five-eighth Donovan Boney for prop Liam Harris to regather and score, with Boney converting (12-4).
Penrith headed into the break with a nine-point lead after Boney successfully kicked a field goal right on half-time (13-4).
Mounties started the second half strongly, to grab the lead after scoring back-to-back tries through five-eighth Kaylem Falaniko and forward Mosese Pope (14-13).
Brothers fought back and regained the lead in the 60th minute through two converted tries to Tyran Pettit-Young and Deam Kammel to extend their lead to 11 points (25-14).
Despite Mounties’ best efforts, with two late tries to Kyle Whitton and Isaac Williams, Brothers held on to win 25-22.
RESULTS: Penrith Brothers 25 (Michael Pokia, Liam Harris, Tyran Pettit-Young, Dean Kammel tries; Donovan Boney 4 goals, 1 field goal) def. Mounties 22 (Kyle Whitton 2, Kaylem Falaniko, Mosese Pope, Isaac Williams tries; Kaylem Falaniko 1 goal)
