Another spectacular day out at Ringrose Park, although the field looks to be in a fairly poor state after hosting a multitude of games.
Today the Magpies take on the third placed Mounties and will despite the lowly placing of the home team they will be looking to continue a good run of form in recent weeks. The last time these two teams met the Magpies - in their second week under interim coach Steve Hales - raced out of the blocks and blitzed the Mounties in first half before a diabolical effort from the referees saw Mounties score three extremely dubious tries on their way to a massive second half come back before running out comfortable victors.
The NSW Cup final team list is yet to be released but in other news and results of note:
Wenty 26 DEF Guildford 20 in the Sydney Shield. Of particular interest here is the late withdrawal of outside back Anthony Layoun who will apparently travel to Townsville as 18th man for the NYC squad.
In progess - Guildford 14 lead Wenty 12 in the Ron Massey Cup.
Replies
1. Jake Butler-Fleming
2. Bureta Faraimo
3. Fabian Goodall
4. Vai Toutai
5. Halauafu Lavaka
6. Ryan Matterson
7. Beau Henry
8. Fred Pakutoa
9. Sam Gorman
12. Moses Manu
11. Nick Kassis
19. Cody Nelson
24. Jack Madden
Interchange:
14. Michael Stevens
15. Taunaola Kei
17. Mitch Stanfield
23. Chris Rakete
The big things to note is that Cody Nelson is IN while Tui Kamikamica and Joseph Ualesi are OUT. Both Tui and Joseph picked up injuries last week so I imagine they were late scratchings.
half of those player I don't know
Mounties will smash wenty but I say good luck they will need it
Matterson taking position at left half for kickoff as Wenty are set to receive the ball.
And Matto is immediately called into action as Kassis loses the ball backwards in goals and Matterson cleans it up. Not a great start for Wenty and they are forced to complete their set on their 30m line as Henry boots the ball downfield.
Mounties have a solid first set in return, nothing fancy but just working it through the ruck and they get in position for an attacking kick. Butler-Fleming takes it well but has just misplaced his starting point for the jump and doesn't get a 20m restart but rather is tackled in goals, barely.
Big drop out from Wenty as the ball flies 55-60m on the full. Mounties look to attack our right edge repeatedly but good tackles from Faraimo and Toutai in consecutive plays hold them out before they are eventually tackled on the last!
Much better set for Wenty this time around as they work it towards halfway before Henry very nearly finds touch 20m out. A good kick chase pins the visitors on the same mark though.
Nic Kassis is coming off with what seems to be a concussion. Meanwhile Mounties attacked our left edge and nearly made a break but put a foot into touch.
From the scrum win Wenty get a very serviceable carry from Fabian Goodall but Cody Nelson makes an uncharacteristic mistake on the next tackle for a turnover. Wenty are then penalised for a highshot two tackles later.
Again the home team are up to the mark on their goal line, repelling Mounties for a full set before Butler-Fleming cleans up the grubber kick.
Fabian Goodall and Moses Manu work the ruck as they come off our goal line. Henry takes play down the right where Mounties meet the Magpies equally before Matterson has a run down the opposite edge on the next play to bring up the last.
Henry finds the grass again with his kick, has been excellent in that area so far today.
Oh geeze...
Henry has chipped ahead on the last and Mounties regained the ball from a very friendly bounce. He is then penalised for a very soft high shot and *something* has happened as the players got up to instigate an actual punch from Henry. Surprisingly their isn't a huge fracas following it but Henry goes get 10m in the bin.
Jack Madden now pushes into the halves.
And as I surmise all that, Fabian Goodall comes up with a big play to force a turnover. Forced the ball loose down the left edge.
Bit of a swing in proceedings following that now as Lavaka earns the Magpies their first penalty of the day.
Manu and Nelson take the early carries this set working from left to centre before Matterson plays down the left to Goodall.
Matterson then comes down the right turning Nelson back to the sticks before looking for a repeat set on the next tackle with a grubber kick but John Kennedy for Mounties takes is on point for the clean up and gets into the field of play comfortably.
Oddly unadventurous stuff from Mounties now, even with the man advantage as they work it out and then look for the sideline. Wenty are happy to accommodate them as every stoppage inches Henry back from the bin.
Wenty go forwards with Manu who has another solid charge, think he might have lost it there to be honest but the ref, Casey Badger, misses it. Incidentally, Badger is dressed awfully for this game as she blends in perfectly with the uniform of Mounties.
Back to the game and there is a much better run from Matterson now as he nearly bursts through down the left.
Jack Madden bombs towards Faraimo on the last and the Magpies get a line drop out after a double knock on in their favour.
Wenty fail to crack the visitors from the drop out but keep their composure and I believe it is Madden again who finds the line drop out.
Good footy from Wenty.
Moses Manu up first, Mitch Stanfield follows before Gorman jumps out of dummy half and then plays to Matterson who in turn throws a very good short ball to Kassis, back from the concussion check, and only a superb cover tackle saves the line break.
Wenty then play to their right edge with Matterson playing the link man, he looks for the cut out ball to Faraimo but the stocky winger loses it! But hang on, there has been a late hit! Play comes back for the penalty to the right of the sticks and Wenty want the two points.
Nelson slots it and Wenty have a very unexpected, if slender, lead.
Beau Henry is back from the bin and Wenty are back to 13 men.
-
1
-
2
-
3
of 3 Next