1. Honeti Tuha	1. Dominic Reardon
25. Bureta Faraimo	2. Alofi Mataele
3. Nathan Davis	3. Eddie Aiono
4. Dane Aukafolau	4. Ruebenn Rennie
5. George Jennings	5. Kato Ottio
6. Troy Dargan	6. Lachlan Croker
7. Jeff Robson	7. Isaac John
8. Joseph Ualesi	8. Dave Taylor
9. Cody Nelson (c)	9. Adam Clydesdale
10. Siosaia Vave	10. Royce Hunt
11. Marata Niukore	11. Jack Nelson
12. John Folau	12. Scott Sorenson
13. Ray Stone	13. Jeff Lima
Interchange	Interchange
14. Matt Woods	14. Willie Mataka
15. Kelepi Tanginoa	16. Glen Buttriss
17. Taniela Lasalo	17. Mitch Kennedy
18. Jack Morris	18. Sam Duggan
19. Scott Schulte	20. Yileen Gordon

 

The Magpies are looking to keep in touch with the Top 8 but will have to do so in Round 16 by defeating the 4th placed Mounties today. Wenty brought a close to a frustrating run of close losses last week by crushing the lowly Wests Tigers 40-14 and will surely be looking to consolidate on the momentum built by that victory.

In a twin boost for the home team, Nathan Davis returns from a hamstring injury while Siosaia Vave gets a run in the ISP through the NRL bye week as he looks to keep the engine running. There is still a prominent, youthful flavour to the team with Troy Dargan, Ray Stone and Dane Aukafolau all holding down starting spots in the senior competition.

Join me live at 3:00PM for all of the action from Ringrose Park but until then feel free to drop me any questions or comments about all things Wenty!

 

Late Mail

Magnus Stromquist, a mid-week pickup following the release of Alex Twal of the Tigers, comes on to the bench to replace Jack Morris. Scott Schulte drops off the extended bench.

 

First Half

Wenty will kick off and run towards the canteen in the first half.

Mounties venture down their left early in the opening set before reaching halfway on the last tackle. They in behind to George Jennings who takes it on the first bounce and gets back to his 25m line. Faraimo and Vave take the early carries, the later of which has a strong run. Tuha centres the ball before Robson sends a towering bomb down the right edge. Dane Aukafolau zips through, times his jump to perfection and plucks the ball out of the air! Fantastic athleticism! He takes the ball on the goal line and then centres it to 5m to the right of the posts. Wenty strike first!

 

Try scored by Dane Aukafolau. Conversion successful by Bureta Faraimo.

Wenty lead 6-0

4min gone

 

Tuha fields the kick off and finds Ualesi who storms forwards. Good run. Ray Stone and John Folau get the second and third carries of the set. Vave plows in behind the ruck on the fourth before Ualesi centres the ball to bring up the last. Robson sends a bomb in down the right once more but this was sails deeper than the first and the chase have to settle for a tackle. Wenty release the pressure valve when they concede the first penalty of the game for holding down too long following the kick chase.

Mounties find touch 10m short of halfway and begin working to their right. Nathan Davis makes a great read and tackle down Wenty’s left edge before the visitors are pulled up on the next play for a forward pass.

Jennings takes the early carry this set before Marata Niukore has a powerful charge down the right edge. Some lovely second phase ball down our left edge sees Honeti Tuha and Jeff Robson make big inroads. Mounties are back pedaling and Wenty go wide right where Tuha tries to jump-cut his way back across the sliding defence but his offload goes to ground and is dived on by the visitors.

A good defensive set pins Mounties in their half and allows Tuha to return their kick to Wenty’s 40m mark. We work right with Niukore before coming back to the ruck where Robson turns Vave inside. Dargan plays out the back to Davis who grubbers ahead but the kick is tidied up by the Mounties’ custodian. Wenty converge to bring him down.

Mounties work the ball over halfway this time and bomb Tuha who has a small fumble before securing possession. Jennings and Aukafolau get some early work done in the ruck before Cody Nelson trips over himself trying to have a dart. Vave takes Wenty into Mounties’ half before Dargan runs it on the last. He bullets a pass to Davis who half beats his opposite and offloads back on the inside to Dargan. Could be something on here! No. Telling you all fibs. Dargan is pulled down from behind before he can link up with George Jennings and Wenty turn it over 10m off Mounties’ line.

Sloppy work from Mounties come out of their danger zone as a pass goes to ground and they lose 10m. They will kick from 35m off their line and Tuha makes a complete meal of the kick to allow a 40/20 to occur. That could be pivotal! Sloppy work from Honeti in guarding the sideline after Wenty pinned Mounties deep in their half.

And it does prove costly. Wenty don’t show too much starch on their goal line as Adam Clydesdale barges over on the second tackle. Just split the two markers and rolled over on the second attempt at grounding to score what should be the equaliser.

 

Try scored by Mounties. Conversion successful.

Mountie lock the score up at 6-all

15min gone

 

Solid set after points for Mounties as they drive the ball up to half way and rake the ball across the ground before Tuha traps it 15m out. Davis has a nice carry and so too does Niukoure as Wenty work the ball down their right. Stone centres the ball to bring up the last and Robson tries to find the in-goals with a probing grubber but it is just too heavy and nets the Mounties a 20m restart.

Massive metres for Mounties this set as a late offload sees them make a huge gain down our right edge. Wenty are all at sea from that point and Mounties spin the ball to their opposite edge where Kattio Otto steps across the sliding efforts of Davis and Jennings and cross for a simple four pointer. That 40/20 really proving to be a turning point in the game.

 

Try scored by Mounties. Conversion successful.

Mounties lead 12-6

19min gone

 

Pain mounts upon pain for Wenty as they concede an early penalty for failing to make the onside mark. Mounties find touch 5m shy of halfway.

Ooph. Aukafolau falls off a tackle down the right, looks like he was trying for a 1-on-1 strip there. Fortunately the runner trips over immediately so no damage is done. Mounties look for another cheap try when Clydesdale feeds a short ball 1m out to one of his big boppers but Wenty get underneath him and effect the turnover on tackles! A much needed goal line stand for the home team.

Magnus Stromquist doesn’t have a memorable first touch for the Magpies as he drops the ball cold on halfway.

Mounties work to their right edge from the scrum win but then immediately go back to the ruck where Vave and Nelson make a strong tackle. Robson and Niukore read the short option on the next tackle and make a good tackle. Mounties keep working to their left edge short side and Aukafolau and Faraimo fall just short of turfing the runner into touch.

The visitors roll the ball in on the last and look to have over cooked the kick by a magnitude of some order but the ball catches the upright and flicks straight into the hands of the Mounties’ fullback. That is a cruel blow.

 

Try scored by Mounties. Conversion successful.

Mounties lead 18-6

25min gone

 

The stream of second phase footy continues to haunt Wenty as late offloads see Mounties kick from well inside Wenty’s half. They stab a kick in behind our right edge and Tuha hesitates as he approaches the ball and the Mounties chaser leaps over him to get a hand to it. Fortune finally shines on Wenty as he loses the ball because he was in for a try other wise I reckon.

More good luck for Wenty as a late penalty in the tackle count gets them into the opposition’s half. Davis and Kelepi Tanginoa have runs early in the set before we play wide right to Aukafolau. Stone comes back to the posts and Robson shifts to the left where he plays to Dargan on the sweeper line. Wenty have a 2-on-1 here but Kattio Ottio screams in towards Dargan to bat down his last pass. Big defensive play there.

Tuha skips and dances before taking a tackle from the scrum. Stromquist carts the ball up next before Wenty shift wide to their left early in the tackle count. Dargan takes it to the line and feeds it to Tuha late off his left shoulder and the light footed fullback steps his way through his counterpart to score a much needed try.

 

Try scored by Honeti Tuha. Conversion unsuccessful by Bureta Faraimo (he shanked the shit out of that one).

Wenty trail 10-18

31min gone

 

Good run from Tanginoa off the kickoff. Folau and Davis work the ball over halfway. Dargan plays one back to the ruck where he finds Kelepi before Dargan engineers a fresh set for his team on the last tackle as his bomb is spilled by the fullback Dominic Reardon. Big chance here.

Robson sorties to his right before turning Faraimo back to the posts. Stromquist goes next before Niukore tries to fight his way over the line. Wenty come back to the uprights via Tanginoa who offloads to Stone. The young backrower can see something is on if he can continue the movement to the left but he can’t free his arms before contact. Even worse, he loses the ball as he goes to ground. You really need to take those chances against a Top 4 team.

Good reply from Mountie as they take the ball 10m into Wenty’s half and bomb Tuha. He is safe under the high ball and finds Jennings in support. Davis gets in behind the ruck on the second tackle before Stromquist carts it up. Dargan does brilliantly well to slice through the left edge but he is spun around by the missed tackle attempt. He can’t link up cleanly with Folau off his left shoulder so he abandons caution and kicks ahead for Davis but Ottio gets back there easily. Poor option from Dargan after making such a positive play. There were tackles up our sleeve.

Still, there might be a chance for Wenty before half time as a penalty in their following set sees them right back on the attack. Niukoure takes the opening run before Robson sends Tanginoa into the teeth of the defence.

More fortune for Wenty when Nelson’s kick is charged down in the lien and Robson dives on it for a fresh tackle count. Nelson tries to crash over but is repelled and Robson is then tackled after diving to catch a loose pass from dummy half. Dargan looks to bomb it for Folau and Davis but the blockers are well positioned to legally obstruct the chasers and Ottio takes it in goals with ease.

Wenty dodge a bullet when the referee rules that Ottio didn’t tap the ball correctly from the 20m restart and they survive the following set before some magic from Dargan sees Wenty go in two points short at the break! At the risk of invoking a curse, that was shades of peak Tim Smith as Dargan kicks from deep in his own half towards George Jennings who has a great start on Ottio. Jennings takes the pin point kick in stride and then performs a lovely in-and-away to suck in both Ottio and Reardon before threading a perfect pass to Nathan Davis who strides a good 40m more to score under the posts! incredible vision from Dargan, lovely play from Jennings.

 

Try scored by Nathan Davis. Conversion successful by Bureta Faraimo.

Wenty trail 16-18

 

Half Time

Mounties 18 lead Wentworthville Magpies 16

 

Second Half

 

Stromquist opens up the second half before Wenty work it through the forwards. Stone and Stromquist himself close out the set and Wenty bomb Ottio on the last but he brings it in with ease. Stone dumps a prop on his arse with a great shot and Folau follows his lead by knockng over another big forward to bring up the last.

Tuha fields the kick comfortably and uses Faraimo for the kick return which then leads to a great run by Aukafolau as he throws off a defender and makes a good 12m. Jennings and Stromquist take Wenty into Mounties’ half and Magnus earns a late penalty when the ball is reefed from his grasp. First chance of the half for Wenty.

Folau taps and goes on the first. Tanginoa goes to the posts before Robson plays to Niukore on an overs line. We go back to Kelepi before spinning wide left to Folau on the penultimate tackle. Dargan looks for a repeat set on the last as he rolls the ball in towards the posts and it looks like for a moment that Reardon might have knocked it on but he regains control and Wenty then concede a penalty on the next tackle when they jump the gun pushing up.

Dave Taylor does Dave Taylor things from the tap restart as he loses the ball and gifts Wenty another chance.

A simple set from the home team takes them to 20m out and Dargan looks to banana a kick back inside to Tuha but the fullback is run off the ball and Reardon takes it with ease. Arguably a penalty there.

Oooh boy, Ray Stone has been opened up and donned a deadset crimson mask. The trainer brings him off and throws a towel over his head. Some good old fashioned love there.

Back to the game now and Dargan shows a good bit of vision to toss the ball to Tuha down the left on the last as the Magpies look to run it. Tuha has a 2-on-1 with Ottio but once again the big winger produces a bat down to save a big break. Wenty will keep possession.

Strong run from Niukore from the scrum win. Aukafolau produces an offload on the second tackle which sees Tanginoa cart it up. The ball comes back to Marata mid count and the big backrower shows some gorgeous footwork and a mean fend to break through the line from 15m out and give the Magpies the lead!

 

Try scored by Marata Niukoure. Conversion successful by Bureta Faraimo.

Wenty lead 22-18

50min gone

 

Great run by Folau down the left as he spins through the defensive line for a 20m gain. Jennings and Lasalo centre the ball before Robson sends up a towering bomb. Aukafolau races through and bats it back perfectly to Robson and there could be something on but it breaks down from there as Robson flicks it up to Tuha who dances his way nowhere and trips over before passing to Aukafolau. Dane tries to pass to support back in field but the ball squirts out and Mounties scoop it up and race down field. Stromquist can’t make the tackle but Tuha gets back to save the day. A penalty follows and tempers flare up as Tuha takes exception to having the ball pelted at him. End of the day it is a Mounties’ penalty.

They go on the attack in the red zone via a booming touch finder but Wenty defend with great resolution to hold them out. A bizarre call on the last goes against Wenty for an accidental offside when they recover a grubber kick in the defensive line. I thought that was just play on to be perfectly honest.

Mounties work right then left on the first two tackles and then a penalty comes for a slow ruck. Pressure mounting on the home team.

The visitors tap and go before swinging to the right edge where they drop the ball in the face of great line speed from Folau and Davis! Great absorption of pressure from the Magpies there.

Jennings takes the crash ball from the scrum win before Vave has a run. Davis makes some good metres and offloads to Stromquist as Wenty work the ball safely out of their half. Dane Aukafolau is turned back to the ruck by Robson and carries defenders with him for a good gain and from there the magic happens!

Vave channels his days from the Under 8s as he winds up down the left edge from 45m out (my offsiders are saying it was closer to 80m! :P). He skittles defenders like a man among boys in the front line and pins his ears for the try line. Reardon tries to stop him from fullback but Vave plants the big front foot and levels him in a highlight reel offensive hit before storming the remaining 15m to the goal line to score. What. A. Try.

 

Try scored by Siosaia Vave. Conversion successful by Bureta Faraimo.

Wenty lead 28-18

59min gone

 

Dang nabbit. Taniela Lasalo undoes the good work of Vave in the following set as he loses the ball trying to fight to his feet. Mounties are gifted a chance to make an inroad into the 2-score lead.

Some good defence from Dane Aukafolau there. Great read and tackle as Mounties built for the sweeper play down his edge. Wenty hold out to the last tackle where Marata shows some sensational hands to pluck the kick out of the air in the defensive line! He has had a big game has the young backrower.

Wenty drive the ball over halfway before the seasoned veteran in Robson sums it up perfectly and punches a flat kick into the in goals from 45m out. A fantastic chase, headed by the old half himself, meets the Mounties’ winger 3m into the field of play and then drive him into the in goals! Massive play.

Tuha takes the drop out and feeds the ball to Vave. Nelson does to Matt Woods on the second tackle before Dargan plays at the line to Folau. Johnny pokes his nose through the line and tries to push the pass to Davis which sees the home team turn the ball over. Just needed to tuck it in and gets the fast PTB there.

A good defensive set pins the Mounties in their half and Tuha sweeps across to his right to take a good kick on the full. Tuha rifles a pass across the field to George Jennings who makes a terrific kick return to the effect of 25m. Wenty settle and work the ball down their left from there as Folau and Davis both get runs off short ball. Robson puts up a nice kick to our right edge on the last and Aukafolau cops a blatant push in the back as he goes up for the contest which sees Mounties secure the ball in goals easily. Officials should have caught that one.

Mounties work the ball over halfway and position for their kick 25m off Wenty’s line but choose to run it down their right before kicking it via their backrower. Tuha dives on it 5m into the field of play and Wenty will work it out from there. Jennings and Woods have runs before Folau skips out to the left edge. A solid carry from Davis takes Wenty to halfway but Robson gets away a hurried kick due to impressive kick pressure. Mounties allow it to bounce so Faraimo claims it and hoofs it ahead a second time before he and Aukafolau pin their ears back to trap the visitors on their goal line!

Wenty are winning the field position battle as Tuha cleans up another kick on the full. Marata has another powerful surge down the right but gets up real ginger. He took a shot to his knee there I think. Play continues as Wenty go left to Folau and Niukore works his way back into the line, looks like he will try to fight through the knock. Dargan slows the game down by finding touch 10m out. Good game management as they clock ticks over the 68th min.

Mounties finally crack the defensive line of Wenty but Tuha makes a cracker of a tackle on his 40m line to drive Reardon backwards. Faraimo did a great job to peel off and cut out the passing lane to two supporting defenders. It goes all awry for Mounties when Dave Taylor is driven into the sideline.

Stone wear a withering shot and then knocks over the bloke that delivered it. Good, tough footy from the young man there. Robson splits the two defenders lurking behind the line with his kick as Wenty complete another solid set.

Dave Taylor finally does something positive as he makes a half break but undoes it all with a loose offload that Wenty desperately dive on. It has been a compelling second half from the home team as they found that extra gear.

Robson turns Woods into the line to bring up the last in this set and Dargan tries to thread it through on the last. It looks heavy off the boot but a fantastic chase from Nelson makes it damn close at the dead ball line! The ref is perfectly positioned to make the call and he rules 20m restart – I think he nailed that call too.

The visitors make a half break from resultant set but desperate defence knocks the ball loose as they look to offload. Aukafolau scoops it up and jaunts a good 30m downfield. He maybe could have taken that to the house if he went further to his left but he settles for a great gain. Davis gets in behind him on the next play for a big gain and a penalty. Wenty will suck up the minutes on the clock as they opt for a penalty conversion from 25m out and 5m in from touch.

Faraimo composes himself nicely and drills it between the posts. Barring that one shank he has struck the ball sweetly!

 

Penalty conversion attempt successful. 

Wenty lead 30-18

76min gone

 

Oh boy, controversy from the kick off now. As expected, Mounties kick short and Dane Aukafolau, like with the opening try, soars above the pack to pluck the ball out of the air. The problem is that the chasers cut his legs out from under him and he cartwheels over himself before fortunately landing on his back. Of course a penalty comes and time is blown off as Dane recovers from the knock. What a leap though!

Wenty have a wet sail here as they drive the ball to the goal line. Nelson tries a sneaky run from dummy half on the last and is turned back but gets an offload away to Honeti who stops on a dime, waits for a second and then rolls the ball ahead for a flying Davis who is uncontested in his run to the pill and slams it down to put the exclamation mark on a stirring second half for the Magpies.

 

Try scored by Nathan Davis. Conversion successful by Bureta Faraimo.

Wenty lead 36-18

79min gone

 

Time for one last kickoff but not much else. Mounties go for a NFL style squib kick that Faraimo dives over. He elicits some chuckles from the crowd with his best Kenny Kramps impersonation before playing the ball. The ball goes back to Robson who then rolls the ball over the sideline to bring a close to a terrific victory.

 

Full Time

Wentworthville Magpies 36 DEF Mounties 18

 

The Final Word

 

Well that was a rousing win for the Magpies. After giving away a considerable 18-6 deficit the Magpies rallied massively in the shadow of half time to go into oranges trailing 16-18. From there it was all one way traffic for Wenty as they posted 20 unanswered points to take a commanding victory. That makes it two on the trot for Magpies.

 

TCT Best On Field

3. Honeti Tuha

2. Marata Niukore

1. John Folau