Wentworthville Magpies

1. Honeti Tuha

2. Atini Gafa

3. Nathan Davis

4. Kirisome Auva’a

5. George Jennings

6. Troy Dargan

7. Jeff Robson

8. Joseph Ualesi

9. Cody Nelson (c)

10. Siosaia Vave

11. Marata Niukore

12. John Folau

13. Magnus Stromquist

Interchange

14. Matt Woods

15. Dane Aukafolau

16. Taniela Lasalo

17. Ray Stone

18. Jack Morris

19. Scott Schulte

 

This week we head to Henson Park, the home of the Newtown Jets, as Wenty look to further their push for a ticket to the post-season. The Magpies have received something of a June 30 face lift with Kelepi Tanginoa and Alex Twal departing and Magnus Stromquist locking down a role in the starting pack after joining the ISP franchise a few weeks back. Kirisome Auva’a potentially makes his return from injury in the Black & White but by the same token he could find himself on a plane to Melbourne to act as cover for the NRL squad. Until the final team sheets for Wenty are in we are unfortunately left in a state of limbo. So in lieu of anything better to do, grab a limbo stick and get this classic cranking until we know the make up of the Magpies team in around 60 minutes.

 

Late Mail

 

Kirisome Auva’a will play for the Magpies today and there is also a reshuffle in the backrow. Marata Niukore has dropped out of the team, presumably as he travels to Melbourne as cover, which sees Ray Stone move into the starting backrow. Dane Aukafolau is curiously named at prop after ceding his centre spot to Auva’a so surely there will be some sort of starting line up switch come kick off – likely featuring Magnus Stromquist pushing up front. The new look bench features Matt Woods, Taniela Lasalo, Jack Morris and Scott Schulte.

 

First Half

 

The Magpies are kicking off and running towards the hill at Henson Park. It looks like Dane Aukafolau is lining up at right centre and Kirisome Auva’a is playing right EDGE. Cody Nelson will control the middle with Ray Stone, Magnus Stromquist and Joseph Ualesi.

Early pressure on the Magpies when they spill the clearing kick from the Newtown Jets. That spirals into a third set for the Jets when Honeti Tuha has to bat a well-weighted grubber kick over the deal ball line.

The Magpies are made to pay for the free run of possession as the Jets execute a backline move down their left edge. Hints maybe of an obstruction but I think it was alright – their half probably got the pass away before running behind a blocker – and the ball sails long and wide to the sideline where their winger zips onto it to score.

 

Try scored by Newtown Jets. Conversion unsuccessful.

Newtown lead 4-0

5min gone

 

Bit of luck for the home team from the kickoff as they very nearly knock the ball on as it bounces and cannons into the knees of their backrower. Wenty finally get their hands on the ball alter that set when Stromquist dives on a loose offload. Jennings takes a run up the middle before Dargan goes left with Stone. Dargan plays left again to Davis and from there the Magpies go high to their right with a Dargan bomb but it is slightly over cooked and the Jets bring it in safely. The first penalty of the game then comes for the Jets and they are marked 10m short of halfway.

The Jets squander the chance when an errant pass is dropped and Wenty regain possession via a scrum. Simple stuff this set as Wenty work it through the ruck. Robson plays out wide to Gafa who is taken 30m out before there is a big shift to left left where Honeti Tuha carries defenders for a solid gain. Dargan’s bomb finds range this time around and the Jets are trapped 1m off their line.

A hlaf break down our right lets the Jets sneak their way out of trouble and they will kick from halfway. They rush a poor attempt that Jennings swallows up before he rifles a pass to Tuha to centre the ball. Jennings then heads in field to take a run where he earns the Magpies their first penalty.

Ualesi goes first this set, Stone throws off a couple of defenders in a strong carry but undoes all the good work as he looks to offload and it is dived on by the Jets. To make matters worse the Magpies concede their second penalty of the game.

The Jets get a full set inside Wenty’s half and work the ball from right to left, they are in line to pick up a 6-again call when the ball catches Robson’s hand but it heads towards Wenty’s goal line and Tuha scoops it up.

Good carries from Stromquist and Auva’a this set before Robson bombs it down his own right edge. It looks like Edric Lee is about to be bundled into touch but he throws an outrageous ball over his back shoulder that finds his winger and then sees the Jets make a good 25m.

With all the running here the Jets rumble downfield right into our redzone where they look to roll a ball in behind our right edge. The ball is caught in the defensive line and there is a mad scramble to jump on it and from the wreckage of that play the ref finds a knock on against Wenty.

Newtown keep working the ball around the posts and Wenty stay resolute for the early exchanges. Lee is pulled down in front of the sticks to bring up the last and the Jets look for another grubber kick but this one is a tad too heavy.

Excellent carries from Dane Aukafolau and Auva’a from the tap restart. Half chance down our left when we go wide but Tuha is caught going laterally instead of finding Davis. The set is completed rather ineffectively when Rboson bombs for Gafa and the Jets come away with the ball. Think we might have had a tackle left up our sleeves there.

Not much in the way of reply from the Jets as they get into Wenty’s half and bomb Jennings who takes it well. A penalty follows the the Magpies and they resume play 25m off the Newtown goal line.

Stromquist carts the ball u first. Ualesi plays wide to Robson who turns Aukafolau infield and the young centre then links up with Tuha. Dargan wants the ball down the left short side and fires a cut out pass to Jennings who shows great strength to stay in play in trying to stay in the field of play and attempt to score. He has the ball legally reefed out of his grip so we will have a line drop out.

Nice short ball from Dargan to Folau. Great tackle as well mind you. Wenty go back to the posts with Stromquist before Dargan plays to Robson who finds Tuha and the jinking fullback somehow gets an offload away to Gafa who pins his ears back for the corner but he is just bundled into touch.

Hang on was that a win against the feed? I am not sure what happened there but Wenty are in possession and they immediately go on the attack as Dargan marshals his left edge and bullets a clinical pass to Jennings who centres the ball slightly before touching down! Wowza.

 

Try scored by George Jennings. Conversion successful by Nathan Davis.

Wenty lead 6-4

23min gone

 

Stromquist leads the way this set. Ualesi has a good carry in his wake before Folau throws off a defender down the left. Ualesi has another good carry before Stone gets in behind the ruck to bring up the last. Dargan sends up a bomb to test Lee on the last but he jumps up and takes it really well before Folau drags him down.

The Jets quickly cough the ball up on Folau is on it in a flash. Davis and Stromquist gets runs before Dargan puts on the second try of the day for the Magpies! Robson comes down the left and goes to the line before pivoting on his left foot and finding Dargan. The young halfback does the line and in a lovely use of sleight of hand, slips a late ball to Auva’a (who has also switched edges for the play) and the centre-come-backrower storms over.

 

Try scored by Kirisome Auva’a. Conversion unsuccessful by Nathan Davis.

Wenty lead 10-0

27min gone

 

Great set after points for the visitors. They pin the Jets 1m off their line but then undo the great work by shooting up early on the second tackle. Play is marked 25m off the Newtown goal line.

Um, what was that? The Newtown hooker tries to grubber for himself..on halfway. Good run and offload from Folau as Stromquist ends up with the ball. Matt Woods plays out the back to Robson who uses Tuha and then Aukafolua. The big centre offloads back to Tuha who then finds Woods. Tuha is involved again on the next play as he rolls the ball in goals to earn a line drop out.

Oh boy,,,there is a deadset clanger from Stromquist. Tuha takes the drop out on the full and throws a clean pass to Stromquist and he just drops it cold. Costly error there.

Wenty defend the initial raid down their right edge and the Jets then go to their own right where they make half a break with their #11. Lee carts the ball up to the goal line and is pulled down and the Magpies dive on a deflected grubber in the defensive line.

Outstanding run from Aukafolau. Stromquist takes the Magpies over halfway and Dargan shows some good composure to drive the ball over the sideline where it is marked 20m shy of the Newtown goal line.

Some adventurous play from the Wenty back three as Jennings tidies up a kick on the full and finds Tuha who then jaunts to his right to find Gafa. Dargan puts the icing on the set with a wicked torpedo bomb that is dropped in-goals! Big chance with under 5min on the clock.

Ooph error from Lasalo as he looks to try and reach out optimistically to score. Interesting positional switch that I just caught. Auva’a swapped to left centre and Davis to right backrow.

Big test for Wenty as they concede a late penalty for hands on the ball. 2min on the clock.

Nwetown drive the ball up the guts and then go wide right but Wenty slide nicely. The ball is centres and the Jets go to their left looking to stab a kick in behind but Stone or Nelson dive on it. Great defence.

Wenty ruck it out in return. Tuha has an ice dart and then Stromquist gets to halfway to bring up the last and Dargan finds touch near the goal line. Lee ends up with the ball and works it to his left and a tackle later the sirens rings out. That will do us in the first half.

 

Half Time

Wentworthville Magpies 10 lead Newtown Jets 4

 

Second Half

 

Wenty will receive the ball in the second half.

Shallow squid kick from Newtown. Aukafolau scoops it up and carts it forwards. Reasonable opening set for the Magpies as Dargan’s kick is marked 10m off the goal line by Edrick Lee.

The Jets get over halfway in reply and look for the mid-field bomb. Tuha absolutely flies forwards and leaps to take it. Heart in mouth stuff but he does a brilliant job and nearly makes a break off the back of it. The Magpies work their way to halfway before Davis is pinged for an error in the PTB. Soft turnover there.

Fortunately the Jets produce an error of their own when they try to play flat and late against our right edge. A short ball is dropped 20m off Wenty’s goal line. Let off there

Despite some great early inroads, Wenty get a bit lost in the following set when Davis nearly drops a clean pass and then throws a loose offloads that Tuha has to scamper backwards to clean up. Dargan gets away a rushed kick on the next tackle and it is actually a fair effort.

The Jets get deep into Wenty’s half in reply and bomb Tha on his goal line and he does extremely well to keep the ball in the field of play. The outside backs get the Magpies out of their danger zone and Dargan shows a cool head to take the ball down the left edge and find touch 20m out. He has shown plenty of poise today.

The defensive line holds firm for Wenty as Newtown hammer away in the red zone. They run it down their right on the last and look to roll the ball in behind via their winger but it is taken on the front foot by Dargan or Nelson who quickly finds George Jennings. George stretches out down the left sideline and is pursued by Lee so he steps infield and links up with Tuha who cruises away to the posts! Great counter attacking try.

 

Try scored Honeti Tuha. Conversion successful by Matt Woods.

Wenty lead 16-4

51min gone

 

Good carries from Woods and Folau take us over halfway in the kick off set but Woods loses the ball into contact coming back for a second run. He gets up a bit wobbly but seems to be alright for the most part.

Newtown fail to put together a threatening set in return. They get lost on the last tackle and end up drilling the ball a good 20m dead.

Gafa and Ualesi give the Magpies plenty of go forward and we go left fast from there. Auva’a beats his opposite initially but has the ball punched out of his grip second time around. Arguably a strip but the scrum will be set for Newtown.

Here we go, sloppy PTB from the Jets and Wenty are gifted an attacking set 30m out from the Newtown goal line. Big chance to put the game beyond reach here.

Dargan plays to Auva’a on the first. Ualesi has another bustling carry on the second. Left now to Woods and he is pulled down 10m from the line. Robson is taken in a ripper of a tackle as he attacks the line and Dargan plays left to Lasalo who offloads to Folau and the big backrower is barely held out. That brings up the last and Dargan cops a dreadful pass that rolls into him. He tries to go wide right to support but it all breaks down and eventually Robson gets a grubber kick away. Alright result considering the debacle before it but a late flop from Tuha results in a clear penalty. Silly stuff.

Solid set from the Jets as they get downfield and send a bomb up. Gafa takes it well but is pulled down just inside the field of play and Wenty have a load of work to do to get out of trouble this set. They do pretty well to get to their own 40m and from there something magical? Bizarre? Implausible? Something happens. Tuha chips ahead for himself over halfway and is taken in a tackle legally. Schulte pushes up in support and gets the ball before flicking a pass to Gafa who sorties back in field and finds Nelson. The fill-in hooker sums it up perfectly and jabs a deep kick into the corner that sees Jennings give rapid pursuit. Jennings beats Lee to the ball somehow and scoops it up after an initial juggle to cross out wide! What the hell! What a try!

 

Try scored by George Jennings. Conversion successful by Troy Dargan.

Wenty lead 22-4

62min gone

 

Really solid set after points for Wenty as they roll downfield before Robson drives the ball into the corner. Lee is well positioned to clean it up and flies into the kick chase. The Jets pick up a much needed penalty when Schulte is pinged for coming back through the ruck. It proves to be a costly penalty as the Jets cross for their first points of the half. Their halfback works the ball down their right edge and dummies before stepping back across the line to find a gap and slam the ball down.

 

Try scored by the Newtown Jets. Conversion successful.

Newtown trail 10-22

65min gone

 

Oopph. John Folua has hammered Joseph Paulo. Brilliant tackle. Ray Stone brings the heat with a great kick pressure and Wenty get back on the front foot as a result. Folau and Gafa get great traction through the middle and Robson finds touch 10m out. Excellent set all in all.

Wenty put together a really solid defensive set to back it up. Schulte and Dargan both made good reads and tackles there.

Another solid set here. Nothing flash but plenty of go forward and a great kick and chase from Dargan and his left edge.

Newtown are working through the guts in a bunch and Folau produces another stinging hit. Seffa chips ahead for himself on the last and gets a 6-again call when a Magpies tries to pluck it out of the air unsuccessfully. He regathers it and his quickly pulled down. The Jets look to captilise on the run of play and venture down their left edge but a good jam by Tuha forces a loose pass that sails into touch.

Urgh, loose offload by Schulte results in a turnover late in the count there. He did well to free his arm but the smart play was to take the tackle and just get to the kick on the next play. Folau provided another excellent run in the lead up to that error. He has stood tall today.

The Jets work the ball into our red zone in reply but can’t produce a result when they kick the ball back to the left on the last. Tuha is on the spot and easily get back into the field of play. With the 2-score lead the Magpies want to play sensible football and they do just that. Dargan wants to find touch but it takes a deflection off a defender and is cleaned up by the Jets.

Under 5min to play now and the Jets have to throw caution to the wind. They look to the offload to create the opportunity and end up making a bit of space down our left but the Magpies scramble well and yet anther pass flies into touch.

There us a big bust from Dane Aukafolau as he slices through the middle. The Magpies drill their way to the goal line where Dane has a second carry and beats the first man before looking to offload to put a runner over but it is intercepted. Probably should have just taken the tackle either way there.

The Jets barely scrape past their 40m line to bring up the last and again Paulo looks for the chip kick. Wenty do a much better job of defending it this time around as Tuha takes it on the bounce. Alas, Dane does a bad job of tucking the ball under his wing on the second tackle and the Jets get one last possession. He has had a good game but that was a sloppy error.

The Jets cough the ball up as they throw it around willy nilly and Wenty come away with it with 50sec on the clock. As you would expect, one-out stuff is the order of this set. Tuha has a long, looping run before passing to Aukafolau who offloads again. The ball is eventually brought down and that brings an end to the game.

 

Full Time

Wentworthville Magpies 22 DEF Newtown Jets 10

 

TCT Best On Field

3. John Folau

2. George Jennings

1. Troy Dargan