The Cumberland Throw

Live Blog – Jersey Flegg & ISP Trials vs North Sydney

It is time folks. After what felt like the longest off and preseason in a long, long time, we have finally arrived at the trialling period! Sixties manned the fort in spectacular fashion in my lengthy absence with his brilliant training reports and opinion pieces. Now it is time to shake off the live blogging rust and hit the ground at a full blown sprint with two exciting trial games to cover this evening!

Starting with the newly reinstated Jersey Flegg competition (formerly the Holden Cup/National Youth Competition) kicking off at 4:30PM we have roughly 4.5 hours of preseason live-blogging action as the Eels and Wenty host the North Sydney Bears at Ringrose Park.

In the Flegg, Parramatta have named a full strength team and regulars of the Throw will surely recognise a raft of returning talent in the squad below. Names like Fonua, Aukafolau, Afualo, Keppie, Faingaa, Valu, Kaufusi, Brown. Clifford, Dunster and Taipari should rattle the ol’memory bank while they are now joined by young guns like PJ Vaigalu, Ethan Parry, Jesse Cronin and Michael Cheer.

Blaise Barnes and Michael Tupou play their first football in over a season after walking the long road to recovery from serious knee injuries in an important moment for both young men.

 

Parramatta Eels Jersey Flegg Squad

Sione Fonua
Noel Aukafolau
Tuimavave Afualo
Blaise Barnes
Jaydn Field
Sean Keppie
Salesi Faingaa
Sam McGregor
Michael Tupou
Taufu Afu
James Porter
PJ Vaigalu
Ethan Parry
Beni Valu
Oregon Kaufusi
Nick Okladnikov
Dylan Clifford
Austin Dias
Jake Sleiman
Jesse Cronin
Bruce Wakeling
Dylan Brown
Haze Dunster
Michael Cheer
Joe Taipari
Todd Sapienza

 

The Magpies have named a large squad in their first proper hitout of the preseason, obviously with the intent at getting a look at all the talent they have on hand. Perhaps surprisingly, Peni Terepo and Suaia Matagi will feature today. They will be joined by Nathan Davis, George Jennings, David Gower, Marata Niukore and Ray Stone as far as players likely in NRL contention (at some point) goes.

Reed Mahoney is an important name to note as his first preseason action will be in the ISP rather than Jersey Flegg – where he is also eligible to play.

Wentworthville Magpies Intrust Super Premiership Squad

Nathan Davis
Dane Aukafolau
George Jennings
Peni Terepo
Reed Mahoney
Suaia Matagi
David Gower
Marata Niukore
Ray Stone
Anthony Layoun
Nathan Milone
Atini Gafa
James Gammidge
Eddie Aiono
Kauri Appouri
Zach Nicholls
Magnus Stromquist
Brad Dietz
Pio Sokobavalu
Matthew Woods
Haimona Hiroti
Piki Rogers
Daniel Dole
Carl Winterstein
Dylan Izzard
Jermaine Mati-Lefi
Dane Francis
Rhys Armstrong
Josh Minhinnick

 

As always, feel free to get in early and post any questions you have about the two squads! I will endeavour to work through and answer them all as the evening plays out.

 

Catch you guys at 4:30PM!

 

Before we kickoff I just want to give a quick shout out to my good friend Joe. He can’t make it out today but he is one of the stalwarts through all grades for the Eels. Catch you soon my man!

 

Jersey Flegg First Quarter

 

We have arrived at the first real action of the preseason! The Eels are receiving the ball and running towards the canteen (not literally!). Joe Taipari fields the ball and turns Keppie into the kick chase. Dylan Clifford follows him down the left edge before Michael Tupou, in his first run in over a year, earns a penalty! Clifford has the first carry of this set. Right to Taipari who finds Brown who then feeds Faingaa a nice short ball to get into half a gap. Kaufusi takes it back to the centre before Noel Aukafolau gets his first run. Shift right wideeee to Fonua who rolls it behind but it is cleaned up in the field of play.

And here we go, second tackle of the game for the Bears and they lose possession due to the new ruck rules. Jinking run down the right by Dylan Brown. The Eels work left from there where Taipari earns a repeat set with a deflected grubber kick.

Keppie and Clifford have the early runs in this repeat set but Tupou releases the pressure valve with a loose carry. Some terrific defence from Keppie and Clifford forces a mistake in return on the next play though! The Eels scoop it up and take it to their right wing where Haze Dunster weaves back against the traffic to make some useful metres. Two tackles later the Eels get it to Taufa Afu on the left edge following a beautiful catch and pass by John Fonua!

 

Try scored by Taufa Afu. Conversion unsuccessful by Dylan Brown.

Eels lead 4-0

12min gone

 

Ooph. Error from the try scorer on the kickoff! Afu makes a meal of the kick recovery and a line drop out is the result. The Bears look to work the middle of the field with an outside/inside pass but the Eels hold their discipline. Aukafolau puts on a good shot as he jams in from his right edge and the Bears end up kicking the ball through the in-goals as their left winger is forced to make a play on the last tackle.

Urgh and another offensive penalty. As the Eels earn a repeat set following a dropped interception attempt by the Bears, they are then pinged for an incorrect play-the-ball (PTB). This is going to be a HUGE source of frustration for all fans regardless of affiliation.

Nice shot from Faingaa as I get back to the game. The Bears work it halfway into Parra’s half before chipping in behind our right edge but Fonua gets across to clean the ball up in the field of play. Keppie looks to be making a nice carry over halfway but loses the ball in a seemingly one-on-one contest. Parra double down on the errors as they concede a penalty for a hand on the ball.

The Bears attack down their right edge but the Eels defend strongly and ultimately turn the ball over as Aukafolau deflects an attempted intercept backwards and Afu cleans it up for the turnover. A penalty follows to take the Eels a bit further downfield. The Bears are getting a bit aggressive in defence, hitting a fraction high even, and sure enough a second penalty is blown.

Eels right on the goal line now and Austin Dias is tackled in goals on the first to bring play back to the 10m mark. Right to Afualo who turns the ball back inside to Faingaa. Nicely worked play actually. The Eels go the posts with a really good short ball to Tupou who is only stopped by a rather brilliant diving one-on-one strip. That was a damn good defensive play!

The Bears kick early looking to flip the field position but a strong carry from Fonua puts the Eels on the front foot. Afu and Aukufolau keep the roll on going before Dunster nearly slices through the guts! Kaufusi gets a chance to wind up wide on the right to get the Eels into the red zone but Brown can’t capitalise at the end of the set as his grubber is taken in the front line.

Never mind that! The Bears turn it back over! Keppie works to the posts before Taipari hits Aukafolau on an unders line. Good defence keeps him out. Taipari nearly dances his way through the left edge short side and on the last Brown pounds it cross field looking for Dunster. Haze doesn’t come down with it but the kick does force an error.

Fonua and Clifford are the first two options down the left edge for the Eels but on the third tackle Keppie comes up with an error. Soft turnover there. The Bears breath a sigh of relief.

And now a cheap ruck penalty piggybacks them out of their half. Loose passage of play from the Eels in the last 60 seconds. The quarter siren rings out as the Bears frantically try to make something happen down our right edge but they can only produce a forward pass.

 

First Quarter

Parramatta Eels 4 lead North Sydney Bears 0

 

Second Quarter

 

Second quarter kickoff. Eels kicking to the Bears as they switch ends. Oh dear. Johnny has booted the everloving crap out of this ball. Not only is it dead on the full but it has sailed over the perimeter fence on the field. Put away the driver and get the 3 wood out, son!

The Bears work it through the middle before going down their right where Taipari makes a scything tackle! Try saver for sure!

North Sydney come back to that edge to roll a grubber in behind but the ball barely rolls over the dead ball sideline for a 20m restart.

Big carry from Faingaa down the right edge. He dummies and shimmies like Dean Widders in his prime taking a good 20m off the Bears. The Eels earn a line drop out on the back of that set. Big pressure on the Bears.

Brown dummies and goes himself down the right but is met in a good tackle by the Bears but he can’t produce the goods a few tackles later as his kick intended for Dunster rolls dead.

North Sydney fail the complete their set as they enter Parra’s half and it allows Tui to turn it on from the resulting scrum! Faingaa feeds him early ball and he smashes his way through the front line of defence before he is pulled down on a 25m gain. Brutal run. He just threw his opposite number away. Dylan Brown surges forwards from there, putting Faingaa through a gap with a brilliant offload. Faingaa is in for all money but a SENSATIONAL tackle by the Bears fullback saves a certain try! What an effort!

It is even more impressive when the Eels make a mistake after play resumes as Dunster tries to flick a late offload to Fonua. Johnny can’t reel it in as he loops behind Haze and Dunster makes it that much worse by diving on the ball from an offside position.

Finally the Eels put together a complete set a possession later! A nice ball from Afualo releases Dunster down the right edge who then weaves infield and links up with Brown. Dylan runs towards the posts before offloading to Carling (?) who is tackled. Immediate left edge shift to Aukafolau, no nonsense stuff, and the powerful centre crashes over!

 

Try scored by Noel Aukafolau. Conversion unsuccessful by Dylan Brown.

Eels lead 8-0

32min gone

 

Storming carry by Michael Tupou! Carling slices through from dummy half in the wake of that carry and the Eels pick up a penalty as the scrambling Bears defence has as second crack at slowing the ball down. And now it is all too easy as Dylan Brown glides over the right edge and fights through a late tackle attempt to score in the corner.

 

Try scored by Dylan Brown. Conversion unsuccessful by Dylan Brown.

Eels lead 12-0

35min gone

 

Nick Okladnikov scoops up the bouncing kick and has a strong carry. Three tackles later a really poor pass from dummy half results in a turnover. The runner had no chance at catching that ball and it careens off his foot into the Bears. Good fortune follows though as ANOTHER PTB penalty is blown against North Sydney.

Jaydn Field and is it Sleiman or McGregor who also gets a carry? Sorry, trying to familiarise myself with the new names and faces. The Eels complete their set with a grubber kick that is taken on the goal line by the Bears.

Interestingly, Brown is now at fullback as Jaydn Field slots in at halfback. Nice short ball from Carling to Keppie and the Eels work left again with Carling as he rolls a kick in. Probably the wrong option though with runners down the left with the pass. Still the Eels converge on the next tackle to drive the runner back into his in goals but with 30 seconds on the clock there won’t be enough time for a drop out.

Plenty of errors and that awful new ruck interpretation asides, the Eels were pretty dominant in those two quarters. Get Dylan Brown to work on those conversion attempts and we are looking pretty mint I think!

Stay tuned for the final two quarters!

 

Third Quarter

 

Parra will receive the ball in the third stanza of this trial. Plenty of changes now as certain starts get rested. I can see Brown, Taipari, Keppie, Kaufusi and Tupou on the bench.

North Sydney’s kick is fielded, er…by Jaydn Field and the Eels work right from there. An early penalty to Parra results in Afualo tapping the ball and linking up with McGregor. Big shift to the opposite side of the field where Aukafolau has a good carry. Field steams into the line from right half and backs it up a tackle later to force a line drop out with a well weighted grubber. Good intent from the back up half!

Oh no! Todd Sapienza takes the drop out and feeds the ball to Sleiman but he has dropped it cold! Rough error from the young bull.

The Bears nearly make something happen down our left edge where Aukafolau nibbles slightly on an unders decoy but he recovers well enough to effect the tackle with Afu. Great hands from Carling on the last as he plucks a kick out of the air and makes some good metres to boot!

Big metres for the Eels in the resultant set but Parra can’t complete the possession. Still, a charge down in the following North Sydney set leads to great field position for the Eels. Alas, another squandered chance as they can’t generate any productive plays in the red zone and ultimately roll the ball over the dead ball line.

Michael Cheer has slotted into fullback in the meantime. He gets called into action as he cleans up a clearing kick. Urgh, another rough start for a young man as Blaise Barnes comes on at hooker and his first pass is a good half metre behind Sleiman (who also had the unfortunate moment earlier) and the ball does down.

North Sydney manage to capitalise on the turnover as they cross in the following set. Some really nice moves by their left centre puts our backup right centre (Okladnikov?) on his heels and an incisive run gets the Bears back over! Poor defence but a very good run there.

 

Try scored by the Bears. Conversion unsuccessful.

Bears trial 4-12

52min gone

 

A penalty now to the Bears for a ruck infringement but it is quickly followed by a loose carry on the first tackle of the next set. Sloppy stuff from both teams though as Parra then turn the ball over themselves with a drop in the PTB.

The Bears get caught focusing too much on working the ball down their right and end up kicking poorly from dummy half down that same side on the last.

Big Beni Valu is on and plows into the defensive line. Sapienza looks to seize momentum from that carry and knifes the ball downfield. Really well struck kick as it breaks to the sideline and is marked out on the 10m line. Great game management!

The Eels rally from that kick as well as the biggest and smallest forwards on the field in Barnes and Valu combine to force an error!

How is that for a run! Bruce Wakeling has stepped and powered his way over from short range! Great effort from the prop forward! Plenty of work to do with the defenders in front of him but he has got there.

 

Try scored by Bruce Wakeling. Conversion unsuccessful by Todd Sapienza.

Eels lead 16-4

59min gone

 

Great run and offload by Valu! He releases Porter through the middle with that late second phase ball and the rangy forward surges a good 15m downfield. The Eels with all the running from the kickoff set but they can’t produce points as Barnes is tackled just short of the line running from dummy half on the last tackle.

Parra lift their defensive intent for the last set of the quarter and the Bears go no where as the siren rings out.

 

Third Quarter

Parramatta Eels 16 lead North Sydney Bears 4

 

Fourth Quarter

 

A couple of good carries from the Bears forwards to start this final quarter. They are easily over halfway their kick but an ugly shank undoes all the good work of the big men! Poor way to finish that strong start. Speaking of mistakes, Barnes has been caught knocking on at hooker as he continues a tough start to the preseason. Head up mate!

More errors! The Bears get back in on the action as they cough up the ball cheaply 10m into Parra’s half. Beni Valu continues his strong run of form in the this trial with a good carry. Barnes finally gets a good touch with a jinking dart from dummy half. Jaydn Field looks to kick in behind, catches a frontline deflection, so he gives it a second kick off the ground but the fullback for the Bears does a great job to clean it up and get into the field of play. The Eels then concede a penalty to get the Bears of the hook.

Some interesting positional changes! Salesi Faingaa is back into the game at right centre. Nick Okladnikov has pushed out to the wing. Speaking of Faingaa, he has a brutal carry to earn a penalty. Faingaa is right in the thick of the action again as some deft hands put Okladnikov into space but he juggles the pass into contact and drops it! Deary me.

The Bears make a massive break from the scrum win as they slice through our left edge. The Eels actually intercept the pass at the end of the break but it caught the hand of one Parra defender and it caught by a second in an offside position so a penalty is blown. From there the Bears work it to the opposite edge, the edge featuring two forwards working at centre and wing, and they cross pretty easily.

 

Try scored by the North Sydney Bears. Conversion unsuccessful.

Bears trail 8-16

70min gone

 

A big set from the Bears nearly sees them post consecutive scores. They kick in behind our left edge and it takes a great bounce for the chasing Bears winger but a messy contest for the ball is ruled a knock on in goals by North Sydney.

Enter Beni Valu. The mountain of a human skittles defenders and draws ANOTHER penalty. What a huge effort from the big man. Hang on, he isn’t done yet! The two biggest men on the field combine as Faingaa jinks his way infield, beating three defenders before he links up with a steaming Valu. The Eels are right on the front front from there and Jesse Cronin profits the most from it all as he crashes over to the left of the posts! Good run!

 

Try scored by Jesse Cronin. Conversion successful (HOORAY!) by Todd Sapienza.

Eels lead 22-8

74min gone

 

Big runs from Okladnikov, Faingaa and Valu. Strong finish to this game from the second stringers. They can’t complete the set due to an offside chaser but yet another offensive ruck penalty from the Bears sees the Eels regain possession swiftly.

Valu shows some nice hands now as he passes to Porter at the line. Quick hands out to Michael Cheer on the right edge but he is turned away from the goal line. A weak kick on the last is cleaned up in the front line and the Bears get out of jail.

Tidy set from North Sydney as they work it out of their half and find touch midway inside Parra’s half.

That man Faingaa is getting his name called again! He is the primary option on a short side play as he kicks ahead and leads the chase to force an error from the fullback. Alas, Valu tries to link up with Porter once more on the second tackle of the next set and the pass flies awry. Porter can’t bring it in from off his knees and the Bears get the ball back with 30 seconds on the clock.

With nothing left to lose they swing the ball down their right and heave it down field. Terrific chase from the North Sydney right edge backs and they win the race! A favourable bounce is there too but that was all effort as they cross in the far corner with the siren ringing out.

 

Try scored by North Sydney. Conversion unsuccessful.

Bears trail 12-22

 

Full Time

Parramatta Eels 22 DEFEAT North Sydney Bears 12

 

And that is a wrap on the first true hit out of the preseason for the Eels. With no obvious serious injuries to report, it was by and by a successful sortie for our young men. They never really got out of second gear but they were comfortably too good for the Bears on this day. Plenty of talent to come back into this team as well! How they line up for the trial in Newcastle will be most interesting.

 

TCT Best On Field (First Half)

3. Dylan Brown

2. Ayden Carling

1. Salesi Faingaa

 

TCT Best On Field (Second Half)

3. Beni Valu

2. Todd Sapienza

1. Salesi Faingaa

 

Honourable Mention – Steve Dresler (Top tier sideline support)

 

Intrust Super Premiership

 

First Half

 

Wenty and the Bears are on the field! The Magpies are kicking off in the first half as they run towards the canteen end. Stone and Matagi lead the case and lay on a good, solid hit. Nothing too fancy from North Sydney in their opening set as the hoof the ball downfield. Anthony Layoun tidies it up and gets Wenty on their way.

They ruck it over halfway to bring up the last but Zach Nicholls barely kicks it out on the full as the gentle breeze eases it out far enough.

Opph, Stone! Another punishing hit! This one has forced an error on centrefield. Reed Mahoney turns Dane Aukafolau inside through the middle before Wenty work right to Marata Niukore who runs hard but is equally tackled well. A grubber kick back to the posts earns a line drop out as Layoun gives hot pursuit.

It all unravels from the drop out as the ball is allowed to bounce. Eddie Aiono (I think) scoops it up but he is driven into the sideline as the North Sydney defenders swarm him. A late penalty in the following set gifts the Bears a golden chance to open the scoring.

A blatant obstruction is allowed to play on and Wenty hold firm. Stone is in the thick of it again as he belts another big forward and on the next tackle the Bears drop the ball looking to play short at the line. Gower the man in the area.

Strong run from George Jennings. Aiono backs him up with another good effort. Our kick on the last is charged down but Aiono cleans it up. Six again. Big shot on Gower but he rolls through it for a fast PTB. Wide right to Aukafolau who is taken strongly in the tackle before he go bac infield with Terepo. A really neat kick from Nicholls nearly gets Nathan Davis over but a terrific effort on the ball form their right winger saves the try and he does equally well to get back into the field of play!

Wenty earn a penalty in their next possession and work down their right before cetreing the pill with Matagi. 10m off the line here. Reed plays the ball to his halves who feed the ball to Davis. Nice angled run from the big centre but he drops the ball in contact..

Some withering hits in this game. Peni and Reed combine for a blow that produces an audible thunk in this set. The Bears roll it over the carpet on the last. Long range grubber. Wenty clean it up with ease. Jennings looks a bit banged up after carting the ball up but he eventually gets back to his wing. Poor kick to finish the set from Wenty as the Bears pluck it out of the air in the front line of defence.

Bit of fortune for the Bears in this set as an errant offload earns a fresh set of tackles. They make the most of their chance as our right edge defence is caught dreadfully short and the Bears beat Layoun with a 2-on-1 to cross in the corner.

 

Try scored by North Sydney. Conversion successful.

Bears lead 6-0

15min gone

 

Good set after points for the Bears as they muster their forwards over half way and kick from 25m off Wenty’s goal line. They don’t opt for all out aggression though, content to simply run the ball into touch. Scrum is set 15m off Wenty’s line.

Jennings and Aiono take the opening carries. Matagi winds up for a solid carry with Gower working down the left on the next tackle. A charge from Stone sets up Mahoney for a kick from dummy half and the raking kick draws an error from the Bears flanker!

Mahoney to Marata from the scrum. Wenty play right but only to turn Peni back to the left as the winds up for a run. Nicholls runs it back to the posts and earns a penalty so Wenty send Peni back into action where he is promptly hit soundly. Most of the action plays out down our right edge where we get little purchase. Eventually we do come back left only to feed Davis a hospital ball on a bulleted cut out pass. He loses the ball trying to force an offload on account of it being the last tackle and that brings an end to the first quarter of play.

 

First Quarter

North Sydney Bears 6 lead Wentworthville Magpies 0

 

Second Quarter

 

Marata has left a Bear strewn in his wake with a powerful run! They don’t make too much ground in the following tackles unforunately but a great clearing kick gets the team right back on schedule. North Sydney work it to their right in return and are about to complete their set with a kick 12m short of halfway but a penalty is blown but pulling the leg of the runner. That one really hurts. Ill discipline there.

Wenty survive the raid though as the Bears end up hitting the corner post with their grubber kick.

Another strong carry by Marata is followed by a crafty run by Gower. Good metres for Wenty and they complete it with a good kick chase. The effort upon effort pays dividends when the Bears cough the ball up on the second tackle of the set!

Davis and Marata take the first two carries of the set before Dane Aukafolau takes a sensational catch following a great angled run. Only a ripper of a tackle saves the try. Wenty pile the pressure on though as they head back to the sticks and Reed Mahoney shows all the wiles he has in that young mind of his as he darts from dummy half and splits the markers to score! Great work.

 

Try scored by Reed Mahoney. Conversion successful by Reed Mahoney.

Wenty lock the score up at 6-all

29min gone

 

Terrific set after points! The Magpies march down the field on the back on some powerful carries through the middle and force a line drop out! I think it was Nicholls with the nifty boot there. Aiono and Davis lead the chase.

OOOOOPHHHHH! Peni was hit that ball from the back fence and has deadset bludgeoned a defender! Time is immediately called off for the obviously concussed Bear, even as he fights back to his feet. He is called to the sideline for good reason.

Some great interchanging of passes follows as Wenty work something of a set move to their right edge. Matt Woods makes a half bust and links u with Layoun but the fullback grasses the pass with support to his right and the try line begging!

More luck for the Bears as far as speculator passes. Another loose pass catches a Wenty hand and the visitors get a fresh set from halfway.

This time around the blatant obstruction is picked up by the main official and Wenty get a relieving penalty. Woods and Stromquist cart it up for the home team before Gower skips and steps his way for a 15m gain and an offload to Mahoney. He then finds Layoun for a further 8m gain. Wide left to Stone who carries defenders with him for a good 4m and then picks up a penalty. Back to the posts with Stromquist. Lovely ball to Davis who is taken in an even better tackle! Great footy from both teams!

Wenty can’t produce a result from their kick due to swarming kick pressure as both teams dial up the intensity.

What a great kick from Mahoney in reply! Just makes an incisive stab off the boot. Stone leads the chase and belts the winger.

Some cattiness in the stands now as some Bears supporters turn on each other for negative commentary. Prettttttty awkward stuff if I am going to level with everyone.

In the mean time the Bears have turned the ball over coming out of their red zone! Wenty with a real chance to get their noses front. Crap! As I type that Matt Woods produces an error in playing the ball. Dead set mockers right there.

That pretty much brings an end to the first half as both teams finish the half as they started – locked up.

 

First Half

Wentworthville Magpies 6 locked up with North Sydney Bears 6

 

Second Half

 

Wenty kick off. Running to the canteen end this quarter.

Good start to the half for the home team as the Bears produce an error on halfway. Gower and Stromquist cart it up for the first two tackles. Aukafolau has a run down the left side before a shift down the right sees Dylan Izzard run to the line. Stone weaves and darts his way through the middle and is tackled 7m short of the line. Mahoney tries to roll the ball in goals from dummy half but it takes a turn to the dead ball line despite the willing chase.

Wenty survive the 7 tackle set and get out of the red zone with a bullish carry by Aukafolau. Gower surges forward and looks to offload and Wenty finally get a lucky deflection back as it catches the hand of a defender for a fresh set.

Hard running from Stone opens the path for Mahoney to have a dart and he nearly puts Izzard through a gap. The ball hits the deck and Wenty scoop it up looking to get to their left edge. They end up running it on the last and are repelled for a turnover on tackles.

After getting a piggy back out of their half with two penalties but then drop it cold shifting it down their left edge. Lovely cut out ball from David Gower to put his winger into some space. Wenty come back to the middle with Stromquist and keep working right before Izzard sends a cross field kick to the left. Aukafolau leaps up and bats it back to his winger (unknown player, sorry!) who is taken ball and all.

The Bears reply with a clean line break down our right edge and Wenty end up a man down as that unknown winger is sent for slowing the ruck down.

Ray Stone! He has just cattle dogged a bigger forward! Picked him up and tossed back a good metre or two! He and Gower combine a couple of tackles later to make a tackle on wound up backrower. It looks like the Magpies have survived the raid as Niukore smashes the North Sydney half resulting in a shallow grubber that Wenty dive on but after a considerable delay a penalty is awarded to the visitors – I presume for a shoulder charge.

WOWZA. #25 has SMASHED a Bears forward! What a thunk! Wenty somehow hold on despite all the pressure and a man down as they claim a crossfield kick in goals.

Brad Deitz is on to relieve Mahoney and nearly makes a clean break through the middle! He is barely roped in from his collar and Wenty waste the momentum from that carry as they drop the ball 15m off the North Sydney goal line. That could have been a huge blow given the circumstances of the game.

It looks like Wenty have pulled all their starters by the way and it probably at least 5-10min ago.

Norths rumble downfield but concede a penalty on Wenty’s next possession and with under 5min left to play in this quarter we are looking at a surprisingly tense finale to this trial match!

Throwing caution the wind, Wenty kick early via Izzard as he look to catch the defensive line napping. He very nearly does as well but the kick is a smidgen too heavy.

North Sydney aren’t making the inroads they would probably like to be making and end up bombing the Magpies from 10m over halfway and the bomb is taken brilliantly in testing light conditions.

 

The end of the third quarter sort of fizzles out as the backup backups start to get gassed and errors pile up for both teams.

 

Third Quarter

Wentworthville Magpies 6 locked up with North Sydney Bears 6

 

Fourth Quarter

 

Wenty will receive the final set restart of this trial match. They make a damn meal of it as well as it is dropped cold 20m into the field of play. Never looked like he had good tracking on that flat kick.

The Bears pick up a penalty midway through their first set but can’t breach the goal line as their kick is taken in the field of play.

Gross. Another offensive ruck penalty. This one goes against the Bears and gifts Wenty a great chance to take the lead.

The #25 that laid on a bell ringer before has a powerful run and is pulled down barely short of the line. Two splashy plays in this second half from that big unit.

It lays the platform for a quick right edge shift that sees the formerly sinbinned #22 step his way through and slam the ball down!

 

Try scored by #22. Conversion successful by #6.

Wenty lead 12-6

67min gone

 

Wenty produce a solid set as they get to a kick deepish in North Sydney’s half. The Bears are pinged for another PTB penalty as they count for that indiscretion just keep piling on. A second penalty follows and Wenty tap and go. From left to right they work as Jermaine Maiti-Leifi looks to have crossed but he has dropped the ball over the line! That probably seals the game if he plants it properly.

Penalty for a high shot now. Temper flare up briefly and we see some pushing and jersey grabbing before strong defence jams the ball loose in the next set.

Wenty put together a rock solid set and find touch 20m out from the Bears goal line.

WOOSHKAH! Another cracking hit as the #14 for Wenty flies out like a missile and punishes the half crabbing across the field. Great sound from a great hit. The Bears sortie down their right from there but turn the ball over. Not to be out done the Magpies do the exact same thing in reply.

Strong defence from Wenty as they look to cling to a 6 point lead.  BAH as I type that the Bears cross in the corner. Probably a question over the long and loopy final pass but the touchy is fine with it and the Bears plant the ball down in the corner. Tough conversion coming as they look to tie the game up with roughly 2min left.

 

Try scored by North Sydney. Conversion successful.

Bears lock the scores up at 12-all

79min gone

 

Oh how things can turn! The Bears make a half break but turn the ball over! #22 has dived on it to create a chance! And a penalty follows! They don’t take the kick at goal!? Gentleman’s agreement perhaps! Tap and go and it is down the right edge where a lovely outside inside play nearly gets Izzard through! Try as they may Wenty can’t muster the play to crack the frenzied defensive line of the Bears and the game ends with a knock on.

 

Full Time

Wentworthville Magpies 12 tied with North Sydney Bears 12

 

TCT Best On Field

3. David Gower

2. Ray Stone

1. Reed Mahoney

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29 thoughts on “Live Blog – Jersey Flegg & ISP Trials vs North Sydney

  1. Colin Hussey

    Good to see Tui’s name and him being back.

    Any idea if there will be these squads in the trial matches at Maitland latter this month?

    I intend being there & if there is a full day, will be fine for me, appreciate any info mate.

    There are some interesting picks in the teams, & will be watching how Salesi Faingaa goes, also Stromquist who I am gathering is looking for contract or is he just in the Wenty comp, as I heard he had been let go.

  2. John Eel

    Another interesting one will be Sean Keppie I am sure I read somewhere that another club has shown interest in him

    Also it will be interesting to see Blaise Barnes step out for the first time in Eels cours

    1. Joe Briffa

      Hi 40 here i go using the phone. I’m looking forward to seeing how young PJ plays, he has missed almost 2 years with serious knre injuries. I’ll be reading mate i wish i was there

      1. Forty20 Post author

        PJ is getting rested today, old friend! Nothing serious but they are just getting a niggle out of his body.

    1. Forty20

      Some combination of Zach Nicholls, Kauri Appouri and Dane Francis I believe but it was the one positional group that featured entirely new faces so I am not certain mate.

  3. dday

    Thanks Forty for the first league commentary of 2018. I don’t know how you do it – keep up with play, coherent writing and identifying all these players.

    It seems the development players all received plenty of mentions – maybe pre-season training with the 1st grade squad is paying off.The evergreen Gower – what a great clubman.

  4. Milo

    I think this is superb 40; and i can imagine him working back in the days as a pen/paper reporter. Superb reading and good read the account first hand.
    Is this right? Keppie to Manly for 2019? If so maybe let him go now so we can move on.

    1. Hamsammich

      I’d say we’d keep him. Why would we weaken our 20’s to help another teams? If he has in fact signed for another club for 2019 then that’ll be when he goes to them. We still have a few injuries in the forwards in the 20’s and players that will push up from SG Ball once their season is finished.

      1. Milo

        That is a fair call Ham; I was thinking we could then look at other props to give experience to. Makes you hate Manly more….

        1. Colin Hussey

          From what I saw of Keppie he was good, would be sad lose him and its almost a repeat of the Trex loss when Manly offered him big dollars after his first season.

          IIRC, the emperor made a public statement when it happened and it went along the lines of, we had made Tony Williams a good offer for someone his age and experience, however we could not match what Manly had offered for a player of his experience, we are sorry to lose him.

          Some leaks came out and said the eels went to $120K but Manly had offered increment payments starting at $180K increasing each year.

          The money the eels offered was good for a player in first year up from the lower grades. If we lose Keppie would be a similar situation I would believe.

          1. Milo

            Nothing would surprise Col; have heard a few things about the poaching going on at this level and younger.

      2. John Eel

        So Ham you reckon Mr 85% is correct in saying that he is going to Manly. That is a bit disappointing but if he is in a hurry then what can you do.

        The more I see of Ray Stone and Reed Mahoney, the more I like them. they were good last year as well.

        Beni Valu seem to make a powerful start also. Of course it is only one trial.

  5. conway

    Thanks Forty for a great report….how lucky we are as Parra fans to have the TCT and its dedicated and generous staff. Much appreciated.

  6. Rocket

    Thanks Forty.
    Enjoyed the commentary.
    Blaise Barnes seems elusive after his knee injury. Do you think he will end up in the halves?

    1. sixties

      Blaise played out of dummy half and fullback last night. Given his long time out of action, just developing his game sense in rugby league would be his first goal. i won’t weigh him down with expectations or predictions just yet.

    1. Forty20 Post author

      I know we were linked to him late last year but I have seen a few team sheets since then and his name hasn’t appeared on any of them. I dare say we are reasonably confident that between King, Pritchard and Smith (in a pinch) we can cover the NRL team while the runner up in the NRL #9 sweepstakes will steer Wenty around the park.

      Add in the fact that Reed Mahoney looked completely at home in the ISP yesterday and Kyle Schneider will almost certainly be able to make the jump from SG Ball to Flegg and we have a very clean succession of rakes to cover all the important grades.

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