The Cumberland Throw

Canterbury Cup Match Report – May 26, 2019: Wenty vs Penrith

A fast track and mild sunny weather provided ideal footy conditions for today’s clash between Wenty and Penrith at Ringrose Park. With only two losses for the season, the Panthers entered this round in second spot on the table, whereas the Magpies were clinging to eighth position with a four from nine record.

Proceedings began with a minute’s silence in memory of Denis “Big D” Anderson. Both teams and match officials lined up across the field in recognition of the Eels legend and the tribute added a sense of occasion to the afternoon.

And Wenty didn’t disappoint.

The match was only three minutes old when Jaeman Salmon put on a left foot step to break the line just into Penrith’s half, draw the fullback, then put Bevan French over next to the posts. French converted the try to put the Magpies up by 6 to nil.

Jaeman Salmon

Just ten minutes later, Salmon again stamped his class on the game. After a series of Wenty offloads that didn’t seem to be heading anywhere, the young five-eighth took the ball to the line and found a rampaging Salesi Fainga’a running a great line. In turn, Fainga’a charged towards the line then delivered a terrific offload in the fullback’s tackle to put Ethan Parry across for the Magpies second try. The conversion from French took the score to 12 nil after only 14 minutes.

The action came thick and fast not long after. A long cut out pass to an unmarked Greg Leleisiuao five metres out from the Panthers line proved too difficult for the winger to handle, and the dropped ball provided the visitors with a 20 metre tap. Within a couple of plays, the Panthers had cut the retreating defence to shreds, with their right winger in open space for a certain try.

However, it was not so certain in Ethan Parry’s mind.

The big centre chased the Panther’s winger to the line before launching himself into a tackle which dislodged the ball. It was the perfect example of never giving up.

With the play going end to end, it would be the Panthers who would strike next. A contested kick inside the Wenty quarter earned Penrith a scrum feed and the sustained pressure proved too great for the home team. A shift to the right saw the Panthers centre, McGrady, cross out wide. An unsuccessful conversion left the score at 12 to 4 with fifteen minutes remaining in the half.

The Panthers defence were doing a good job holding out the Magpies attack and it would be a penalty goal that would provide the next score change. French’s kick from directly in front of the posts extended the lead to 14 to 4 with less than ten minutes to go till oranges.

Just when it seemed that the scoring was finished for the half, the Panthers demonstrated why they are sitting near the top of the table. After punching holes through the middle in a great set of six, a clean break was rewarded with a try to Fearnley next to the posts. Fortunately for the Magpies, the close range conversion hit the posts and the teams went to the sheds with Wenty leading by 14 to 8.

The first 20 minutes of the second half were a bit of a scrappy period, marked by penalties and incomplete sets from both teams.

With about 15 minutes remaining the match again came to life.

Bevan French

A late hit on French after a kick saw the Magpies extend their lead to 16 to 8 via a Brad Keighran penalty goal. This only seemed to spark the Panthers into action.

After regaining possession from a short kick off, Penrith parlayed this into a repeat set with a well earned penalty, before Martin crossed the line following a shift to the left on the last tackle. Goal kicking was proving to be Penrith’s Achilles heel with the conversion again failing.

At 16 to 12 with less than ten minutes left, the match was on a knife’s edge – but the result would not be decided until the final seconds.

Though one would have expected Wenty to tuck the ball under the arm with possession in the Penrith quarter, and less a minute remaining, the Magpies instead moved the ball. The rewards were theirs with a Greg Leleisiuao in-field charge proving impossible for the Panthers to defend. The unsuccessful conversion saw a final score of 20 to 12.

In a match that saw the forwards do their job, and the backs deliver the big moments, there were plenty of positives to find for Wenty as a team. Their intensity was worthy of a match against a top of the table team, and though the execution wasn’t always perfect, the effort achieved the result.

From an individual perspective, best on field would have been shared by French (in the captain’s role today) Salmon and Minhinnick. Special mentions were also deserved by Parry and Fainga’a.

For Eels supporters interested in Oregon Kaufusi, the big fella churned out a solid 50 minutes. With Brad Arthur dropping him back to Wenty to get some longer minutes under his belt, this will hopefully signal his return to the top grade.

 

Wenty 20 – Tries: French, Parry, Leleisiuao  Goals: French 3, Keighran 1

Defeat

Panthers 13 – Tries: McGrady, Fearnley, Martin

 

Eels forever!

Sixties

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21 thoughts on “Canterbury Cup Match Report – May 26, 2019: Wenty vs Penrith

  1. Milo

    That is a good effort. And effort seems to be the operative word…
    I hope Oregon and Salmon did enough to come back.
    How has Fainga’a and Parry been going?

  2. Anonymous

    It was a good win today….nice to see Bev playing well, and the young brigade continue to do well

    1. sixties

      Wenty are performing better this year. The inclusion of young players has helped. Rip Taylor is a very experienced coach at this level.

  3. Colin Hussey

    Thanks for this report sixties as I we really looking forward to it being published. After Church this morning I got on to the live match report updates on NSWRL’s web site, and was pleasantly surprised to see the score at first look being 14-8 in Wenty’s favour, I tried to keep up with the score updates but it was very slow so waited with baited breath for full time and very much more pleasantly surprised to see Wenty come out winners.

    The tribute for Big D was nice to read also, and Wenty did him proud with that win, sadly the NRL squad did not provide the same victory for him on Thursday night though.

    Of note to me is that seems Bev is picking his game up very well indeed, having some kicking skills add to his quiver as well. Some pleasing aspects to read is that Salmon seems to have lifted also, I sincerely would love to see Bev given a run in the NRL side at 6, I think he could handle the position and provide some good variation and speed from that spot, but I guess with Salmon picking up a bit he’s likely the pin for that spot.

    I also hope to see Parry, Stefano and Faingai elevated for the NRL squad also come end of June. They may be all young but to me they are part of our future and need to be given every possible opportunity to play NRL this year. With many of the NRL squad being pedestrian at best, youthful enthusiasm should help in a good way, hopefully in a big way also.

    The other aspect that I am looking forward to is team announcements on Tuesday, and I really hope to see changes, the aspect of Oregon and Salmon being back into Wenty for this round I tend to believe it was well planed by the coach considering the match coming up on Friday night, I think also he anticipated a win against the Riff as he did that experiment.

    Hopefully MJ and Stone will also be available and both in the NRL squad, Stone on the bench.

    Again good report and thanks, would love a bit of a rating of the players published if its possible.

    1. sixties

      MJ should be right but I think Stone might be another week away.
      Oregon was given more game time so hopefully he’ll return.

    1. sixties

      I believe we’ll see something this week. With Indigenous round events planned, and Big D passing on the Wednesday, the planned tribute will take place this Friday.

  4. Clive

    I find it quite insulting that G Jennings keeps getting a start in the NRL side in front of French. Jennings has been embarrassing this year.

    1. sixties

      French isn’t being considered for the wing. It appears to be that fullback is his spot to challenge for, and he’s put up a strong case in most games. Remember, many, many people were critical of Bev on the wing last year.

      1. Clive

        Yeah he didn’t perform well at all on the wing last year but a lightweight winger is always going to struggle in a side that was going as bad as us in 2018.
        I think BA is now just obsessed with big wingers even if they are talentless error riddled nuffies.
        I mean if he’s going to persist with Jennings he might as well put Terepo on the wing. He will make metres and three or four errors a game😂

  5. The rev aka Snedden.

    Good write up sixties.
    On parry correct me if I’m wrong but his like 197 cm tall n weighs around the 95/100 kilo mark right. I’m hearing he will be given a shot after June 30 is this correct or just dribble ?

    On French I can’t see him playing 1st grade with us anymore. I think with dwz coming I think brad is going after big body guys to get over the advantage line.

    Salmon n kaufusi sound like they had great day out. Really hope they can picked for 1st grade if not I won’t be a happy camper. Not happy Jane. No what I mean.

    Look I want what’s best for my team as a fan but what I don’t get is what was the rush in signing brad Arthur. Didn’t hear of other clubs chasing him . IMO I think the clubs way of thinking was if we sign brad then we can lock in gutherson.

    Can you please explain why brad is giving marata a fair go but not salmon or stone or kaufusi.

    1. sixties

      Yes, Parry is tall and weighs in around 100kg. I don’t know about being given a shot. All rookie contract players become eligible for NRL selection after June 30.
      Look back at Marata’s beginning. It was exactly the same as Kaufusi. He was eased in with his minutes.
      I don’t think there was any rush with BA at all. But you can’t go signing new players, or even extending others, without having a coach confirmed.
      In retrospect, I would much rather that Oregon got his minutes up in NRL rather than Wenty. I say that because few forwards would have outperformed him last Thursday. I hope he’s back in NRL this week.

      1. The rev aka Snedden

        Did the club look at Jason Taylor or Griffen or a pommy coach ?
        I agree about kaufusi I think he should have got more game time in the top grade. I really hope salmon is back in 1st grade. He sounds to good for the lower grades.

  6. Michael Formosa

    Great post! Which players from Wenty do you think will get a call up when SOO takes half our team?

    1. sixties

      Rip is very experienced at this level. Believe me, with everything that BA has endured during his time at the Eels, he’s still done a mighty job. I guarantee, plenty of coaches would have walked – and they did before his arrival.

  7. Big John

    I was at the game and ran into three NRL clubs that were watching Salmon with much interest. One of them said that they couldnt believe that BA made him the scapegoat for the Parra woes. He also told me that Salmon’s agent is none other than Sam Ayoub!!!! The kid is only 20, and lots to learn but hope he doesnt get despondent and walk.

    1. Rowdy

      And you wouldn’t have instigated the conversation with a negative perspective on Salmon being in reggies eh Big J? IMO it wasn’t BA that made him the scapegoat the kid did that himself by his game against Melbourne which included a weakness which was exposed that boys who want to be men have to become aware of in themselves. I also believe the time back in reggies will be the making of him with competition in the club for his preferred positions of 5/8 and centre will only add to his conviction to overcome and excel if he is the talent that we believe he is.
      I’ve noticed lately, that smart kids end up listening to their heart, their coaches and families rather than their smart-arse managers like Sam Ayoub. is only there to advise what is the best money and conditions likely to be available or extracted from a particular club. If anyone didn’t notice SA managed to get Gutho offside with the fans and through his lies create an incorrect impression of our coaching staff and club administrations ability to negotiate a fair and just deal.
      Vale Big D. I hope they win for you this week big fella, rest in peace.

      1. Big John

        Ha! You’re right Rowdy. I was stirring the pot!! I agree with you totally, and Salmon is taking his demotion in the right way. I would only suggest that more changes should have been made after the Storm game. Unfortunately the next two games proved this suggestion correct.

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