Penrith District Rugby League: Grand final qualifiers, weekend wrap

The teams for this weekend’s rugby league grand finals in the Penrith and District competitions have been decided after an epic weekend of finals. See who made the big dance, full wrap.

Penrith and District Junior Rugby League, week 2 finals, 2023.

It was a weekend like no other in local Penrith footy. There were favourites on fire, upsets and an epic finish where the side’s refused to be separated. See who advanced to the deciders in our weekend wrap.

EMU PLAINS SURVIVE UGLY CUT

Last try wins is a common catch cry in the backyard, but in Men’s Div 1 Emu Plains won through to the grand final after scoring the first try against St Patricks.

As absurd as it sounds, when it comes to dead heats in local qualifiers, the rules are the rules.

Emu Plains and St Patricks slugged it out for 80 minutes, then at 24-all they slugged it out some more. With the scores still locked after 20 minutes, it was tools down and over to the rule book.

St Patricks finished higher on the ladder, but Emu Plains scored five tries to four. Neither mattered, and thanks to James Riik’s try in the seventh minute Emu Plains advanced to the decider.

Diehards reckon it was the best local contest in decades, an epic that didn’t deserve a loser.

It didn’t look that way early. Following Riik’s try, Emu Plains added another and when Alex Myles powered over it was 14-0 after 32 minutes.

Half time couldn’t come quick enough for St Pats. From there they regrouped, found their rhythm and eventually the lead when centre Zarrin Galea crossed in the 64th minute.

The closing stages were tit-for-tat until St Pats No.9 Cecil Lahood dived over out wide in the final minute. Winger Noah Smith drilled the conversion, and at 24-all extra time was called.

“Everyone lifted in the second half when we were down,” said unlucky St Pats coach Daniel Jackson.

“Lahood was great for us and he was outstanding when he moved to lock too. It’s just disappointing that the players couldn’t settle the result on the park.”

While happy to see his side advance, Emu Plains coach Darren Bell had sympathy for the opposition.

“We got out to 14-0 then it all changed when we had a player sin binned,” said Bell.

“St Pats then ran in three quick tries and to their credit they kept coming at us.

“It was a tough day for them, but they’re good guys. They wished us all the best afterwards and they certainly have our respect.”

WOLVES BLOW ST MARYS’ HOUSE DOWN

In the other Men’s Div 1 qualifier, Windsor captain Troy Dargin arrived at The Kingsway with a plan for whichever St Marys side turned up.

Now after a thumping 34-4 victory, the Wolves general has his sights firmly set on Emu Plains ahead of Sunday’s decider.

St Marys struck the first blow when centre Zhivargo Fa’i sliced through in the third minute. But it would be their only joy as the dynamic Windsor duo of Tori Willie and hooker Tyrone Shelley stepped on the gas.

The class of both was on show as the Wolves opened a commanding 24-4 halftime advantage.

Windsor Wolves moving together as a pack in 2023. Picture: Windsor Wolves

Any thoughts of a St Marys comeback were promptly erased after the resumption when Shelley burrowed across for his second, before centre Riki Willie iced the cake in the closing stages.

“We anticipated the line up St Marys would field and then we were fortunate our plan came together,” said Windsor captain Troy Dargin.

“It was a strong team performance but Eton Lindsay put in a strong 80 minutes in the middle, and Tori and Riki Willie continued their good form.

“Next week will be a tough assignment, Emu Plains have beaten us both times this year. But we’ll turn up with a deliberate plan and enjoy the emotion of the day.”

EMU GIRLS STRIDE OUT

Emu Plains booked their spot in Saturday’s U17 Girls Div 1 decider with a comfortable 28-4 win over St Clair at HE Laybutt Sports Complex.

Captain Matilda Vella led from the front, and the skilled half only needed three minutes to send Mia Hyde across for the opening try.

It quickly jumped to 10-0 when prop Jennifer Tuilagi stepped across from close range. From there the points dried up, and the Comets headed to the sheds full of hope.

Even when Tuilagi offloaded for Ellyssa Myers to score after the break, St Clair still posed a threat and eventually got on the board when damaging backrower Maretta Fuimaono ploughed through three defenders.

Trailing 16-4, St Clair continued to pose problems for but the momentum swung back to Emu Plains when backrower Abigail Jay-To showed a clean pair of heels through centrefield before centre Alyssa Gibbons crashed over for the final try of the day.

“It was another strong performance, the girls have come along in leaps and bounds this season,” said Emu Plains coach Luke Vella.

“It’s the first time Emu Plains will field a division 1 girls side in a grand final, and even through St Marys will be tough opposition the gap is narrowing every time we meet.”

ST MARYS MARCH ON

In the other U17 Girls Div 1 qualifier, St Marys extended its unbeaten run with a commanding 46-4 performance over Minchinbury.

It was the minor premiers’ 13th victory on the trot and included a whopping 11 tries.

Winger Constance Omeli and backrower Matoisha Kalepo both finished with doubles on a day where Julie Notise bagged a hat-trick.

It was a day to remember for Notise, and the elusive centre now sits seven clear at the top of the competition’s try-scoring list with 20.

St Marys centre Julie Notise has scored a mountain of tries this year. Picture: St Marys Rugby League

Lakishar Fepuleai once again stood out for Minchinbury, and following on from last week’s double, the powerful backrower was the only Jet to trouble the scorers.

St Marys are now one game shy of a perfect season, but they won’t have it all there own way against a willing Emu Plains line-up.

“Grand finals bring a rise in intensity, so it’s just a matter of the girls containing their emotions and sticking to the plan,” said St Marys coach Robert Schemp.

“We have seven or eight players playing for Hills Sports and Westfields Sports High in Wednesday’s School Girls Cup, so hopefully they come through okay.”