Penrith District Rugby League: Grand final redemption, Emu Plains strike back
Emu Plains and Windsor went to the wire in the men’s top grade, while a host of rising young guns couldn’t be separated after two periods of extra time. Grand finals wrap, 60+ PHOTO GALLERY.
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All roads headed to St Marys Leagues Stadium on Sunday for a full day of local grand final rugby league action.
In the men’s top grade Emu Plains and Windsor slugged out an epic with the winner ultimately decided after the final play of the game. It wasn’t so simple in the U19s where Glenmore Park and St Marys headed to extra time.
It was one-way traffic in Men’s Division 3, where an unsavoury incident caused plenty of tension.
Check out our wrap of the final three games from a packed program.
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EMU PLAINS FLIP THE SCRIPT
Twelve months ago Emu Plains had the Men’s Division 1 title in the bag until Minchinbury struck late to steal the prize. On Sunday, with Windsor running hot, it seemed odds-on to happen again.
Emu Plains supersub Ryan Eisenhuth struck twice in the closing stages, his second putting his side clear 32-26 with three minutes to play.
But as the final seconds counted down Windsor magician Tori Willie had other ideas. With the ball in his hands and a vacant left corner ahead, the five-eighth put boot to ball. He couldn’t have struck it any better, and when Wolves speedster Andrew Oughtred arrived first, it seemed certain Windsor would be converting to level the scores.
Fortunately for Emu Plains, the ball slipped from the winger’s grasp and the demons of a year ago were put to rest.
It followed an epic contest where both sides scored five tries. Gun prop Eton Lindsay got Windsor off to a flyer scoring twice in the opening 18 minutes, before halfback Jake Stig and Cameron Hughes returned serve to level it up 12-apiece.
Emu Plains made the early running after the interval, but in a contest that featured four lead changes, Windsor regained the momentum when winger Luke McDonald stepped around his opposite to level the scores with seven minutes still to play.
The defeat was pure heartache for Windsor in a final series that will be long remembered. On any other day last week, St Patricks may have edged out Emu Plains in the grand final qualifier.
But following the torment of last season, no one could begrudge Emu Plains the title.
ST PATS RUN RIOT
St Patricks are the kings of Men’s Division 3 after they lapped minor premiers Windsor 56-6 in an 11-try romp.
Fullback Raphael William-Joseph crossed the stripe three times and was joined on the scorecard by multiple try scorers Dean Ham, Elia Morisio and winger Jamie Harrison.
Following a slow start to the year, St Pats roared home to take out the title with its ninth consecutive win.
The only blip on the St Pats parade happened when Wolves replacement Christopher Leonard was marched from the field for a dangerous high tackle.
ST MARYS THANK THE LADDER
The best of Penrith’s rising stars were on show in the U19 Division 1 grand final between St Marys and Glenmore Park.
In a game flush with big names, it was Jett Cleary’s try in the shadows of regulation time that saw the fifth ranked Glenmore Park edge to within two points of St Marys in another heart stopping decider.
After fullback Jirah Liddiard converted to level the scores at 26-all, the game went to golden point extra time.
With 10 tries already scored in the allotted time, it was difficult to believe that neither side could strike a blow during an extra 10 minutes of play.
Play was extended for another additional 10 minutes, but once again there was no change. Under local rules, the premiership was then awarded to St Marys due to their higher standing on the ladder.
After Jacob Gardiner and Kye Eldridge both crossed to put St Marys in the box seat after 11 minutes, the final outcome was pure relief for proud coach Michael Weldon.
“It was pretty nerve wracking, Jett had multiple field goal attempts but the boys defended well, especially on their own line.” said Weldon.
PHOTO GALLERY
MEN’S DIV 1
MEN’S DIV 3
U19 DIV 1
U17 DIV 1
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