Camden and Picton stake their claim in the opening week of the finals
One side has thrown down the challenge to the minor premiers while another was left heartbroken in an astonishing opening week of finals action at Kirkham Park. Stars, standouts and results wrap.
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Here are the latest results from the Macarthur Rugby League.
Camden Rams 38 d Campbelltown City Kangaroos 12
The Camden Rams have flexed their finals muscles with a whirlwind six unanswered second half tries to ease past Campbelltown City Kangaroos 38-12 and set up a grand final qualifier with minor premiers East Campbelltown Eagles.
Having finished second on the ladder, Camden trailed the third-placed City 12-10 at the break before hitting the afterburners in an extraordinary 13 minute period where they raced in four tries to put the game beyond doubt 20 minutes before the final siren.
Mason Cerruto finished with a hat-trick and showed his imposing strength to cross for the opening two tries before City wrestled back momentum to level the scores at 10 apiece.
Veteran fullback Shannon Gallant bounced out of a tackle to put Rua Hona over for the Kangaroos first try, before the centre’s short side raid finished in another four pointer, this time to substitute hooker Viliame Saukuru.
A penalty goal saw City take a two point advantage to the sheds, but the writing was on the wall following a bust by Steele Brown in the opening set upon resumption.
City’s scrambling defence won out but moments later they had no answer to the centre’s left-foot step as he raced over to put the Rams in front 16-12.
From there the Rams were never headed. Cerruto bagged his third three minutes later, before replacement winger Patrick Dumont and Jake Scott added their names to the try scorers list as the Rams bounded clear 28-12.
Corey Makelim was superb in cover for regular five-eighth Jackson Willis and crossed late off a smart wrap-around move before winger Josh Goulton rounded out the eight try rout in the 78th minute.
What the coaches said:
Co-coach Brad Speechley said he felt the Rams were switched on for a big day when the team arrived at Kirkham Park.
“We applied early pressure and off that we were able to put points on the board,” the halfback said.
“Our second half was much better than last week, we controlled the ball and showed what we can do. Once again our pack was strong with Dickinson and Ben Powers leading the way, and off the back of that Cerruto was difficult to contain.
“We’ve got two shots at making the grand final now, and next week Brad Hopkins should return to further strengthen our middle.”
After clawing their way back into the contest, Michael Stevens thought halftime came too soon.
“Our second half was disappointing, we just didn’t have enough people putting their bodies on the line. We’ll reassess our injuries and start preparing for Picton,” the hooker said.
“Next week we’ve got a few coming back. Backrower Moses Manu, lock Josh Honan and winger Daniel Lotu should all be available.”
Picton Magpies 24 d Oakdale Workers 12
Oakdale’s season is over after Picton winger Harrison Foster broke their hearts with a late length of the field try in the Magpies’ thrilling 24-12 elimination victory.
In an absorbing contest where both sides lost key playmakers in a brutal opening, Oakdale went within a blade of grass from levelling the scores with five minutes left to play.
Trailing 18-12 but with all the momentum, Jermaine Haule – a replacement hooker and one of Oakdale’s best, looked to have burrowed over below the crossbar to send the final into golden point extra time.
A jubilant Workers bench erupted, but the diminutive No. 14 was instructed to play the ball. With points still on offer, a shift to the right broke down and Magpies five-eighth Daniel Payne – who missed most of the first half with a chest injury – swooped on the loose ball and sent Foster on a 90m charge to seal Oakdale’s fate.
Despite losing regular hooker Alec Bush to a head knock in the 12th minute, the Workers quickly regrouped and opened the scoring through winger Levi McLean.
They jumped ahead 8-0 lead in the 22nd minute when lock Jacob Rockwell made the most of an earlier Kyle Fraser offload to score in the left corner.
Steven Dengate brushed away the Magpies‘ scrappy start and some weak Oakdale defence to cross for Picton’s first, and they hit the lead on the half-hour when former Bulldogs powerhouse Tony ‘T-Rex’ Williams combined with Michael Lett for Foster’s first try of the day.
Oakdale dominated possession in the closing stages of the half but the Magpies held out several Mitchell Brasington inspired raids to maintain a 12-8 halftime advantage.
The tit for tat continued after the break, hooker Anthony Provost extended Picton’s lead to 18-8 with a try from dummy half, before Oakdale struck back through Tenisio Ahovelo to trail by six in the 65th minute.
The score stayed that way until Foster disappeared into the distance to extend the Magpies’ season by at least another week with his 20th try of the season.
What the coaches said:
“The best part for me was our second half defence and the fact that we didn’t panic when they got away early,” Picton coach Jake Tonitto said.
“We lost Daniel Payne early but halfback Tim Dengate stepped up and won our players’ player award. And you saw the big game impact we get from Provost and Williams too,” he enthused before touching on the game-deciding play.
“And that winning play by Payne, to block the loose ball and chase the rebound to put Foster away, you can’t coach desire like that.”
Oakdale co-coach Russell Lewis was happy to acknowledge his side was beaten by the better side on the day.
“We were the underdogs and did well but just couldn’t deliver the killer punch,” said Lewis.
“Their No. 9 Anthony Provost was the difference, taking control when they lost Payne and he also kicked their goals.”
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