East Campbelltown Eagles earn minor premiership after downing Picton in final round

The minor premiers have been decided and the week-1 finalists determined after a thrilling final round of the Macarthur Rugby League regular season. Stars, standouts and results wrap.

The East Campbelltown Eagles are Macarthur Conference minor premiers following a hard fought 34-24 win over the Picton Magpies in yesterday’s final round clash at Worrell Park.

Returning to the Macarthur region competition for the first time since their 2012 Group 6 premiership, the Eagles are now perfectly placed to finish where they left off.

Here’s the Round 18 wrap and week-1 finals schedule.

East Campbelltown Eagles 34 d Picton Magpies 24 at Worrell Park

On another day, East Campbelltown may well have gifted Camden the minor premiership. Needing a win to secure the week off, the Eagles were forced to dig deep after the Magpies jumped to an early 12-0 lead.

By halftime the Eagles had wrestled back momentum and went to the sheds locked at 18 apiece. Eagles coach Richard Barnes was relieved his side turned the tables in a tough contest that saw fullback Bryce Wilson walk away as East Campbelltown’s best.

“They got the jump on us, it could easily have been 18-0. It was a tough contest, we’ve got a few bumps and bruises so it will be great to have a week off.”

East Campbelltown on the attack. Picture: Shot of Guac Photography

In what shapes as a blow for the Magpies, Barnes said the turning point came in the second half when Picton lost dependable fullback, James Tautaiolefua.

“James went down, it looked like his shoulder may have popped out. It turned the contest, especially given we had to defend our own line for large parts of the second half,” Barnes said.

Next week Picton face a refreshed Oakdale in an elimination final, after the Workers sat out last week’s round with a bye.

Camden Rams 28 d Mittagong Lions 20 at Kirkham Park

Camden entered the clash knowing they’d finish second on the ladder regardless of the result. After an impressive first half where they opened up a 22-0 lead, the Rams logged off and allowed a fast finishing Mittagong to reduce the final margin to a respectable eight points.

On a day where the Camden reserve grade side overcame the absence of a host of regulars to finish undefeated, Brad Speechley’s top grade side succeeded without the services of four of their own in a match where prop Bailey Dickinson finished as Camden’s best.

“Our first half was good, but we couldn’t hold the ball after the break and spent most of the second half defending our own line,” Speechley said before looking ahead to next week’s clash with City Kangaroos.

“City are a strong grafting side but we’ll be better. We’re hoping to see the return of backrowers Brad Hopkins and Joey Napoletano, and also expect to have centre Logan Matapuku and prop Kisi Taulani available.”

The winner of Camden and City Kangaroos then meets East Campbelltown for a spot in the grand final.

Campbelltown City Kangaroos 20 d The Oaks 10 at Fullwood Reserve

City Kangaroos bedded down two bites of the finals cherry with a scrappy 20-10 win over The Oaks at Fullwood Reserve.

Despite resting star fullback Shannon Gallant and missing injured enforcer Raymond Moujalli, City did enough to hold out a resilient Tigers and finish the regular season in third spot.

Fullback Levi Dodd and centre Benjamin Scambary crossed the stripe for the Tigers, while for City, returning winger Joel Kingham bagged a double to complement tries by fullback Dylan Nunes and substitute hooker Viliame Saukuru.

Campbelltown City Kangaroos first grade rugby league team celebrate their Round 18 win over The Oaks at Fullwood Reserve. Picture: City Kangaroos RL Club

Kangaroos captain-coach and hooker Michael Stevens was full of praise for his younger replacement, and confirmed his side will be back to full strength against the Rams.

“We were ugly and probably lucky to get the points, we got a lead but couldn’t put them away,” he said.

“The turning point was when I was replaced by Saukuru, he turned the contest with a slashing 60m solo try. And even though we missed Gallant, Nunes did a fantastic job and won the players’ player award.

“We’ll be better next week when we take on Camden. Shannon makes a big difference and Moujalli should be fit to play.”

Thirlmere Roosters 60 d Campbelltown Collegians 6 at Bradbury Oval

Last placed Collegians got off to a perfect start with a try to Raka Poaru, but from then on it was all Thirlmere as the Roosters raced in 11 unanswered tries on the way to a comprehensive 60-6 victory.

Winger Josh Bryant finished with two tries and fullback Blake Harrison had a second half to remember, running in a hat-trick of his own.

Both sides are now done for the season. Thirlmere finished just one point shy of fifth place, while the struggling Collegians collected the wooden spoon.

Macarthur Conference Finals First Grade Week 1 – Sunday 21 August, Kirkham Park

Camden Rams (2nd) vs Campbelltown City Kangaroos (3rd)

Oakdale Workers (4th) vs Picton Magpies (5th)