Macarthur Rugby League: Collegians real deal, Rams low ball, round 13 wrap
The Camden Rams are still the side to beat, but the gap to the reigning premiers continues to narrow after another gripping round of local footy. Stars, standouts from R13.
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In a shortened round of local Macarthur footy, Camden and Oakdale slugged it out for the full 80 minutes at Kirkham, while Collegians and The Oaks also went toe-to-toe in a thriller.
Full wrap from all four matches.
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COLLIES HOLD ON
Campbelltown Collegians upped its finals credentials after grinding their way past The Oaks to lockdown outright second spot on the ladder after 13 rounds.
In a quality contest at Dudley Chesham, Collies were never headed before holding on 16-10, making it back-to-back victories over the Tigers following their six-point victory at Bradbury back in round two.
Five-eighth Adam Hoffmann struck the opening blow from a grubber kick, and the visitors held a slender 6-4 halftime advantage when Tigers winger Glassie Glassie made his first grade debut one to remember, finishing off out wide just before the break.
In a bruising contest, The Oaks spent large periods of the first half camped on their own line and did well to remain in the contest, especially after backrower Ragen Gilbert was assisted from the ground in the 30th minute following a nasty ankle injury.
But the floodgates opened immediately after the break when Tifa Iuta fired up on the left edge, powering across for a couple of trademark four-pointers to make it 16-4 with half an hour to play.
The Oaks closed to within six when Daniel Payne scrambled across, and they looked to draw level five minutes from fulltime, only to see the final pass to Mitchell Brasington ruled forward.
With the race for top-three spots heating up, halfback Tyrone Harding said it was a significant result for Collies who improved their record to 9-3 with four matches to play.
“This is the standard we wanted to set at the start of the season,” said Harding, whose astute kicking in the closing stages allowed Collies’ big pack to continually reset.
“The Oaks, Oakdale and Camden are the top teams, and we want to beat them. We want to tell the comp that we’re here and ready.
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“All credit to the Oaks. They played the whole 80 minutes and we just felt like we had to keep attacking them and wait for a mistake, and that’s how we got the points today.”
In a willing battle upfront, Harding praised his forwards and singled out a rising prop for special attention.
“Carson Lealuga-Puhotau directs our forwards,” he said. “He gets us moving, he’s only 19 but he directs our senior players too. He wants to put in for the whole 80 minutes but he works so hard we have to take him off, and that’s why we like Carson.”
Following their fifth defeat, The Oaks find themselves back in fourth spot on 16 points level with two teams, including sixth placed City.
RETRO REWIND
You’d be excused for thinking Camden hosted Oakdale in a time tunnel on Sunday, as the Rams held on to win their 12th consecutive match with an 80s-style scoreline of 6-0.
Furthermore, they only try of the day was scored by a prop, when Danny ran off skipper Brad Speechley just before halftime.
In a ding-dong battle upfront, both packs went hard at each other in an effort to dominate the ruck. One of Oakdale’s best opportunities to post points followed the sin binning of Rams second rower Brad Hopkins in the 15th minute, but it wasn’t to be as Camden held firm.
Chasing their 30th straight victory since going down in the 2023 grand final, Camden were forced to dig deep in the closing stages. Workers winger Jackson Blatch came close to scoring with five minutes to play, and shortly after, prop Francis Tuigamala almost barged over.
“It was a stop-start game with plenty of dropped ball,” said Speechley.
“Our defence was good. If we keep defending like that we will be tough to beat, but we can’t afford to be as ill disciplined moving forward.
“We were pretty much at full strength too. With me only just coming back, our combinations are still a bit rusty but should get better.”
With tough carries the order of the day, Fualalo delivered across the entire 80 minutes, while the Rams captain also noted a couple of other key contributions.
“John Martin played a full game at hooker, while on the wing, John Ryan did a power of work in our own end of the field.”
The win leaves Camden six-points clear at the top of the ladder. Oakdale are now outright third, two behind Collies.
ROOSTERS RULE ONSLOW
Thirlmere rounded out back-to-back wins with a commanding 44-8 victory over South West at Onslow Park.
With their finals run seemingly over, Thirlmere opened a 24-0 halftime lead in a win that squared the ledger with South West who came up trumps back in round two.
In a strong performance, Kye Madden led from the front with two early tries and the lock backed it up, playing a prominent role in several others.
Electric winger Marika Tuilau scored twice and revelled outside playmaker Tim Simona, who went on to score one of his own later in the match. Barry Ruttley continued his recent scoring spree, crossing twice and landing six conversions.
After trailing 44-0, the Goannas struck twice in the closing stages. Winger Noah Carberry-Beale cleaned up a kick before Greg Eastwood crossed with a short side raid from dummy half.
MAGPIES REMAIN ALIVE
Picton have kept their season alive after the Magpies held off a spirited East Campbelltown fightback, winning 32-26 at Victoria Park.
Needing a win to remain within touching distance of the top-five, Simon Woolford’s men appeared to have the result in hand after the break when Michael Lett backed up to score Picton’s fifth try to make it 30-10.
But when Tom Morrison sent Kea Stevenson over with 13 minutes remaining, the Eagles found their wings, and quickly added another two tries to close within four points with six minutes to play.
A penalty goal to Kobe Tooala in the final minute saw the home side to safety. With a try and six goals, the young winger’s contribution helped Picton secure its fifth win and edge to within two points of Mittagong and City in fifth and sixth spots.
On the other wing, Picton’s Riley Mitchell crossed twice, while for the Eagles, five-eighth Donovan Boney bagged a double.
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