Macarthur Rugby League: Magpies survive, Thirlmere and Oakdale brace for top three shootout, round 13 wrap
A moment of brilliance has given Picton hope as the Macarthur Rugby League braces for Saturday’s thrilling top three shootout. Eight talking points from round 13 and 30+ photo gallery.
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After a shortened weekend of footy, here’s the Macarthur Rugby League round 13 talking points.
THIRLMERE SHOOTOUT COULD DECIDE TOP THREE
There will be no love lost when the Oakdale boys arrive in Thirlmere on Saturday evening. In what shapes as the match of the season, the winner could just about lock down a coveted top three spot.
Currently on a seven-game winning streak, the Workers have charged up the charts and now sit one point above Thirlmere in third place.
Thirlmere’s season has yet to find any rhythm, but with the vocal support of committed locals the Roosters will be tough to crack.
With the likes of Curtis Scott and Oakdale’s Nathan Davis leading a host of former NRL talent, it promises to be a battle to remember.
TIME TO GREEN THE JETS’ RUNWAY
They might only be 3 km apart but the condition of the turf is worlds away.
Brown and thirsty, Narellan’s dust bowl resembles western NSW in peak drought. While over the hill at Kirkham Park, there’s more than a healthy tinge of tropical paradise.
PAYNE-FUL RETURN
Tigers half Daniel Payne didn’t get the result he was after during his return to Victoria Park, but he still put on a show for the fans.
Trailing 12-0, the former Magpie busted the line before delivering a miraculous right-arm pass to get The Oaks within striking distance. Quickly back on his feet, the playmaker was there for the next play, assisting Challis Tupuola across the stripe with a sneaky ball around the back of a committed defender.
TRY OF THE WEEK
With their season in free fall, Picton needed something special midway through the second half last week. The Oaks had just surged to a 14-12 lead and looked like going on with the job.
Their dream arrived in the form of a Jarrod Brackenhofer midfield chip kick. In an extension of his rich vein of form, Steven Dengate arrived first, steaming onto the bounce before turning the ball inside to James Tautaiolefua.
From the moment the runaway five-eighth took possession the Magpies never looked back.
NARELLAN RESSIES FEEL THE BURN
They started the season on the end of some frightful hidings, but Narellan’s improvement in reserve grade paralleled the first grade team’s about-face.
Down on numbers last Sunday, the Jets were rolled 86-0 by Thirlmere. With South West forfeiting their last four matches, hopefully Narellan can restock and finish the season.
BRASINGTON BROTHERS REUNITE
Like most teams this season The Oaks have had their fare share of injuries. But it was still a surprise to see Matthew Brassington back in action against Picton.
According to Tigers captain-coach Mitchell, his brother hasn’t played for three seasons but is keen to re-find his legs and see out the rest of the season.
Playing on the left edge, the towering centre showed glimpses of class and finished with one try assist.
RAMMER POINTS KING
Veteran Camden five-eighth Christopher Browne continues to revel in the absence of regular No.6 Jackson Willis. His 22-point haul against South West was the fourth time he’s cracked 20 or more in a match this season.
Remarkably, in just seven appearances the super-boot is the second highest point scorer in the competition with 120 at an average of 17.1 per game.
CAN COLLIES REBOUND?
In their last start Collies blew a golden opportunity against Narellan to move into a share of fifth spot. This week they face a struggling City, where once again, a victory could see them draw level with the Eagles in fifth.
After a cracking start to the year, a loss on Sunday could end their finals charge. It promises to be a beauty at Bradbury Oval this Sunday.
ROUND 14 DRAW
Thirlmere v Oakdale at Thirlmere Sports Ground (Saturday 6:30pm)
Campbelltown Collegians v Campbelltown City at Bradbury Oval
Narellan v Mittagong at Narellan Sports Ground
South West v The Oaks at Onslow Oval
East Campbelltown v Picton at Waminda Oval
Bye: Camden
PHOTO GALLERY
FIRST GRADE
RESERVE GRADE
ROUND 13 WRAP
Picton’s season look done and dusted just over a fortnight ago. Now with club legend Gary Dowse back in charge, the rejuvenated Magpies have won two straight to give their fans a glimmer of hope in the countdown to the finals.
The Magpies’ delight has left The Oaks lamenting back-to-back defeats after they slumped to seventh in what is now a four-way logjam for fifth spot.
In a shortened round of footy, here’s the latest from yesterday’s three venues in our round 13 wrap.
PICTON ALIVE AFTER STRONG FINISH
In a memorable day at Picton, the Magpies ushered in the club’s new Victoria Park scoreboard in perfect style with a come from behind 26-14 upset of The Oaks.
Needing a win to back up last week’s return to form, the victory keeps the Magpies’ slim finals hopes alive.
Last week Steven Dengate crossed twice against City and the workaholic backrower only needed 10 minutes to repeat the dose against a sluggish Tigers.
Down 12-0 and used to chasing their tail after a slow start, the Tigers rebounded with two of their own to Challis Tupuola. Former Magpie Daniel Payne assisted with the first, before the edge forward combined with fill-in centre Michael Brasington for the second.
Having already slipped outside the top five, The Oaks were fighting to resurrect their own season. Down by two with 25 to play, Mitch Brasington fired a cut-out pass to Casey Timmer and the winger raced across to put the Tigers ahead 14-12.
In a show of renewed spirit, Picton then rebounded in spectacular style to regain the lead five minutes later. Steven Dengate raced onto a chip kick and turned the ball back inside for five-eighth James Tautaiolefua to do the rest.
Picton led by four with less than 10 minutes to play, and after keeping the Tigers at bay they wrapped up the result with another try, this time to winger Matthew Dengate.
“We may as well start with the opposition on 12 points and save people 10 minutes of their time,” said captain-coach Mitchell Brasington, lamenting another Tigers slow start.
“We hit back again and I thought we might go on with it, but they turned us away and when they got a chance they converted it to points.”
“We’ve got the Goannas next week and then the bye,” said Brasington.
“Hopefully we see a few players return from injury for the run towards the finals.”
THIRLMERE STRIKE IN SECOND-HALF BLITZ
Thirlmere stumbled early before steaming over the top of Narellan with five second half tries to round out a third straight win with a comfortable 42-6 victory.
Roosters winger Josh Bryant set the early pace. First strolling across from a Hayden Sutton long ball, then racing 85m against the run of play to open a 10-0 lead after as many minutes.
It remained that way until halftime. Narellan threatened to strike back with numerous attacking sets but were plagued by poor handling in the blustery conditions.
Kynan English closed the gap to four after the break, but the Narellan hooker’s effort was quickly countered by a Curtis Scott runaway try.
Narellan skipper Levi Dodd showed touches of class, but when the No.7 hobbled off with an injury Thirlmere pounced.
Scott completed a second half double and made it a day to remember when he provided the final pass for winger Waqasaqa Qiolevu to score. Vincent Leuluai had the final say of the day when the damaging prop charged through the heart of Narellan’s pack to cross in the closing minutes.
The win keeps Thirlmere in fourth place, but they can jump Oakdale into third with a victory over the Workers on home turf next Saturday night.
“We never really looked in any trouble, we just needed to fix our execution,” said Thirlmere coach Darren McLeod.
“Curtis Scott was strong, not just with the ball, I’m tipping a few of the Narellan boys will be feeling it this morning.
“But we’ll need to lift a gear next week. It’ll be a big game against Oakdale, there’s always a bit of rivalry.”
Roosters power forward Jacob Loko returned after a long absence, but it wasn’t all good news for Thirlmere according to McLeod.
“Tim Simona pulled out before kick off with sore ribs and centre Clive Haselhuhn did his knee again, it’s a real shame he's still only 21.”
RAMS UNTROUBLED IN KIRKHAM RAMPAGE
It was one way traffic at Kirkham Park as Camden added further misery to South West’s winless season with a 72-0 hiding.
First half doubles to winger Logan Matapuku and lock Ben Powers rocked the Goannas in a 40-0 first half.
Lively No.9 Penaia Leveleve looked dangerous at times for South West, but the Goannas simply had no answers in defence.
John Ryan crossed for three four-pointers to go with last week’s double, and his season tally has now rocketed to 10 tries.
Chris Browne had another day out for Camden. In the what was the Rams’ eighth straight win, the playmaker finished with 22 points of his own.
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