Penrith District Rugby League: Round 10 talking points, full wrap, 30+ gallery
A young Bear and Panther both made their marks in the top grade, while a couple of former lower graders are revelling under the bright lights. That and more, R10 talking points, 30+ gallery
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As team line-ups become highly variable from week-to-week, a couple of former reggies recruits are making the most of their opportunities.
When it comes to try scoring droughts, one Comet veteran is breaking new ground. Over at Colyton, the Colts have successfully turned to a couple of rising junior reps.
Penrith local footy, round 10 talking points.
VETERAN BREAKS DROUGHT
It’s been a long time between drinks for St Clair skipper Tinirau Arona, and he won’t forget the opening 40 minutes against St Marys in a hurry.
In a whirlwind first half the Comets posted 40 points and the veteran scored himself a hat-trick.
“It’s been a while, I’d say it's the first time since under-12s or 13s,” Arona said.
REGGIES RECRUITS MAKE THE GRADE
Less than 12 months ago Todd Hooper and Tyson Brown were happy guiding St Pats to the Div-3 title.
Now at the Comets, the pair are making their mark in the top grade.
“Toddy has been killing it in the halves,” said Tinirau Arona.
“Tyson is powerful upfront. He was throwing his body into the St Marys defence, and continually made the 20 metre line from each kick off.”
YOUNG REPS SHINE
Colyton were well served by a couple of young junior reps against Cambridge Park.
After playing key roles in the Colts’ under-19s victory, halfback Cameron Robertson and back-rower Jwakeem Hape-Va’a both finished with a try in first grade.
A Colyton junior, Robertson started the year with Penrith’s SG Ball side, while Hape-Va’a was in the Bears’ pack at North Sydney.
TURNING POINT
Resilience and goal line defence. Talk to any coach long enough, and these two topics are sure to come up.
It was a path Colyton coach Scott Thompson was happy to revisit following last week’s victory.
Down 6-4 midway through the first half, Colyton were under siege as Cambo threatened to crash through the front door with multiple sets in prime field position. The Colts held firm, and several minutes later hit the front with a try of their own.
SAINTS’ ROUGH RUN
As one of the clubs that act as a feeder to Sydney Shield and Ron Massey Cup, St Marys continually trot out different combinations in the Don Feltis Cup.
With just three wins, the Saints find themselves in seventh spot and needing a string of wins to kick start their season. Kye Eldridge is one player to bounce between the grades, but always adds value in the back-row or at centre.
GRAND FINAL REMATCH
Ladder leaders Emu Plains and Windsor are set to face off for the first time since last season’s grand final.
Rain washed away their proposed round one clash. Now all roads lead to Leonay Oval this Sunday as the reigning champs host the Wolves in the most eagerly anticipated match-up of the season.
ROUND 11 (SUNDAY, JUNE 30)
Cambridge Park v St Marys, Allsopp Patterson Oval
Glenmore Park v Colyton, Ched Towns Reserve
Emu Plains v Windsor, Leonay Oval
Brothers v St Clair, Parker Street Reserve
ROUND 10 WRAP
It was one way traffic in round 10 of local Penrith footy as the top four sides sent a clear message to the rest of the competition in the Don Feltis Cup.
All four matches were played under lights on Saturday with Emu Plains’ 24-point win over Brothers the closest contest of the evening.
With high scores the order of the round, several four-point specialists collected a bag, while at St Marys one veteran proved unstoppable from close range.
Round 10 wrap from around the grounds.
COLTS MID-SEASON REVIVAL CONTINUES
On a heavy track at Cec Blinkhorn, Colyton downed Cambridge Park 34-6 and moved into outright fourth place on the competition table.
Scoring seven tries to one, the Colts were untroubled after halftime and extended their mid-season revival to three wins from their past four starts.
Last week’s hat-trick hero Ben Bragg continued his golden run of form. The hooker sent Kohen Wright across for first points, then after Cambo returned serve through backrower Rhys Falconer, he followed up a Leo Tupe charge to give Colyton a 10-6 lead after 24 minutes.
In an even first half, Cambridge Park looked like heading to the sheds four points behind. But they had their hearts broken just before the siren sounded when Jwakeem Hape-Va’a pounced on a grubber for a ten-point advantage.
Colyton added another one straight after the break when winger Shaun Va’alepu came down with a pinpoint Jayden Murphy-Hinton bomb in the right corner.
The points continued to flow as James Ross found space late in the game. First, the centre broke clear along the left touchline to send Cameron Robertson away. Then as Cambo struggled with a player in the sin bin, he finished off another before Keegan McGrann rounded out the night with the final try of the evening.
“It was a tough game, it was close heading to halftime,” Colyton coach Scott Thompson said.
“The boys are taking ownership now. Our kicking game was a nine out of 10 and we defended our line for four straight sets at one point.
“Leo was outstanding, he continually bent the line and after he came on we scored three tries.”
SIN BIN SINKS BROTHERS
Daniel Warren had another night out on Emu Plains’ left edge. Running hot in the 30-6 win over Brothers, the winger notched four tries as the Emu boys charged to an unbeaten eighth straight victory.
With a season best haul, Warren has surged five clear at the top of the try scoring list with 14. Isaac Thompson and centre Greg Alderson were just as damaging, and ripped apart the Brothers right edge defence all night.
Alderson had a hand in one of Sam Cookson’s two four-pointers and crossed for one of his own as Emu overcame a slow start to hit the sheds with a commanding 18-0 lead.
Brothers matched the reigning premiers early, but their night unravelled midway through the opening half when their hooker was sent to the sin bin.
From there, Emu Plains made their move. They struck twice with the one-man advantage, then quickly added another couple in the minutes before the break.
Winger Aaron Morris put Brothers on the scoreboard in the 71st minute.
COMETS SKIPPER STRIKES
With a comprehensive 58-18 victory over St Marys, St Clair raised their hand as a premiership contender after 10 rounds of the Don Feltis Cup.
The third placed Comets blew the contest apart in spectacular style, scoring seven unanswered first half tries to lead 40-0.
Once again, new five-eighth Todd Hooper lit up the Comets’ right edge. Backing up last week’s cracking debut, the No.19 finished with three tries and two assists. But in a contest that returned 13 tries, the night belonged to Tinirau Arona.
Guiding the ship from the middle of the park, St Clair’s favourite son had a match to remember. In a dazzling 17-minute period before halftime, the former NRL star crashed his way over the stripe on three occasions.
Veteran St Clair fullback Robert Henderson snared two of his side’s 10 tries. While for St Marys, they were best served by centre Kye Eldridge and fullback Xavior Vaoliko Savesi who both finished with second half tries along the right edge.
WOLVES BEAT THE CLOCK
When it rains, it pours.
After a scoreless opening 26 minutes, there was lots to like about an undermanned Minchinbury’s opening against the second placed Wolves. But when scheming hooker Tyrone Shelley struck the opening blow, the floodgates opened.
By halftime Windsor had crossed for another four tries and jumped to a 30-0 lead. The Jets scored from an intercept after the break, but Windsor added another six and would have posted more if the game wasn’t called off under the mercy rule with 10 minutes still to play.
In all, Windsor had nine different try scorers. Centre Riki Willie crossed for a hat-trick, while Tori Willie kicked a faultless 11 goals from 11 attempts.
The 66-6 rout was Windsor’s eighth win of the year. Although next week promises to be closer when they travel to Emu Plains for the eagerly awaited top of the table clash.
“It was really wet and we made far too many errors at the start,” Windsor coach Troy Dargin said.
“We couldn’t get out of our own end. But once we did, the boys found their rhythm.
“Tori was one of our best, just his ability to control the game and his defence was spot on too.”
PHOTO GALLERY
First Grade: Brothers v Emu Plains
Reserve Grade: Brothers v Emu Plains
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