Penrith District Rugby League: Magic goals and upsets, R12 talking points

Consistency is proving a challenge in the run to the finals. Once again players continue to risk suspension, as local Penrith footy gears up for a retro party. Round 12 talking points.

St Clair prop Josh Kalati was one of the Comtes’ best against Colyton. Picture Warren Gannon Photography

The upsets continued in local Penrith footy as the mad scramble for places heats up ahead of next month’s finals.

With the title race wide open Windsor proved it’s difficult reaching top gear in consecutive outings. There were match winning goals, awkward send offs and thoughts of a magic weekend on the horizon.

Here’s what’s making news after round 12.

TITLE RACE WIDE OPEN

Only a week ago the charge towards the Don Feltis Cup looked like a two horse race between Windsor and Emu Plains.

But after overpowering Emu Plains, the Wolves were unable to reach the same level of commitment as a desperate Glenmore Park.

With repeat performances required in the finals, there could be plenty of twists ahead.

DISCIPLINE, DISCIPLINE

Windsor’s Dallas Burns isn’t the first player to land in hot water with a touch judge this season.

The big forward’s send off sucked the life out of a Windsor comeback, and is another reminder of the importance of discipline in the run home.

Several key players have already been suspended for verbal sprays this season. As the saying goes, loose lips sink ships.

CameronWilliams bagged three in quick succession. Picture Warren Gannon Photography

GENUINE HAT-TRICK

Cameron Williams isn’t the first player to score a hat-trick this season, but it’s pretty rare that all three come in an uninterrupted sequence.

In Emu Plains’ 11-try rampage against the Jets, the No.7 bagged three straight between the 29th minute and the 45th.

CRUCIAL TWO

St Clair and Colyton both finished with four tries, but the Comets snuck home off the boot of Bryson Demanuele.

Three of the hooker’s four shots were from handy positions, but it was his first from near touch that made all the difference.

ALL ROADS TO LEONAY

Forget Brisbane, the real magic kicks off on Saturday at Leonay Oval.

In a Magic Round to savour, Panthers Juniors have cut no corners in an eight-match program that includes all under-19s and first grade fixtures on the one field, kicking off from 9:00am.

A women’s 9s competition has also been scheduled on an adjacent field. So with food trucks, rides, stalls and endless kids activities, it’s time to dust of your best retro gear and join the party.

High-five to Magic Round. Picture Warren Gannon Photography

BIG GAMES

Among Saturday’s festivities, there’s some quality match-ups.

Third placed St Clair has been cruising under the radar all season, and their clash with Windsor promises to be a beauty.

Fans will also be in a for a treat when Brothers and Colyton jostle for fourth place on the table.

ROUND 17, SATURDAY, LEONAY OVAL

St Clair v Windsor, 2:55pm

Glenmore Park v Minchinbury, 4:35pm

Colyton v Brothers, 6:20pm

Cambridge Park v Emu Plains, 7:55pm

Kohen Wright’s Colyton will meet Brothers in Magic Round. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

ROUND 12 WRAP

As the local Penrith footy competition nears the finals the results are becoming more unpredictable.

A week after downing the reigning premiers, Windsor didn’t have it all their own way against a resurgent Glenmore Park.

St Clair and Colyton went to the wire, while Emu Plains and Brothers put the foot down. Round 12 wrap.

BRUMBIES BOILOVER

Glenmore Park’s season is back on track after the Brumbies upset ladder leaders Windsor 28-18 in a thriller at Ched Towns Reserve.

Coming off an impressive performance against fellow heavyweights Emu Plains, Windsor were odds-on to sink a luckless Brumbies outfit who were languishing in seventh spot with just two wins.

But with two tries scored from Jarred Muller-Dobbe bombs, the Brumbies headed to the sheds with a 10-6 lead.

Windsor were missing the services of several regulars, but Dallas Burns made his presence felt until he was sent off on the hour with the Brumbies leading 14-12.

After delivering the final pass for Windsor’s first two four-pointers, the towering backrower was then ruled to have lost the ball over the line – only then to be sent off for alleged inappropriate language to a linesman.

Glenmore Park’s Jarred Muller-Dobbe troubled Windsor with his kick game. Picture Warren Gannon Photography

It was the second consecutive week the big man was marched, only this time the Wolves finished on the wrong end of the scoreline.

Centre Kailub Smith spun out of several tackles to extend the margin to eight. Windsor made a game of it in the final five minutes when Alomax Siitia went over. But Brumbies speedster Noah Smith made it a victory to remember when he dived under the posts in the final minute.

Now one point outside the top-six and with players returning from injury, coach Shawn Stevens can sense a shift in the Brumbies’ fortunes.

“To be honest, we didn’t play much better, it’s just a close comp,” said Stevens.

“The last couple of weeks we’ve just forgotten what it takes to win. But the boys lifted against one of the top teams.

“We had a player sin binned too, so it was 12 on 12 towards the end.”

KING COMET SINKS COLTS

St Clair made it two from two against Colyton this season after Kobe King struck late to pinch a 24-22 victory at Doug Rennie Fields.

Eager to get back on the horse after last week’s loss to Brothers, the third placed Comets looked to have run out of options after failing to find the line for all but the final three minutes of the second half.

With Colyton holding a slender 22-18 lead for the majority of the final 30 minutes, it took a brilliant run from King to break their hearts after the backrower stepped through the line off his left foot before racing around to score the match winner under the posts.

Malakai Houia crossed twice for St Clair. Picture Warren Gannon Photography

In an absorbing contest, Dante Filipe-Otai looked to have done enough to put Colyton in the lead at halftime. The explosive centre crossed twice, but it was St Clair who led 18-16 when winger Liam Pearce found space down the right edge and kicked infield for halfback Malakai Houia to score a miraculous try just before the siren sounded.

While delighted to pick up two points, St Clair captain Tinirau Arona wasn’t overly happy with his side’s performance.

“It was an ugly game, both sides dropped plenty of ball in the wet,” said Arona.

“Colyton could have iced it at the end, but it was a nice try by Kobe when we needed it.

“Filipe-Otai and hooker Ben Bragg were excellent for Colyton. For us, I thought prop Josh Kalati was a stand out off the bench in his return from injury, while Houia controlled the big moments and was also good in defence.”

TWO DISMISSED IN FEISTY CLASH

Brothers got the chocolates over St Marys 44-12, but there was no love lost in a feisty encounter that saw a myriad of send offs and sin bins.

Brothers centre Patrik Calicetto had an eventful afternoon as his side opened a 16-12 lead at halftime. The centre opened the scoring before being sin binned in the 18th minute, only to be sent off midway through the second half following a linesman’s report.

St Marys fullback Luke Butfield had already received his marching orders before the interval. It proved a hectic contest for the officials, who also used the sin bin on four occasions in an effort to restore order to a match that simmered for the best part of 80 minutes.

Zach Nuttall scored two of his sides eight tries as Brothers leapfrogged Colyton into fourth spot.

Kaleb Farr and Jacob Gardiner crossed for the Saints who sit in eighth spot, three away from Cambridge Park in sixth.

Isaac Thompson scored four tries for Emu Plains. Picture Warren Gannon Photography

EMU BACK ON TOP

A week after losing top spot Emu Plains have rebounded in style, downing Minchinbury 62-0 to finish round 12 back on top of the ladder.

Isaac Thompson needed a calculator to keep track of his own tally. In a massive individual haul of 34 points, the five-eighth scored four tries and slotted nine conversions.

Cam Williams almost kept pace with his halves partner, finishing the afternoon with a hat-trick of his own.