Penrith District Rugby League: Big boppers sound the alarm, round two wrap, talking points

It was a weekend for the big dogs and rising stars as play finally got underway in the Penrith District RL. See how it unfolded and what is making news with our round two talking points.

Emu Plains first grade centre Geofery Duku played his part in round two of the Penrith and District Junior Rugby League season. Picture: Steve Montgomery

Local Penrith footy finally got underway after rain washed away any chance of play in round one, and with plenty of fans in attendance, there was plenty of reasons to cheer.

With round two done and dusted, here’s what is making news.

BOPPERS PARKED UP

Rolling through the middle wasn’t a problem for Emu Plains last week against Brothers. But in a warning shot to the rest of the competition, they did it minus a couple of big guns.

With a week-three bye, coach Darren Bell decided to give skipper Tom Romer and regular prop Brendan Hunter an extra week to shake a few niggles.

UNDERDONE INTERNATIONAL

Still on the Emu boys. Backrower Alex Myles was at his destructive best in the absence of several regulars.

Despite only 20 minutes of action in the trials, the Italian international is only going to get better after his power packed opening at Leonay Oval. A damaging unit with a sharp turn of speed, Myles was at times unstoppable.

PATHWAY TO NEXT LEVEL

For a young player chasing higher honours, Colyton’s Jenson Tuaoi turned a few more heads with his top grade debut. Playing off the bench, the teenage hooker was instrumental in the Colts’ second half resurgence.

Already on the Panthers’ radar, coach Scott Thompson said the rising No.9 wouldn’t be out of place in Penrith’s under-21 Jersey Flegg side.

LEADER OF THE PACK

Among a host of eye catching performances in round two, there was none more destructive than Dallas Burns.

As far as man mountains go, the Windsor prop is A-grade’s version of Mt Everest. Scattered the Minchinbury defenders like 10-pins, and is definitely one to watch this week against Brothers.

PLAY THE WHISTLE

It’s a common saying, but you can bet St Clair coach Ayden Pittman-Lyon has reminded his players the values of playing to the whistle.

Leading 12-10, the Comets lost their advantage after being caught on their heels just after the break. When a dubious St Marys pass hit the deck on halfway, the St Clair defenders paused, while winger Xavior Vaoliko Savesi pounced and raced away to score.

BIG DOG

It’s little wonder St Clair trumpeted the signing of Josh Kalati from Canterbury.

In a barnstorming round one performance, the workaholic prop never gave the St Marys pack an inch. Showed his strength to kick start the Comets’ comeback, forcing his way through several tackles to plant the ball under the posts.

WEEK THREE (Saturday, 20 APRIL)

Colyton v Minchinbury, Cec Blinkhorn Oval, 6:20pm

St Clair v Cambridge Park, Peppertree Sporting Complex, 6:30pm

Brothers v Windsor, Parker St Reserve, 7:00pm

St Marys v Glenmore Park, The Kingsway, 7:00pm

Geofery Duku celebrated the season opener with a try for Emu Plains. Picture: Steve Montgomery

ROUND TWO WRAP

After rain washed away the opening week of the season, it was all systems go in round two of Penrith local footy.

Under clear skies, Cambridge Park and St Clair hosted thrillers, while last season’s grand finalists Emu Plains and Windsor both flexed their muscles with impressive performances.

Here is how all the weekend action played out. Round two wrap.

COLYTON CRUELLED BY WOODWORK

A rogue upright was all that stood between Colyton and Cambridge Park in a 26-all thriller at Allsopp Patterson Oval.

In a high-octane contest that included five lead changes, Colyton looked like striking late until James Stonestreet’s final minute penalty attempt crashed into the post and rebounded back into the field of play.

In a touch of irony, Cambridge Park scored six tries to five but could only land one conversion.

Winger Jack Mallet struck the first blow for Cambridge, before Josh Ross sent brother James over to level the scores midway through the first half.

Cambridge Park slowly began to get on top, and headed to the sheds leading 12-4 when five-eighth Marli Sini crossed for their third.

Colyton hit the ground running with the change ends and crossed first through bustling winger Keegan McGrann. And they hit the front in the 50th minute when replacement hooker Jenson Tuaoi sent fullback Jesse Poulsen away with a magic pass.

James Ross was one of Colyton’s best. Picture: Colyton RL

Backing up from the under-19s, Tuaoi then celebrated his top grade debut with a burrowing effort of his own to put the Colts four points clear.

In a shootout of the No.9s, Jacob Swann-Knight set up the next two tries as the home side surged to a 26-20 lead, before a converted try to winger Dante Filipe-Otai

level the scores in the 70th minute.

Following the epic contest, Colyton coach Scott Thompson said he thought Stonestreet had kicked the match winner.

“We were on a roll and received a penalty when one of our players was held down,” said Thompson.

“It was about 35m out and seven meters in from touch. James hit it sweet, height was never an issue and it looked like going over for all money.”

Despite the draw, Thompson was satisfied with Colyton’s first hit out of the season.

“The first half was rusty, but we started to work through the gears after the break and Tuaoi played a big part in that,” said Thompson.

“James Ross and Poulsen were also among our best. Josh Ross came off after a hit to the mouth in the second half, he lost the crown in a tooth but should be okay.”

BROTHERS BLOWOUT

A Sam Cookson hat-trick has helped Emu Plains open their season account with a comfortable 48-4 win over Brothers.

It was one way traffic from the outset as the reigning premiers raced in five unanswered first half tries to lead 26-0.

Cookson dived on a dropped ball for the easiest of tries in the 13th minute, and they quickly had another when fellow backrower Greg Alderson jogged onto a fumbled bomb to plant the ball under the sticks.

Alex Myles was a powerhouse through the middle, and new playmaker Isaac Thompson showed his class with a diagonal run to cross out wide. Centre Geofery Duku crossed for his first of the season, before Cookson cruised through centrefield for his second on the stroke of halftime.

On a tough afternoon for Brothers, after conceding another four tries they eventually got one back when Narrabri recruit Kaylan Murray crashed over in the dying minutes.

WOLVES LEAD THE PACK

Windsor had a day out at Federation Forest as the Wolves made short work of Minchinbury 60-10.

Last season’s grand finalist’s wasted no time firing up their campaign, posting 11 tries in a rampaging performance that included doubles to winger Viliami Fonokalafi and centre Luke McDonald.

The towering figure of Dallas Burns will live long in the Jets’ memory bank. After Fonokalafi opened the scoring in the third minute, the giant prop thundered into the back field from the restart to send Connor Mason away under the posts.

He didn’t need any help shortly after, scattering a handful of defenders on the way to planting the ball under the back dot.

Minchinbury eventually had some joy nearing halftime through winger Marika Bale, who crossed from a well constructed shift in the right corner.

After trailing 40-4 at the break, Minchinbury managed to restrict the flow of points and posted their second through prop Tuafale Aiomalaga.

Luke McDonald bagged a double for Windsor. Picture: Steve Montgomery

COMETS HANG ON

In another thriller, St Clair held off a fast finishing St Marys 30-26 at Peppertree Sporting Complex.

After an ugly opening where both sides shook away early season rust, it looked like the Comets would go on with it.

Halfback Malakai Houia sent backrower Kobe King through a yawning gap, and when hooker Bryson Demanuele dived over from dummy-half it was 12-0 after 24 minutes.

But when Tyrees Feaunati swooped on a loose ball in the next set and raced 60m, the momentum was with St Marys. Kye Eldridge busted the line five minutes later, and the backrower outpaced the cover to make it 12-10.

Tries were traded after the break before St Clair literally kicked again to take a commanding 30-16 advantage. Winger Liam Pearce showed great pace to ground a perfectly weighted kick in the left corner, then Demanuele doubled down to score from a fumbled bomb.

St Marys finished the stronger adding the final two tries. But on an afternoon where each side crossed five times, it was Leha Fakatava’s goal kicking that proved the difference.