Penrith District Rugby League: Magic Round talking points, 80+ gallery
Relive all the drama and colour from Penrith District Rugby League’s inaugural Magic Round at Leonay Oval last Saturday. Talking points, 80+ GALLERY.
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With fans already counting down the days until next year’s version of Magic Round, we relive some of the spectacular and more memorable moments from last Saturday’s inaugural event.
From an unexpected debut, to match winning theatrics there was plenty happening on the field. Off the park was just as busy too, Magic Round talking points.
Plus, 80+ gallery from across the entire event.
THE WIZARD
He’s the Brothers playmaker with the hyphenated name but there’s every chance teammates are now calling Harrison Reid-Porter, “The Wizard”.
And why not? With Penrith premiership hero Nathan Cleary watching on from behind the posts, the 22-year-old lifted his side to an extraordinary two-point victory after the final siren.
“I was running drifter all day on the outside, then I told my second-rower I’m kicking it behind for him,” said Reid-Porter following his match-winning double strike against Colyton.
“But as soon as he got checked, I just followed through and got a lucky bounce. Then for some reason they put me as goal kicker, I’m still shocked.”
MAGIC DAY TO REMEMBER
When rising Emu Plains winger Jack Babbage arrived at Magic Round, he expected to be back home in time for lunch. That was until first grade coach Darren Bell handed him his A-grade debut.
“I came down at 9am to watch the other teams in the under-19s comp before kicking off my own game at midday against Cambridge Park,” said the 18-year-old.
“We got the win and I was lucky enough to get a try and four goals. Then I got the first grade call up. I stayed here all day and didn’t even get to shower before the A-grade game.”
With six hours to kill before hitting the big stage, Jack calmly watched the evening games unfold.
“I didn’t really get nervous, I just wanted to play my role,” he said before reliving the elation of his first half try.
“The fullback came across. I had to bump him off, I was pretty pumped afterwards with all the fans in the corner supporting Emu.”
SELLING LIKE HOT CAKES
One of the many nice touches on Saturday was the throwback to football designs from the 80s.
Brown and white hoops were the order of the day, and it didn’t take fans long to deplete the stocks on sale from the event’s most popular stall.
CLOSE CALLS
With little separating the sides in the race to the finals, the ability to close out matches is having a major impact on the ladder.
Currently in fourth spot, two of Brothers’ seven victories have followed post siren heroics. Colyton are three points behind in fourth, but with three two-point losses and a draw, the Colts could well have been in contention for third place.
DANGEROUS COMETS
St Clair didn’t get the win over Windsor but they showed more than enough to suggest they’ll be a handful in the finals.
Halfback Malakai Houia continued his outstanding season. In an electric first half, the Comets playmaker got the better of his more experienced opponents with two try assists and was a constant threat all game.
ROUND 13, SATURDAY, JULY 20
Emu Plains v Glenmore Park, Leonay Oval
Colyton v St Marys, Cec Blinkhorn Oval
Windsor v Cambridge Park, Windsor Sporting Complex
Brothers v Minchinbury, Parker Street Reserve
MAGIC ROUND WRAP
Penrith District Rugby League went full retro on Saturday in a Magic Round extravaganza that mixed footy and a range of activities for all ages at Leonay Oval.
On the park, Windsor kicked off the first of four Don Feltis Cup matches against St Clair. Then behind a setting sun, Glenmore Park tackled Minchinbury before Colyton met Brothers and Cambridge Park closed out the evening with Emu Plains.
Full wrap of round 17.
FINAL MINUTE THRILLER
With Brothers needing a last play miracle Harrison Reid-Porter brought the wizardry to Magic Round, sinking Colyton in the final minute with a solo try and match winning conversion.
On a heavy track, Colyton looked to have done enough immediately after hallftime when Sai Tulitogise and five-eighth Damon Finn broke a 6-all deadlock with back-to-back tries.
Long striding centre Siaosi Huihui narrowed the gap to four with 25 minutes to play, but the points dried up and the Colts seemed certain to hang on until Reid-Porter put boot to ball in the 80th minute.
After threading a grubber through the line, the 22-year-old five-eighth stepped on the gas and managed to ground the ball inches from the dead-ball line. Then with the scores locked, the No.6 settled and kicked Brothers to an unlikely 18-16 victory.
“We were pretty confident that if we just stayed with them, then we could catch them in the end,” said relieved Brothers coach Damien Lane.
“I’m just so proud of the boys. We used 15 players and just six interchanges over the 80 minutes and still managed to come home stronger.”
With seven wins in the bank and sitting one win shy of third place, Lane praised his matching winning star.
“Harrison has done a job for us at No.9 or 14 for a long time, and he had a go at No.6 last year so I knew he could do the job.
“When we lost our regular five-eighth Nathan Jones earlier in the season he slotted in well. And that’s the beauty of where we are at, if someone is missing there’s always a capable backup.”
Pressed on the concept of Magic Round, Lane suspects it could well be the tip of the iceberg.
“Full kudos to Penrith Junior Rugby League for coming up with the concept and just giving it a go. I think it’s going to be very successful for them and bring this competition to a whole new stature going forward.”
WOLVES COMEBACK
Windsor defeated St Clair 20-14 in the early game, but it was no ordinary game of footy in a clash that unfolded across two separate fields following a first half injury to a Comets player.
St Clair halfback Malakai Houia had the ball on a string early as the Comets struck three times to lead 14-0 after 18 minutes. Showcasing his skills on either side of the ruck, first the No.7 put Chas Riddle across in the right corner, before switching to the left for Liam Pearce to cross out wide.
When prop Jordan Kalatai barged over, Windsor looked head for consecutive defeats until Riki Willie opened Windsor’s account in the 24th minute.
With medical assistance required in the 33rd minute, the game was transferred to an adjacent field.
With the change of scenery, Windsor immediately clicked into gear and posted three second half tries in the space of 12 minutes to open a 20-14 lead.
As is often the case, Tori Willie had his fingers all over Windsor’s comeback. The fullback played his part in tries to Connor Mason and Riki’s second before prop Eton Lindsay did it all himself through centrefield.
The scoring dried up with just under 20 to play. St Clair were denied a try in the right corner and their hopes folded when Paul King was sent off in the 70th minute.
Despite the result, St Clair still remain in third place on the table, four points behind the Wolves in second place.
EMU HOT TO TROT
Emu Plains closed out the evening in style as the premiers put 11 unanswered tries past Cambridge Park.
For the second straight week Emu Plains cruised to a 62-0 victory after withstanding the early advances of a fired up Cambo.
Sam Cookson popped the cork in the 11th minute, and the points kept flowing in a first half that yielded 28 points including a try on debut to teenage winger Jack Babbage.
Fullback Jake Bentley struck twice after the break, but it was Isaac Thompson whole stole the show. Following two tries before the break, the playmaker notched his hat-trick in the dying stages to round out a personal haul of 30 points.
“We are very happy with the win and the effort put in by everyone,” said Emu Plains coach Darren Bell.
“Cambridge Park were physical early and our aim was to weather the storm over the opening 20 minutes. We dropped the ball a couple of times, but once again our defence was strong and then the playmakers took their chances.”
JETS SCORE SECOND WIN
Minchinbury picked up its second win of the season after downing Glenmore Park 30-20.
Coming off a season defining victory over Windsor, the loss is a massive blow to the seventh ranked Brumbies who looked on track for a late season resurgence.
Following heavy defeats to Windsor and Emu Plains, the Jets’ hopes of climbing off the bottom of the ladder grew legs in the 41st minute when winger Royvirianthy Faimanifo scorched 80 metres to open a 12-10 lead.
Fullback Jacob Kelly put Glenmore Park back in front on the hour, but it wasn’t enough against a confident Jets who posted the final three tries including another to Faimanifo.
With the victory, Minchinbury remain in last spot, but the Jets are just two points behind St Marys.
PHOTO GALLERY
Don Feltis Cup
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