Penrith District Rugby League: Round six talking points, full wrap, gallery
Last week it was torrential rain, while this week a fullback lost his way in the setting sun. From mongrel punts to wrecking balls, local Penrith RL had it all. Round six talking points.
Local Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
They say luck's a fortune, and there were a host of players who found themselves in the right spot during the most recent round of Penrith District Rugby League.
One fullback was almost blinded by the sun, while another sunk the opposition with a tricky bounce.
Here’s what’s making news after round six.
ATTRACTED TO THE SUN
Emu Plains fullback Nicholas Hancock wasted no time taking his opportunity last Sunday. Filling the boots of regular No.1 Jake Bentley, the C-grader ran the length of the field to score with his first touch.
It wasn’t all plain sailing though. After breaking clear and with the setting sun obstructing his view, there were concerns the young flyer might overrun the try line.
OUT OF SERVICE
Still on Emu Plains, there’s talk wingers Lachlan Mason and Daniel Warren had plenty to say following the win over St Clair.
Used to dealing in hat-tricks, the pair were glaring omissions from the team’s lengthy list of try scorers after classy playmaker Isaac Thompson opted to go solo, scoring three of his own.
BAUMANN BATTLE
The battle between Glenmore Park’s David Baumann and Brothers was one of the highlights of the round.
Coming of a three-try last start, the towering backrower was well contained in the first half by swarming defence. After the break, he assisted Kailub Smith across the line with a lovely short ball, and then burrowed over to extend the Brumbies’ lead.
KNOW IT’S COMING
There’s little doubt that Minchinbury wrecking ball Tuafale Aiomalaga features at the top of every coaches tip sheet.
But his transparent pet play one off the ruck is almost unstoppable. Parked on the Jets’ left, he’s usually bankable for a couple of tries.
FRONT RUNNERS
Following six rounds, Windsor and Emu Plains are flying at the top of the ladder as the only unbeaten sides.
It’s still early in the season, but at this stage they both seemed destined to meet in the decider. Several teams have been able to match them for extended periods before being overrun by superior fitness and class.
Still, with injuries restricting the run of a number of teams, there’s still plenty to play out.
GOLDEN TOUCH
Brothers’ saviour Liam Aarons not only scored the match winner at Parker St, everything he touched in a whirlwind second half turned to gold.
Down 28-18 with eight minutes to play, the supersub playmaker edged Brothers a step closer with what was best described as a mongrel punt.
Landing in no man's land, the ball bounced perfectly for oncoming centre Zach Wright, who steadied, before sending Isaac Bartolo on a run to the right corner.
ROUND SEVEN (SUNDAY, MAY 26)
Emu Plains v St Marys, Leonay Oval
Windsor v Colyton, Windsor Sporting Complex
Glenmore Park v Cambridge Park, Ched Towns Reserve
St Clair v Minchinbury, Peppertree Sporting Complex
ROUND SIX WRAP
With the torrential rains in the rear-view mirror, the sunshine combined with fast tracks brought out the best of the Penrith District Rugby League.
In arguably the match of the season, Brothers and Glenmore Park turned on a contest for the ages that wasn’t decided until after the final siren. Elsewhere, there were plenty of points and great individual performances as the top sides continued to dominate.
Don Feltis Cup, round six wrap.
BROTHERS STAGE STUNNING COMEBACK
Brothers have staged a massive second half comeback to down Glenmore Park, pinching the match after the final siren with a try to replacement playmaker Liam Aarons.
Following an even first half at Parker Street, Brothers held a slender two-point advantage before the Brumbies slapped on three quick tries to lead 28-12 on the hour.
Even with eight minutes to play, Glenmore Park led the end-to-end contest by 10. But the momentum shifted the home side’s way when winger Isaac Bartolo latched onto a wayward clearing kick, and won the race to score in the right corner.
Trailing by six, Nathan Jones then lifted his teammates with a stunning sideline conversion.
A Brumbies error in the final minute was all Brothers needed. And after an attacking scrum, the ball finally landed in the hands of replacement five-eighth Aarons, and the former Rabbitohs pathways rep did the rest, stepping off his right foot before diving over to level the scores.
Jones’ final conversion, kicked from close range, ultimately proved the difference in a five-try apiece epic.
For Aarons, it was all in a day's work for the regular backrower and Sydney Shield hopeful.
“It was the last play, and as a half you have to step up in those moments,” said Aarons, who started his junior footy at St Clair.
“I just wanted to do my job for the team. Thankfully I didn’t have to do too much, there was a bit of room and I basically just dived over.”
Powerful backrower David Baumann was immense on the Brumbies’ left edge. On the other side of the field, centre Kenneth Koro took a power of stopping and scored the try that put the Brumbies 16 clear.
Despite the magnitude of the deficit, Aarons suspected the tide might change.
“We fell asleep in the first 20 minutes of the second half, but the boys just worked hard and we eventually got back over them,” said Aarons.
“We knew it was coming. It happened in the back end of the first half then we started rolling forward, so we knew there would be another chance.”
Thrilled with his side’s attitude and belief, Brothers coach Damien Lane delivered high praise to his pack.
“I thought Aarons was very good for us, and Trent Barton-Shaw at No.9 too.” said Lane following his team’s third straight win.
“Definitely our front row. I only had three in the rotation today, so they all played 60-65 minutes each. And I thought prop Dylan Hodson was really good for us in the last 20 minutes.
THOMPSON HAT-TRICK
After an even opening, Emu Plains have clicked into gear to overrun an undermanned St Clair 50-18 at Leonay Oval.
Once again, Isaac Thompson was the star. The classy recruit continues to get better by the week. In addition to setting up several four-pointers, the No.6 crossed for three of his side’s nine tries as Emu Plains extended it’s unbeaten run to five games.
Minus big guns Tinirau Arona and Josh Kalati, St Clair stuck solid for 50 minutes before the home side gained the upper hand, scoring the final four tries of the match.
In a dream start, Emu Plains replacement fullback Nicholas Hancock raced a kick return the length of the field to open the scoring in the second minute. St Clair quickly countered through winger Chas Riddle, who gathered a pinpoint Bryson Demanuele cross field kick.
Forward Sam Cookson crossed twice for Emu Plains, while Lithgow prop Ryan Jervis added plenty of punch through the middle.
“It was a great result for us,” said Emu Plains coach Darren Bell.
“We don’t want to get too carried away because St Clair were missing some key middles. But we had a quite a few in bed all week with the flu, and they were a bit underdone.
“I thought Isaac’s second half was excellent, while Jervis picked up the players’ player award.”
CAMBRIDGE PARK HOLD OFF JETS
Cambridge Park were given a big fright before recording their first victory of the season, overcoming Minchinbury 38-22.
Following several near misses, Cambridge Park headed to Federation Forest as clear favourites, but were pushed all the way by a vastly improved Jets outfit who trailed 22-18 at halftime.
Cambridge Park made the early running with two quick tries, but only led by four when Tuafale Aiomalaga barged over for his second just before the break.
Mason Campbell and Minchinbury’s Christian Sandoval exchanged tries after the interval, but the game was still in the balance with 15 minutes to play.
Kobi Collins then blew the contest open with his second, before dependable backrower Henry Tuiafiso put Lachlan Crossley over for the last of the day.
WINDSOR GO SIX STRAIGHT
Ladder leaders Windsor continued their unbeaten start to the season, scoring seven tries to down St Marys 36-12 at home.
In a tough first half, St Marys matched the heavyweight Wolves. Both sides scored twice, but Windsor held a 12-8 advantage after both Dallas Burns tries were scored adjacent to the posts.
No strangers to regaining the momentum with a scoring blitz, Windsor powered to a sixth straight win with four unanswered tries in the 20 minutes following the restart.
Marley Hunter crossed first, before clever No.7 Cohen Benson put Tori Willie over and then raced over from an Aidan Ryan offload.
Tyrone Glassie and Malakai Malaki showed touches of class for St Marys, and winger Joshua Baravilala finished with a double.
PHOTO GALLERY
First Grade: Brothers v Glenmore Park
More Coverage
Rugby match played more than a decade ago still inspiring Waratah young gun
He was just a kid but Teddy Wilson remembers in detail a special Waratahs game played 11 year ago. Now he’s hoping to be part of one that inspires other young fans to love rugby the way he does.
Read more
NSWRL Junior Reps: Power ranking all 18 clubs heading into the weekend
Coming into the fourth round of the NSWRL Junior Reps, we deliver our power rankings of where your club is placed and how they’re travelling heading into the weekend.
Read more