Penrith District Rugby League: Full wrap and round 14 talking points

Every side remains in the finals race after round 14 of local Penrith footy. There’s consistency in try scorers, while one side has a leaky right edge. Don Feltis Cup talking points.

Cambridge Park are on track to book a spot in this season’s finals of the Don Feltis Cup. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

The scramble for postseason spots is on in earnest as local Penrith footy hits the home straight towards the finals.

Minchinbury’s unlikely late play continues, while there’s something brewing at St Clair.

Defensive woes and more, Don Feltis Cup round 14 talking points.

SKIPPER PARKED UP

Thomas Romer’s send off in round 13 against Glenmore Park saw the Emu Plains skipper outed for two weeks.

It means the busy middle will use the last round clash with St Marys to supercharge his finals preparations.

REPEAT PLAY

From the moment Jordan-Trae Cardona crashed through Brothers’ right edge defence, Cambridge Park didn’t let up.

In their must-win clash on the road, Aaron Mallet’s side kept directing traffic the same way. And it paid handsome dividends as they raced in another four down the same edge in the five tries to three victory.

Ahead of Sunday’s clash with Brothers, the Glenmore Park brains trust will be encouraged by what they’ve seen.

TyroneShelley has scored nine tries for Windsor. Picture Warren Gannon Photography

DUMMY-HALF SHARPSHOOTERS

With nine tries to date, Windsor veteran Tyrone Shelley has scored the most by a hooker this season.

But he’s not the only No.9 consistently troubling the scorers. Last weekend five others got across the stripe in what is fast becoming a dummy-half feeding frenzy.

Xavior Vaoliko Savesi struck the first blow for St Marys on Saturday night. Then on Sunday, Emu Plains’ Albert Mahe traded tries with Colyton’s Ben Bragg, while at Ched Towns Reserve, Bailey Nouredine and Bryson Demanuele slid across for customary four-pointers.

CAN THE JETS DO IT?

They lost their first seven games of the season, but if Minchinbury knock over Cambo and St Clair in the final two rounds they’re a smokey to play finals.

While there’s plenty of water to flow under the bridge and they need other results to go their way, it’s sure to make compulsive viewing.

Minchinbury’s defence continues to improve in the closing rounds. Picture Warren Gannon Photography

COMETS ON THE RISE

With third spot locked down for the majority of the season, St Clair have largely flown under the radar. Stacked with talent and a big pack, the Comets shape as a genuine premiership dark horse.

They only finished six shy of Windsor in mid-July, and fans will have a better gauge on their credentials following Sunday’s match-up with Emu Plains.

ROUND 15 (SUNDAY, AUGUST 4)

Cambridge Park v Minchinbury, Allsopp Patterson Oval

Glenmore Park v Brothers, Ched Towns Reserve

St Clair v Emu Plains, Peppertree Sporting Complex

St Marys v Windsor, St Marys Leagues Stadium

St Clair hooker Bryson Demanuele will be in action against Emu Plains in round 15. Picture Warren Gannon Photography

ROUND 14 WRAP

In the third last round before the finals, several sides raised the bar and did everything at their disposal to cement their place inside the top six.

Emu Plains set out to claim the minor premiership with a victory over Colyton, while St Clair headed to Glenmore Park in an effort to lockdown third spot.

Minchinbury kicked off the round with St Marys, and Cambridge Park looked to upset Brothers. Round 14 wrap.

PREMIERS PUSHED

Emu Plains have all but wrapped up the minor premiership with two rounds remaining following a narrow 20-18 win over a committed Colyton.

On a windy Sunday afternoon at Leonay Oval, the home side overcame an eight-point halftime deficit, scoring four tries to three in a contest where their defence was pushed to the limit.

Colyton’s Ben Bragg entered the clash in irresistible form, and the hooker made an immediate impact when he dashed over for a trademark try from dummy-half in the 12th minute.

Emu were quick to hit back when centre Greg Alderson opened up the Colts’ right edge, sending Isaac Thompson away. But it was Colyton’s half, and they hit the sheds up 12-4 when Onosai Tulitogise charged onto a well-timed Damon Finn pass down the right edge.

Emu Plains hooker Albert Mahe was hard to handle from dummy-half. Picture Warren Gannon Photography

With the wind at their backs, Emu Plains broke the contest open scoring three consecutive tries to Cameron Williams, Alex Myles and teenage hooker Albert Mahe. Colyton fullback Jesse Poulsen closed the gap with a consolation try in the 79th minute.

“We probably shouldn’t have won to be honest,” said Emu Plains coach Darren Bell.

“Colyton dominated possession and we defended with 12 on two occasions when Williams and Sam Cookson spent separate stints in the sin bin. From my count, Colyton had at least 10-15 six-again calls.

“Comps are won on defence, so we are really proud of the boys.”

LATE SEASON SURGE CONTINUES

Minchinbury’s late season surge continued on Saturday night as the Jets celebrated Ryan Jones’ 300th club game with an emphatic third straight victory against a struggling St Marys.

Jones had his fingerprints all over the 48-18 win, Minchinbury’s fourth of the season which brings them level with Saints in a share of 8th spot. But with one more victory than St Marys, who stumbled to a fifth straight loss, the Jets remain a chance to climb off the bottom of the ladder in the closing rounds.

Minchinbury struck in the second minute from a towering Jones bomb, and doubled the lead to 12-0 when Temo Ledua Ralulu reached across six minutes later.

St Marys reset and levelled with two quick tries, but it was the home side’s night. Fullback Royvirianthy Faimanifo continued his electric form, scoring the first of his two tries as Minchinbury took a 24-12 halftime lead.

Faimanifo grabbed his double with a scorching solo effort midway through the second half before Jones had the local fans in raptures.

Leading 36-18, the veteran halfback fooled the defence with a dummy and a step, then burrowed across before being swamped by teammates in a wild celebration.

With the eight tries to three victory, the giant killing Jets head to Cambridge Park next week where another two competition points could see leave them within touching distance of the finals.

Ryan Jones had a 300th club game to remember. Picture Warren Gannon Photography

CAMBO ON THE CUSP OF FINALS

Cambridge Park moved a step closer to finals action with a 24-16 upset over Brothers at Parker Street Reserve.

Desperate to maintain their hold on sixth spot, Cambo sent the fourth ranked Brothers packing for a second straight week and in the process built a handy three-point cushion clear of Glenmore Park in seventh spot.

Targeting the left edge, the visitors got away to a flyer with tries to backrower Jordan-Trae Cardona and winger Sean Pokia. Towering five-eighth Marlii Sini bustled over for another, but Brothers hit back through centre Siaosi Huihui who bagged a classy first half double.

Up 16-10, Cambo jumped 14 clear straight after the interval. Having already had success on the left edge, centre Aisea Fainga’Anuku continued the trend with back-to-back tries out wide.

Brothers were unable to counter until the final minute when Brendan Randall crashed over in his 250th game for the club.

Sean Pokia scored a try in the first half for Cambridge Park. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

COMETS ACE THIRD

With a comfortable 38-18 win over Glenmore Park, St Clair have ensured the Comets can’t fall below third place on the Don Feltis Cup ladder.

The loss leaves the Brumbies plenty of work to do in the final two rounds, but all going well, their final round clash with Cambridge Park could decide who locks down the final spot inside the six.

Five tries were scored in a blistering opening 22 minutes, and when Kobe King raced away for his second St Clair hit the front 16-12.

It proved to be the turning point as the Comets applied the blowtorch, crossing for another two tries before halftime. Winger Liam Pearce dived over for the first of his two, and it was 26-12 when veteran fullback Rob Henderson crossed from a bomb in the 40th minute.

The Comets added another two in the second half, but the best came from Brumbies backrower Andrew Oughtred who backed up Josh Fraser to complete a long range effort under the posts.