Penrith District Rugby League: Don Feltis Cup, round 10 talking points
In ominous signs for his opponents, a Windsor favourite is nearing top form. Elsewhere, a couple of big names have returned, while one is taking another comp by storm. TALKING POINTS
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In ominous signs for the rest of the competition, a Windsor favourite is nearing top form. Elsewhere, a couple of big names have returned, while one has taken another comp by storm.
Don Feltis Cup, round 10 talking points.
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WEIGHT-FOR-AGE JUNIOR COMP KICKS OFFS
COLT RETURNS HOME
Just beyond the midpoint of the season, injuries have left a hole at most clubs. Colyton is no different and with the likes of Les Kini, Harrison Reid Porter and Keegan McGrann watching on, the Colts struggled to keep pace with Windsor last Sunday.
In better news, backrower Andrew Aiono stepped out in Colyton colours after making a successful transfer from Macarthur club, South West Goannas.
While this week, flying winger Shaun Va’alepu is expected to make his return against St Clair. A crowd favourite at Colyton last season, Va’alepu joined South West in the off-season, and up until last weekend his 11 tries were the most in the Macarthur comp.
MAD DOG’S BITE RETURNS
Is there a more versatile player in the Don Feltis Cup than Windsor dynamo Aidan Ryan?
Literally everywhere in a two-try blinder at Colyton, the biggest challenge for fans was working out what position he played.
“I think he’s the best number 14 in the comp,” said Windsor coach Dennis Curry. “I could put him anywhere, and he never argues.”
Starting in the back row, the Wolves pocket-rocket also caused headaches at centre and lock.
“He just gives 100 per cent, he’s one of a kind,” said Curry.
“He’s just a mad dog, that’s his nickname – Mad Dog. He’ll play anywhere.”
SUDDEN IMPACT
Two weeks ago, Donovan Boney notched a hat-trick for Brothers in his final match in the Don Feltis Cup.
Fast forward eight days, and the highly rated playmaker unleashed his bag of tricks in the Macarthur competition, guiding East Campbelltown to victory after the final siren in a major boilover against premiership heavyweights, The Oaks
UP, UP AND AWAY
Back to the growing list of injuries across the competition. St Clair have had their fair share, but it’s not the only issue grounding the Comets’ best.
Asked about the availability of Tinirau Arona, coach Jason Pettit-Young said the club favourite wasn’t far off making a return to the field.
“Tinirau has gone overseas on a family trip,” he said. “He should be back either next week or the game after.”
SMILES ALL-ROUND
Still winless after 10 rounds, Riverstone continue to fight hard in the Razorbacks’ return to the top grade. So it was heartwarming to see a team of smiling faces in the closing stages of last week’s clash with St Marys.
Well behind on the scoreboard with 10 minutes remaining, Sione Pousini’s team of battlers regrouped and closed out the contest in style, scoring the final three tries of the match.
With fullback Luke Roughley and five-eighth Max Matthews pulling the strings, Riverstone turned on the class. Centre Isaac Guba crossed for the last to complete a well deserved hat-trick.
PLAY OF THE WEEK
Cambridge Park can’t take a trick when it comes to the sin bin, finding themselves in hot water once again at Emu Plains.
After an awkward landing while in possession, Cambo firebrand John Hanson was given a breather after rising from the ground and striking Emu skipper Tom Romer.
The penalty still went the way of the visitors, and Marli Sini took matters into his own hands.
Literally charging off the back fence, the five-eighth powerhouse instantly hit top gear, skittling the Emu frontline and leaving a trail of defenders over 40m.
ROUND 11 (SATURDAY, JUNE 28)
Brothers v St Marys, Parker St Reserve
Minchinbury v Cambridge Park, Federation Forest
Emu Plains v Windsor, Leonay Oval
Colyton v St Clair, Cec Blinkhorn Oval
Bye: Riverstone
ROUND 10 WRAP
As the points flowed at most venues, one side’s epic comeback against the odds was derailed after a couple players spent costly periods in the sin bin. Don Feltis Cup, round 10 wrap.
WOLVES TOO STRONG
Windsor flexed their muscles at Cec Blinkhorn Oval, sweeping aside Colyton in a nine-try rampage that finished 48-10.
With five-eighth Tori Willie back directing traffic, the ladder leaders jumped to a commanding 16-0 lead before going on with the job with six second half tries.
Club favourite Daniel Arona barged across early, before Aidan Ryan scored the first of his two tries when the utility won the race to a Connor Potter-Jugovac grubber kick in the 16th minute.
Another returning from injury, Campbell Byrd and was on had to score the Wolves’ third when the centre backed up slick inside work from Potter-Jugovac and Ryan.
The second half couldn’t have started any better for the visitors. After getting both hands to a kick, high flying winger Jeshua Maa-Nelson dished off for Ryan’s second.
And the points kept flowing. Following a long stint on the sidelines, Willie warmed to the task and was influential in the next three tries scored by Brad Hoogenboom, prop Bowen Ryan and Potter-Jugovac.
On a difficult afternoon for the sixth placed Colts, they stuck to the task and eventually struck in quick succession through five-eighth Damon Finn and fullback Jesse Poulsen to make it 38-10.
In good signs for coach Dennis Curry, Windsor picked up the intensity and kicked again, scoring the final two tries through winger William Jansen and centre Cam Osborne.
“I’m really happy where we are at considering the injuries we’ve had this year,” said Curry.
“We’ve relied on reserve grade a lot this year. It’s good to know that we’ve got good depth at the club, so we’re sitting in a good spot for this time of the year.”
In the only bad news for the Wolves, it looks like they could be without veteran backrower Pat Hollis and Byrd over the coming weeks.
“Campbell is just back from injury, but he popped his shoulder and headed off to hospital before full time. While Pat came off early too, he’s got a niggle – it’s a long season for these older guys, so it’s my job to try and cuddle them and keep them going every week.”
COMETS STRIKE EARLY
Coming off three cliffhanger performances, St Clair were left to breathe easy after the Comets cruised to victory with a dominant 46-24 win over Brothers at Peppertree Sporting Complex.
A key piece in the Comets’ puzzle, Kyle King-Bird was dominant in the eight tries to four victory – St Clair’s seventh of the season.
In an electric opening, the No.7 kicked for Luke Butfield to open the scoring before holding up a lovely pass for rampaging prop Joseph Otuhiva in the 15th minute.
In all St Clair posted five unanswered tries to lead 28-0 at the break. Five-eighth Liam Vella was another to score, and he was joined by winger Liam Pearce before King-Bird strolled over just before the break.
Pearce and Vella crossed again and were joined by fullback Damian Richardson, before Brother saved face with four of their own.
Centre Zane Lang stormed across from a well-timed inside line, and was followed over by Connor Autagavaia, Reuben Green and Issac Petrus.
Speaking after the game, Comets coach Jason Pettit-Young said he was delighted with the performance given the absence of key forwards Conor Puru, Tinirau Arona and Kobe King.
“It was a tough game and I was proud of the young boys who stepped up and filled in,” said Pettit-Young.
“We probably didn’t finish too well, but I guess under fatigue the young fellas struggled for match fitness up against the older boys.
“I think it was a good collective effort, but big Joseph Otuhiva is one of the older heads who led the pack and I thought back rower David Sisifa played well too.”
Sitting in second spot, the Comets coach believes his side is yet to reach their potential.
“I think the scary thing is, we haven’t even clicked yet,” he said.
“We’re doing well, but come the back end of the season, we should be close to hitting our straps.”
TRADING PLACES
Emu Plains were forced to dig deep against a fast finishing Cambridge Park, holding on to record an important 20-18 win that sees them jump Cambo into fourth spot on the ladder.
Strengthened by a host of returning stars including chief playmakers Isaac Thompson, Cameron Williams and Jarrod Brackenhofer, Emu Plains bounded out the gates at Leonay Oval scoring three tries inside the opening 17 minutes.
Unfortunately for Tom Romer’s outfit, the conversions didn’t follow and they only held a 12-point buffer.
Winger Jake Williamson pegged one back for the visitors and they trailed by six after Blake Mindipi’s conversion. But just as Cambo were threatening a repeat of their round one upset, their charge was foiled when they lost two players to the sin bin in the space of a couple of minutes.
Rubbing salt into the wound, prop Mitchell Smith crashed over before the break to make it 18-6.
But just as they’ve done for most of the season, Cambo found another gear and levelled the scores with back-to-back tries to five-eighth Michael Tuavao and a barge over play from Rhys Falconer in the 50th minute.
In a contest that could have gone either way, a late hit on Williams proved the difference. After passing the ball, the half was taken down late in front of the posts, leaving Brackenhofer to step up and slot the winning penalty goal from close range in the 71st minute.
HAT-TRICKS AND MORE
St Marys maintained third spot on the table after the Saints got the better of Riverstone 48-20 at Basil Andrews.
Levi Tago scored three of St Marys’ nine tries, while fellow winger Lupe Pauli notched a double as the scoreline blew out to 48-6 in the 66th minute.
Isaac Guba provided Riverstone’s only joy of the first half when the centre steamed onto a sublime pass from five-eighth Max Matthews. And in a strong finish, the Razorbacks No.4 capped of his best performance of the season, bagging a hat-trick of his own with another two in the closing 10 minutes.
PHOTO GALLERY
St Clair v Brothers
Colyton v Windsor
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