Penrith District Rugby League: Talking points and full wrap from round five
See how one team remained calm in the jaws of defeat and how one speedster didn’t skip a beat, returning to score a try after an extended break. Penrith RL R5 talking points.
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See how one team remained calm in the jaws of defeat and how one speedster didn’t skip a beat, returning to score a try after an extended break.
Penrith RL R5 talking points.
RELATED CONTENT: LOCAL PENRITH RL SEASON PREVIEW
SAINTS LATE ESCAPE
Among a host of cliffhangers to start the season, St Marys’ late escape to get out of jail against Windsor was arguably the best.
Stressed to the limit as the seconds slipped away, Saints captain John Faiumu did his best to remain calm before Khan Ridgeway sealed the comeback with a stunning late try.
“My right edge were just chipping at me, telling me to give them the ball,” he said.
“On that last play, we just trusted our instincts and skill. Sometimes it’s best to let everyone play, not to force it and let it happen naturally as a team – just trust everyone to do their job.”
TRY SNEAK BACK ON TRACK
They’re still below their best, but with quality players returning Emu Plains are slowly turning the corner.
After recovering from a serious knee injury, winger Daniel Warren returned with a try in his first game of the year in the win over Brothers.
A key part of last season’s premiership winning combination, the energetic flyer lit up the left edge with a season-high 21 four-pointers.
LEFT THREAT
St Clair is off to a flyer, and Liam Vella has been pivotal in the Comets’ 4-1 start.
A serious threat on the left edge, the former Brothers playmaker unpackaged a vast array of skills against Riverstone.
Prominent in his side’s first three tries, the No.6 crossed for one and delivered magic passes for Liam Pearce and Robert Henderson to score the others.
RAZORBACKS BUILDING
The final scoreline doesn’t show it, but Riverstone delivered by far and away their best performance of the season in the loss to St Clair.
In the contest for the best part of 70 minutes, the Razorbacks are set to be even stronger with the return of gun centres Isaac Guba and Jumon Siulai for Sunday’s clash with Minchinbury.
THRILL OF THE CHASE
Following two cracking contests, it’s fair to say the advent of the Don Feltis Challenge Cup is bringing out the best in everyone.
St Marys has retained the cup after two nail-biting matches, and on Sunday, they’ll give away a 3.5 points start to Emu Plains in what promises to be another thriller at St Marys Leagues.
HEATING UP
In an even comp, the race to the Don Feltis Cup finals remains wide open. And trying to back a winner in round six promises to be the most challenging yet.
Brothers are yet to open their account, but they’re not far off the pace and pose a major threat to Windsor on Saturday evening.
All three Sunday games are a toss of the coin. One of Minchinbury or Riverstone will celebrate for the first time, while Cambridge Park come off the bye against a consistent Comets. St Marys are slight favourites to edge Emu Plains, but there’s little doubt the premiers will lift for the occasion.
ROUND SIX
Brothers v Windsor, Parker Street (Saturday)
Minchinbury v Riverstone, Federation Forest
St Clair v Cambridge Park, Peppertree Sporting Complex
St Marys v Emu Plains, St Marys Leagues Stadium
Bye: Colyton
ROUND FIVE WRAP
It was an all Saturday affair in round five of the Don Feltis Cup.
See how the action unfolded at all four venues.
COMETS STORM HOME
St Clair were pushed all the way before the Comets got the better of a vastly improved Riverstone 34-10 at Basil Andrews.
A week after going down to Windsor by 60, the Razorbacks rebounded in spectacular fashion. With 15 minutes to go a major upset loomed until the Comets blew the margin out with three late tries.
With everyone pushing forward, Razorbacks fullback Luke Roughley drew first blood when he plucked a Luke Pickett grubber kick out of the air to score the first try. And they led 10-4 when backrower Melekitonga Fakaosilea crossed after 30 minutes.
Liam Pearce struck first for the Comets, and they continued to find success along Riverstone’s right edge heading into the break. Five-eighth Liam Vella made the most of a short side raid, then he sent Robert Henderson across for a 16-10 lead.
It remained that way for the majority of the second half until Ezriah Leauanae extended the margin to 12, and it blew out when Kobe King and Pearce struck again to seal St Clair’s fourth win in five outings.
“We were right in the contest even though we finished without anyone on the bench,” said Riverstone coach Sione Pousini.
“The boys played well, but it’s a mind set issue for us at the moment. We’re a young side – three players came up from U19s and once they scored towards the end we let them quickly add another – it’s been a problem for us all year.”
Still without a victory since the club’s return to the top grade, a proud Pousini was delighted with the team’s ability to recover from the hammering handed out by Windsor in round four.
“It was good to see everyone bounce back,” he said.
“We still had 55 players turn up to training across the three grades after the Windsor games.
“It’s a learning process for us. In division-2 you can get away with errors and penalties and still win, but you can’t do that in div-1, the speed is much faster and you’ve got to complete your sets.”
In what shapes as a confidence boosting performance ahead of next week’s clash with Minchinbury, the coach praised the efforts of Roughley and centre Sunny Riley, while pointing out the tireless efforts of two of the club’s rising stars.
“Tipene Thompson played the majority of the U19s match at prop, then backed up to make his first grade debut in the back row,” he said.
“Luke Pickett also backed up after playing halfback in u19s. He was excellent for us, his communication is good and he has no problems telling everyone what he wants.”
EMU GO TO THE WIRE AGAIN
A week’s a long time in footy, just ask Emu Plains captain-coach Tom Romer.
Still feeling the burn following their heartbreaking loss on the final siren to Colyton, Emu Plains flipped the script with two late tries to overcome Brothers 28-24 in a hectic finish at Leonay Oval.
In his first appearance of the season, Isaac Thompson proved the matchwinner. The playmaker scooted across for a double in the final nine minutes as his side reeled in an eight-point deficit to extend Brothers’ unbeaten start to four matches.
While yet to post a victory, Brothers have been close enough to posting a couple of wins and with a dominant second half looked to have done enough after jumping eight points clear on two occasions.
Trailing 10-6, Brothers opened the second half with tries to Issac Petrus and Tyren Ryan. The home side hit back to trail 18-16 when halfback Josiah Palu cleaned up a fumbled bomb.
But with the game on the line, Ejaya Agbere gave the visitors hope when the winger showed blistering speed down the right touchline to put his side ahead 24-16 in the 68th minute.
Poles apart from the premiership winning combination that dominated the early rounds last season, Emu Plains looked headed for their third loss in five starts.
A key member of last year’s side, Thompson steadied the ship in his first outing. The No.6 backed up Greg Alderson to get Emu Plains within reach, and with time running out, he sold a couple of dummies to slice through for the winning try.
COLTS KICK ON
The Colyton revival is in full swing following the Colts’ impressive 48-4 win over Minchinbury at Cec Blinkhorn.
Hot on the heels of their narrow escape last week at Leonay Oval, Colyton were fully committed from the outset. They blew the match apart with five first-half tries, including a double to elusive fullback Jesse Poulsen to lead 30-0 at halftime.
Halfback Harrison Reid Porter scored either side of the break, while upfront Kilifi Tia-Kilifi’s outstanding form was rewarded with a four-pointer when he charged onto an inside ball.
Full of running, the Colts bolted to their third win on the bounce with another four tries in the second half. Centre Jye Bolt put his name on the scoresheet, and in the final 10 minutes Keegan McGrann dived into the right corner before Damon Finn sent Junior McGoon Akauola across on the other side of the field.
Jets hooker Ben Spiers put Minchinbury on the board with a determined effort from dummy-half midway through the second half.
SAINTS LEAVE IT LATE
He may have spent time in the sin bin but Jordan Shelley saved his best for last as the St Marys centre broke clear to sink Windsor 20-18 with the final play of the game on Saturday afternoon.
Leading 18-16, it looked like Windsor had done enough to extend their unbeaten start to the season, but with one minute remaining, Shelley broke clear and turned the ball inside for Khan Ridgeway to race away for the match winner.
After finishing level with Cambridge Park last week, Saints took a 10-4 lead to the break leaving them well placed to retain their unbeaten record and pocket another $500 for retaining the Don Feltis Challenge Cup.
But it quickly unravelled with the change of ends. The Wolves broke clear from the restart and with points on offer centre Luke McDonald kicked ahead, only to see his chasing teammate taken out of the play by Shelley.
With the No.4 ordered off for 10 minutes, the Wolves immediately edged to within two points of the lead through winger Broden Laughton.
Still playing with 12, Stanley Hingano defied the odds, crashing over to put St Marys clear 16-8.
In a match that had more twists than lead changes, the Wolves struck twice within the space of four minutes to open an unlikely 18-16 lead.
Jakes Hedges scored the first, and following a few choice words to the referee, St Marys were again forced to play a man down when Jack Burgess was sent to the sin bin.
Fullback Samuel Coe, one of Windsor’s best, struck along the left edge for the go ahead try. It appeared to be enough, until his opposite backed up in the final minute to ice St Marys’ third win of the season.
“I was sitting there nervous on the sideline,” said Shelley.
“I was halfway up the tunnel and not allowed to watch, but I knew the boys would fight hard.”
Back on the field and with time just about up, Shelley sensed an opportunity and was quick to relay his thoughts to captain and halfback, John Faiumu.
“It’s funny, I was saying to John that we haven’t had one crack down the right edge the whole game,” Shelley explained.
“I didn’t know Khan was going to pass but it just landed in my lap. Then I was clear and just hoping I could return the ball to him on his chest, he did well and finished it off in style.”
HAPPY COACH
Despite almost coming unstuck following the multiple send offs, Faiumu was impressed by his side’s effort to overcome the odds.
“The boys just stuck to it,” the captain-coach said.
“It’s always hard to defend, especially a good side like Windsor. We just kept turning up, they scored on the edges but not necessarily in the middle. Just massive raps, we probably won the middle and were fortunate enough to get away with the win.
BRIGHTER DAYS AHEAD
With a number of players absent due to injury or Saturday work commitments, Windsor showed enough to suggest they’ll be a serious contender.
Tireless as always, Eton Lindsay led the Wolves pack and looked to have carried his side across the line with a late charge-down.
In the absence of five-eighth maestro Tori Willie, Windsor were well served in the halves by Connor Potter-Jugovac, who turned Saints around with his pinpoint kicks.
GLANVILLE SIDELINED
Despite missing the second half with a thumb injury, Aiden Glanville was arguably the Saints’ best.
The No.6 threatened the line with every touch, scoring a double, and consistently pinned the Wolves in the left corner with perfectly placed kicks.
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