Penrith District Rugby League: Round four talking points, full wrap
The fight for silverware has now become a weekly event, while one gun player has almost played himself out of a spot in his own team. All that and more in round four Penrith RL talking points.
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Round four of local Penrith footy was certainly one to remember. From buzzer-beater kicks to epic comebacks, there was plenty of entertainment.
Here’s what’s making news.
RELATED CONTENT: LOCAL PENRITH RL SEASON PREVIEW
MORE SILVERWARE
The new weekly battle for the Don Feltis Challenge Cup is a fabulous initiative by Panthers Juniors.
In a long season, it heightens the drama of every round and offers each team and their loyal fans a genuine shot at glory. St Marys hold the cup, but you can bet Windsor will be desperate to pry it from their grasp in Saturday’s round five blockbuster.
TOO GOOD
Immanuel Tagaloamatua was a key figure in the St Marys fightback at Allsopp Patterson. In fact, the lock was so good that captain-coach John Faiumu fears he may be lost to his side.
“He got injured during the pre-season with the Sydney Shield and Ron Massey Cup squads,” he said. “The way he’s playing, I don't think he will be with us for too long.”
WAVED AWAY
Emu Plains just can’t take a trick when it comes to playmakers. Isaac Thompson is yet to play this season, and Cameron Williams is set for a stint on the sidelines after breaking his leg in the round three win over St Clair.
As the team’s main goal kickers, the pair’s absence is having a major impact on the scoreboard. They outscored Colyton five tries to four, only to lose by two points after landing just one conversion.
FAMILIAR PATTERN
After a slow start last season when they recorded one win from their first five starts, Colyton clicked into gear and almost won the comp. Without jumping the gun, the Colts are now on the rebound after they dropped the opening two games this year – a fact not lost on five-eighth Damon Finn.
“We don’t want to talk about it, but it seems to be a pattern we’re trying to fix,” he said. “We’ve got Minchinbury this week, so if we can get a win before the bye, then we’ll be 3-2 and pretty well placed.”
YOUNG GUNS STEP UP
Emu Plains had a rough finish in the loss to Colyton, but a couple of the club’s young guns left fans smiling.
After playing a starring role in the U19s victory, Filipe Huahulu and halfback Josiah Palu returned to the field in first grade.
Huahulu’s pace was on show when he dashed away to score the opening try for Emu Plains. And the winger struck again before the break, busting clear for Palu to score.
ROUND FIVE (SATURDAY, MAY 10)
St Marys v Windsor, St Marys Leagues Stadium
Emu Plains v Brothers, Leonay Oval
Colyton v Minchinbury, Cec Blinkhorn Oval
Riverstone v St Clair, Basil Andrews Playing Fields
Bye: Cambridge Park
ROUND FOUR WRAP
They almost struck late to pinch the title last season, so when Colyton headed to Emu Plains on Sunday, redemption was a driving force.
See how all the round four action played out from all four venues.
SAINTS FIGHT BACK
St Marys have come from the clouds to force a draw in a heavyweight clash with Cambridge Park at Allsopp Patterson Oval.
In a battle between two unbeaten sides, Cambridge Park set the early pace and looked to have down enough when Blake Mindipi made it 18-0 with a penalty goal on the stroke of halftime.
Returning at centre, Marli Sini announced himself in style with an early barnstorming try along the right edge. On the other side field, fellow centre Lafoga
Leituala almost doubled the advantage midway through the first half, before diving over in the 30th minute.
Electric in the No.1 jersey, Mindipi sizzled along the touchline for Jacob Swann-Knight to score Cambo’s third in a dominant first half.
St Marys struck back immediately after the break, and they trailed by eight when lock Immanuel Tagaloamatua charged across with half an hour to play.
In a major turning point, Cambo lost a player to the sin bin in the 56th minute and were forced to pay when Sailosi Torovi won the race to a pinpoint Khan Ridgeway kick, reducing the margin to 18-14.
With the game in the balance, Saints turned to Aiden Glanville and the five-eighth struck gold when he hit unmarked winger Lupe Pauli on the chest to level the scores in the 76th minute.
The sideline conversion was waved away, and in a frantic finish both teams missed with their only attempts at field goal.
“We opened with too many errors and Cambridge Park got the jump on us,” said St Marys captain-coach John Faiumu.
“They know their strengths and play to them. But we knew we could comeback if we played to our own style.
“In the end, they probably should have won, but we scrambled well in defence and were saved by the determination of Jack Burgess, who charged down their shot at field goal.”
Loaded with strike power, St Marys are still building combinations and were happy to blow out the cobwebs in their first hitout in three weeks.
“Our players are encouraged show their skills and pick their moments,” said Faiumu.
“Aiden took his at the end, demanding the ball with shape on offer. We’re still building chemistry, and it was a good hit out ahead of next week’s match with Windsor.”
WINDSOR BEAT THE CLOCK
Windsor flexed their muscles against new boys Riverstone, racing in 12 tries before the game was called early with a scoreline of 70-10.
Fullback Campbell Byrd opened the floodgates in the first minute, and the Wolves cruised to the break in total command, leading 34-4.
Backrower Bradley Hoogenboom and hooker Lachlan Faint both scored doubles, while fullback Connor Potter-Jugovac landed 11 conversions.
COMETS LIGHT UP
St Clair have come from behind to overpower Minchinbury 44-16 at Peppertree Sporting Complex.
Still chasing their first victory, an upset loomed when the Jets scored three first half tries on the way to a well deserved 16-8 lead.
Minchinbury were well served by Anthony Tulua and damaging backrower Tuafale Aiomalaga, before the Comets flicked the switch with six second half tries.
St Clair fullback Damian Richardson found plenty of space after the break, scoring a try and having a hand in a couple of others. While in the try of the match, winger Liam Pearce was on hand to finish a brilliant length of the field team effort.
Hooker Bryson Demanuele stamped his mark with a person haul of 16 points from a try and six conversions.
CLUTCH COLTS IN EPIC COMEBACK
In a Don Feltis Cup classic at Leonay Oval, Todd Councillor’s Colyton Colts staged a Sunday miracle to sink reigning premiers Emu Plains after the final siren.
With all the early running, Emu Plains looked home and hosed when teenage fullback Nicholas Hancock raced across for a 22-6 lead eight minutes into the second half.
But just as they did in last season’s decider the Colts dug deep, storming home with three late tries.
In a day of extreme highs and lows for Harrison Reid Porter, the gun half planted the seeds for a chaotic final five minutes when he dived across to make it 22-all.
Three minutes later, it all came crashing down for the No.7 when he was sent from the field after he levelled Hancock with a high tackle.
From there, the home side fluffed their lines and Colyton struck through an unlikely source when backrower Kaylem Falaniko was taken out after attempting to chase his own chip kick.
With the siren about to sound, Colyton received a penalty and the kicking tee was handed to James Stonestreet. And the veteran Colts lock revelled in the pressure, slotting a 35m goal to ice a stunning 24-22 victory.
“It’s good to get one over them, they’ve been the best in the comp for the last few years” said Colyton five-eighth Damon Finn, whose starring play opened the door for fullback Jesse Poulsen to narrow the deficit to four points.
“We thought we were still a chance at halftime, Toddy told us to back ourselves. A couple of things went against us, but we just listened to our coach and came out and didn’t give up.
“Then it came down to Stoney. He’s been here for years, and he always delivers in the clutch moments.”
Although Emu Plains finished with five tries to four, Colyton didn’t go missing in the middle, especially with the game on the line in the final 20 minutes.
Brayden Tyburski scored a double, and the bustling forward found willing allies in prop Lifi Tia-Kilifi and Falaniko who lifted the tempo in a tense finish.
“We identified a few tied forwards in the middle, and we just went at them,” Finn said. “Lifi is a new recruit, so it great to see him find some form.”
After opening the season with consecutive defeats, Colyton now find themselves chasing three straight wins when they host Minchinbury next weekend.
BOOM AND BUST
In a strange day for Reid Porter, the halfback went from hero to villain not once, but twice.
In a dream start, he broke the line for Tyburski to score the first try. Then just before the break, he was sent to the sin bin after collecting Jarrod Brackenhofer high.
The second half was much the same. He sold a dummy and dived into the right corner to level the scores, but his subsequent high shot almost cost his side and resulted in his dismissal.
“Harry is a great half, I love playing with him,” said Finn. “He’s just passionate about the game, he didn’t mean to hurt anyone.”
ALDERSON IN CONTROL
In a game that had everything, Emu Plains were dealt a savage blow when Brackenhofer was forced off with an injured leg following the Reid Porter tackle.
Although the points kept flowing with Greg Alderson directing the play. Busy as always, after slotting into the halves the centre put Kailub Smith into the left corner with a sublime cut-out pass, and set up Hancock’s four-pointer with a well directed kick
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