Penrith District Rugby League: Round four wrap, talking points, 50+ photo gallery
Some players can’t take a trick, while others just keep riding their good fortune. After another entertaining round of Penrith District RL here’s what is making news. Latest talking points.
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Local Penrith footy continues to deliver the goods, and round four was no different.
From crunching hits to quirky plays and stats, there’s plenty making news.
Round four talking points.
HOLD THE PHONE
Daniel Afualo was among Colyton’s best in the narrow loss to St Marys, but his first try was one of the more unusual plays of the round.
Seemingly dragged down short of the line. The No.17 rose to his feet and played the ball, and then looked up in surprise as the referee pointed to the spot.
TACKLE OF THE WEEK
Since arriving from Queensland’s Bundaberg Cup, St Marys winger Ratu Nawerecaqa has made a strong impression.
Aside from his damaging runs, the flying Fijian also hits like a sledgehammer in defence.
Last Sunday in the second half, Colyton centre Ratu Drole found out the hard way, after he was blindsided and doubled-up by one of Nawerecaqa’s best.
WALKED UNDER A LADDER?
Surely there’s a change of fortune around the corner for Colyton’s James Stonestreet.
Last week’s chance to force a draw at St Marys with a late goal wasn’t his first rodeo this season. Back in round two, his attempt to pinch a last-gasp victory over Cambridge Park crashed into the woodwork.
Despite playing some good footy, the Colts only have one win for their efforts and will be desperate for another against Brothers on Saturday night.
CAMBO BATTLE TOUGH DRAW
Not many sides would’ve knocked off Cambridge Park last week. They are still without a win this season, but it took the best of Windsor to keep them at bay.
As our video shows, they scramble hard in defence, and if they limit their errors the points should follow.
Although, their tough run doesn’t get any easier. This week they head to Emu Plains and a clash with the reigning premiers.
EIGHT FROM THREE
Christmas has come early for Emu Plains winger Lachlan Mason. In just three outings the flying No.2 has already netted eight tries – three more than the next best.
Parked on the end of a classy backline, last week’s triple was his second hat-trick of the season. Easy to spot, the flyer in headgear can expect to celebrate many more in the right corner.
COMETS FRESH FOR BIG CLASH
This week’s Windsor and St Clair clash promises to be another ripper.
Alongside Emu Plains, both are undefeated and will head to Windsor with high expectations.
How the Wolves back up from Sunday’s bruising encounter at Cambridge Park could be crucial. Fresh from the bye, the Comets are perfectly placed to make a statement.
ROUND FIVE (Saturday, 11 May)
Brothers v Colyton, Cec Blinkhorn and Ridge Park Oval
Emu Plains v Cambridge Park, Leonay Oval
Windsor v St Clair, Windsor Sporting Complex
Minchinbury v Glenmore Park, Federation Forest
ROUND FOUR WRAP
Windsor and Cambridge Park headlined a massive Sunday of local Penrith footy in round four.
Neither side took a backwards step in a physical contest at Allsopp Patterson Oval. While over at St Marys, Colyton roared home in an 80-minute thriller.
Elsewhere, Brothers broke their duck and Emu Plains kept marching on.
Round four wrap.
WINDSOR DEFENCE WINS OUT
Joint ladder leaders Windsor were forced to dig deep before holding off a committed Cambridge Park 20-8 in a physical contest on Sunday afternoon.
Chasing their fourth win of the season, the Wolves stumbled into an old fashioned ambush at Allsopp Patterson Oval where the home side jumped early in pursuit of a major scalp.
With just five minutes on the clock, Cameron Keene crossed for the first of two early Cambridge tries after the five-eighth raced away with an intercept.
In an end-to-end contest, Windsor slowly won the grind and finally opened their account when halfback Connor Mason and Tori Willie combined to send Viliami Fonokalafi over in the right corner.
With crunching defence the order of the day, both sides were guilty of turning over possession before Tyrone Shelley struck in the 30th minute. After Windsor worked the ball out of trouble, the No.9 doubled down to put the Wolves 10-8 in front.
Windsor’s momentum grew another leg with the injection of utility Aidan Ryan. Busy as always, the pocket rocket blew the game open and his tries either side of the break rounded out the scoring with 20 minutes to play.
Cambridge Park kept coming and threw everything at their disposal at Windsor’s line. But in a major statement to the rest of the competition, the Wolves held firm, shutting down any thoughts of a comeback.
“Cambo brought a lot of energy and put it on us physically,” said Windsor coach Troy Dargin.
“They got the jump on us with early points but then we held them out for the next 70 minutes.
“Defence was the best part of the game for us. They had plenty of ball and kept coming but the boys kept turning them away right until the end.”
After racking up some big scores in the opening three rounds, Windsor were given a big fright by a winless Cambridge outfit who are clearly better than their seventh spot on the ladder suggests.
“Tori Willie and Connor Mason were among our best,” said Dargin.
“But I thought Aidan Ryan was best, he normally plays on an edge but we put him on as a prop and let him go. He plays a thousand miles an hour, made a heap of tackles and scored a couple of tries.”
ST MARYS IN A THRILLER
St Marys downed Colyton 22-20, but it was a near thing as the Colts finished in a blaze of glory and almost pinched a draw after the final siren.
Played at a blustery St Marys Stadium, at 22-10 with five minutes to play, the home side looked home and hosed for a second straight victory. But a fast finishing Colyton had other ideas and struck in quick succession.
Kohen Wright barged over first, then wrecking ball centre Daniel Afualo swatted away several defenders to score his second out wide. With no time left on the clock, James Stonestreet had a chance to level the scores but his conversion was waved away.
Missing regular centres James and Jared Ross, Afualo had a blinder on Colyton’s left edge. In addition to his fine double, the centre assisted winger Keegan McGrann across for the opening try.
St Marys levelled when Tyrone Glassie put hooker Justin Forrester over near the posts, and they headed to the sheds leading 12-10.
In difficult conditions for outside backs, St Marys winger Ratu Roqica was outstanding. Wearing the No.4, the rangy speedster continually returned kicks with interest and bagged a double in an impressive performance.
With just over 10 minutes to play, his second broke the contest open and it quickly became 22-10 when fullback Xavior Savesi sizzled over following the restart.
After starting the season with two defeats, St Marys coach Tama Taoho was delighted following the back-to-back victory.
“They definitely gave me heart palpitations,” said Taoho.
“I told them they like to win ugly and there is a lot to work on. We bombed a lot of opportunities and invited them back into the game with penalties, but the win will lift their confidence.”
“Colyton are a good team. They don’t play fancy football, they stick to what they know and use their big men well.”
After singling out the efforts of his two wingers, Taoho also praised the newcomers in his young pack.
“I really have to wrap our three C-graders,” he said.
“Jamie Sim, Jai Williams and Papaseea Tamaseu, they’re all playing their first year in A-grade and they’re handling it quite well.”
BROTHERS OPEN ACCOUNT
Brothers’ season is up and running after they knocked over Minchinbury 38-8 at Federation Forest.
In a battle of the bottom two sides, Brothers’ first victory of the season was built on five first half tries before they coasted home with another three after the break.
Brothers back-rower Brendan Randall struck first off an inside line, before the Jets struck back through hard running prop Tuafale Aiomalaga.
Halves Tyren Ryan and Kaylan Murray tormented Minchinbury with tricky kicks all afternoon, and the points kept mounting when centre Patrik Calicetto scored his second on the stroke of halftime.
Winger Isaac Bartolo added another four-pointer after the break, but the play of the day quickly followed and went to Minchinbury No.8, Aiomalaga.
Next in line for a regulation hit up, rather than edging his side to the halfway line, the barnstorming front-rower smashed his way into the backfield and kept on going to round off his second with a stunning solo effort.
EMU FLYERS TRADE HAT-TRICKS
Emu Plains extended its unbeaten run to three with a comprehensive 44-12 demolition of Glenmore Park.
Coming off a last start loss to Windsor, the Brumbies matched the reigning premiers until the midpoint of the opening half. From there, Emu Plains put on the afterburners adding another seven tries to the couple they scored in the opening exchanges.
Wingers Lachlan Mason and Daniel Warren had a field day playing outside halves Isaac Thompson and Cameron Williams. Both crossed for hat-tricks, with Mason racing to his milestone with a long range intercept, while Warren brought up his in the final minute.
Up against another premiership heavyweight, the highlights were few and far between for Glenmore Park. Ruakapanga Henare fooled everyone with a massive dummy to score in the first half, while fellow forward Josh Fraser muscled across for their only joy in the second half.
For the play of the day, you’d do well to find a better pass than the bullet Sam Cookson delivered on the left edge for Warren’s second try.
PHOTO GALLERY
Cambridge Park v Windsor
St Marys v Colyton
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