Livestream of Westfields Sports High vs Patrician Brothers Fairfield
Westfields Sports High have overcome a halftime defecit to defeat Patrician Brothers Fairfield in the final Round 1 match of the NRL Schoolboy Cup. Watch the replay of the game now.
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To any onlooker Westfields Sports High five-eighth Joseph O’Neill put on an impressive display in his side’s 20-12 victory against Patrician Brothers Fairthfield.
But the crafty No.6 and Canterbury SG Ball (under-18s) playmaker was far from pleased after Thursday’s match despite his starring role which included two try-assists at Hammondville Oval. .
“Vlado [Jankovic] looked up and found me and then I brought in Caleb Kaho into the play and he did the rest to score and the other one was just a simple kick. But I’m not happy about the game so it really doesn’t mean much,” O’Neill said.
O’Neill, who threatened every time he had the ball, said his side was clunky and disjointed in their campaign opener, but would be better next round as they chase a second NRL Schoolboy Cup.
WATCH THE REPLAY IN THE VIDEO CONTAINER ABOVE.
The highly anticipated local derby lived up to the hype, in what was a physical encounter.
It only took O’Neill six minutes to make his mark on the match. He came up with a strip before finding his winger in South Sydney SG Ball speedster Carson Kaho - who dived over in the right corner to open the scoring.
But a modest O’Neill only wanted to praise the hard work of his forwards on what was an unseasonably warm day.
“Semisi-Taufui Lavulo, Caleb Kaho they destroyed the middle running nice and hard. There was also some good contact from them, they were probably our best two today. Especially in the middle. It was pretty physical too, there were some big boys out there from both teams so it was a good battle in the middle,” O’Neill said.
Westfields hooker Vlado Jankovic was also a handful and caught markers napping on a number of occasions and combined brilliantly with O’Neill.
Ill-discipline hurt Patrician Brothers early in the first half costing them territory and possession.
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O’Neill almost piled on even more pain in the 16th minute after some flashy footwork beat the Patrician Brothers defence but the playmaker knocked on in the action of scoring.
Westfields enjoyed the bulk of the possession in the first half but to Fairfield’s credit, their work in defence withheld the attacking pressure only letting in one try before the break.
A forced drop out from Patrician Brothers five-eighth Jaxon McGrath helped turn his side’s fortunes around in the first half. Patrician Brothers hit back with a try to Micah Funa, who barged through the Westfields defence to score Patrician Brothers first try. Funa, is the younger brother of Manly outside back Tevita
McGrath also added the extras giving Patrician Brothers the lead for the first time in the match.
Patrician Brothers peppered Westfields’ goal-line defence after the break but the boys in black repelled everything thrown at them.
Westfields Sports High reclaimed the lead with back-to-back tries in a matter of minutes.
Hooker Jankovic came up with some impressive lead-up play to put utility Caleb Kirikiti over the line. Then forward, Semisi-Taufui Lavulo, who was a late inclusion, added another four points in quick succession. Vaiala Tamati successfully converted both tries taking Westfields lead to 16-6.
Patrician Brothers lock forward Larry Muagututia tried to lift his side some hard hitting defence in the second half but it wasn’t enough to stop Westfields from extending their lead even further through Caleb Tohi.
Again, Westfields’ O’Neill came up with the try assist.
Godfrey Ill’avalu crashed over the line dying stages for a consolation try to Patrician Brothers.
SCORES
Westfields Sports High School Tries: Kaho, Kirikiti, Lavulo, Tohi Conversions: Tamati 2
Patrician Brothers Fairfield: Tries: Funa, Ill’avalu Conversions: McGrath 1, Papalii 1
TEAMS
Westfields Sports High School
1 Tutonu Wright 2 Carson Kaho 3 Vaiala Tamati 4 Henry Alesi 5 Keane Tavui 6 Joseph O’Neill 7 Joshua Parke 8 Braydon Guyan 9 Vlado Jankovic 10 James Malauulu 11 Apisalome Saukuru 12 Caleb Tohi 13 Justin Matamua 14 Caleb Kirikiti 15 Solomone Saukuru 16 Ashton Kolinisau 17 Samuel Iese 18 Rick Siofele 19 Jarvis Leafa 20 Semisi-Taufui Lavulo
Coaches: Wayne Lambkin, Troy Weeden and Luke Vella
Patrician Brothers Fairfield
1 Freeman Forsythe 2 Diego Hehea 3 Perosi Papalii 4 Toutai Lolohea 5 Sam Samani 6 Jaxon McGrath 7 Josh Alhazim 8 Eneseli Kamuta 9 Tyler Manu’a 10 Victor Alofaki 11 Matt Alhazim 12 Pau Nevili 13 Larry Muagututia 14 David Tauariki 15 Douglas Roache 16 Micah Funa 17 Antoine El-Halabi 18 Joseph Vili 19 Godfrey Ill’avalu Coach: Andrew Neaves
PREVIEW OF WESTFIELDS SPORTS HIGH VS PATRICIAN BROTHERS FAIRFIELD
By Amanda Lulham
They are renowned for producing an assembly line of extraordinary and precocious talent into the NRL so any time Westfields Sports High takes the field they mean business.
On Thursday the school tackles Patrician Brothers’Fairfield in a local derby expected to be the highlight of the first round of the revamped NRL Schoolboy Cup.
“Almost every kid we have is connected to a club,” said Westfield’s rugby league convener Troy Weeden. “We are in the heart of a lot of clubs in Parramatta, Wests Tigers, the Bulldogs and we have four kids with Canberra.”
WE WILL BE LIVE STREAMING THE MATCH FROM NOON ON THURSDAY IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE
The list of graduates to the NRL is long and illustrious and includes Moses Suli, Jarryd Hayne, Issac Luke, David Fifita, Tommy Talau and towering youngster Jason Saab.
“There is a big focus on rugby league and we lost the national final last year,” Weeden said.
“They have a real competitive streak this year. We have a couple that will back up from last year and we are fairly fluid. We have an expansive game where we push the ball a lot more.”
Weeden, whose school has won three of the past four titles, said he has a number of players to watch.
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“Henry Alesi, he’s an outside back, centre, very robust and tough and Joseph O’Neill, a halfback with the Bulldogs, reads the game very well and is tough defensively,” he said.
“Tutonu Wright, a fullback out of Parramatta, again strong with the ball and James Malauulu, back row or prop, very strong. He’s the toughest kid.
“And the brothers Saukura, Apisolome and Solomon, big strong athletes. Fijian boys with a rare strength, good ball skills for big boys.”
Patrician Brothers’ Fairfield coach Andrew Neaves said his team is keen to improve on last year where they missed the quarter finals.
“We had a very young side, most of them were 16, so they are a year older, a year better, so they have bigger aspirations,” he said.
Like their rivals, the school has numerous former students who made a name for themselves in the NRL including Nathan Hindmarsh, Taniela Paesaka, Manase Fainu, Greg Alexander, Peter Sterling and Paul Langmack.
Neaves said he has a number of players of interest to watch in the game.
“Larry Muagututia is a front rower, a big boy, strong, quiet skilful for a big man. Freeman Forsyth is our fullback with a really good football IQ,” Neaves said.
“Josh Alhazim is 16 and in year 10. He’s a boy to watch.
“There is Toutai Lolohea in the halves. He’s just a really good kid, the sort of boy who listens and learns. A no frills kid who gets the job done.
“And the other one is Eneseli Kamuta, a prop, once again no frills, who will run through a brick wall.
“They are a sport school and we are up against it. We got the hardest school in round one.
“But the boys are itching for this. For a lot of the boys footy is what gets them to school.”