Fast-finishing Bulldogs can't stop Magpies

Reynolds dominates as Magpies outclass Warriors

Josh Reynolds has engineered an attacking masterclass for the Western Suburbs Magpies as they recorded an emphatic 48-10 victory over the Warriors at Campbelltown Stadium on Sunday. 

The Warriors briefly levelled the scores early on in the humid and overcast conditions on offer in Sydney’s outer south-west, but it was all the Magpies from therein, piling on thirty unanswered points, before the Warriors finally added some respectability to their score with a lone try during the second half.

All the hype surrounded the inclusion of Reynolds and he didn’t disappoint, scoring two tries, and had a hand in three others, while another late inclusion, Braden Robson, also starred, setting up two tries in the opening half.

Apart from playing Reynolds, Western Suburbs were also significantly strengthened by the addition of Matt Eisenhuth.

An early penalty in the opening set of the game for the home side enabled the Magpies to opening the scoring in just the 3rdminute through winger Wilson Heleta, who was on hand to ground Robson’s in-goal grubber and with the successful conversion by Tyson Gamble, led 6-0.

But a penalty to NZ Warriors in their first set of the match had the same effect, with the visitors responding with a try of their own through fullback Patrick Herbert, who crashed through some flimsy goal-line defence to score from close range and with Chanel Harris-Tavita’s successful conversion from out wide, scores were level after nine minutes of play.

The second penalty of the game in good territory for the Magpies, enabled them to regain the lead midway through the first half, after a well worked backline move inside the opposition 20 resulted in a try out wide to their other winger, Bilal Maarbani.

More ill-discipline from the visitors, allowed the Magpies to extend their lead when that man Reynolds put his fullback, Dylan Smith away down the right touchline before finding Maarbani in support to score his second try of the afternoon in the corner.

Reynolds thought he had scored in the corner after fooling the defence with a show and go, only for referee Todd Smith, to deem the defensive line had been obstructed in the lead-up, but there was no denying Reynolds a few minutes later, backing up a break from Robson, to score behind the posts, pushing the lead out to 20-6 after 31 minutes.

The home side’s opening half onslaught wasn’t done with yet however as Soni Luke’s deft kick into the goal enabled interchange forward, Joseph Ratuvakacereivalu to score and send the Magpies into the sheds leading 26-6 at the break.

The Magpies picked up where they left off in the opening ten minutes of the second half, after back-to-back penalties allowed the home side to score through Sam McIntyre and Heleta. The winger’s second try of the afternoon came courtesy of a masterful lofted cut-out pass from Reynolds, to give Western Suburbs an unassailable 36-6 lead.

The Warriors finally stemmed the flow of points with a try of their own through winger Setu Tu from close range but still trailed 36-10 midway through the second half.

But it was the Magpies who would complete the afternoon’s proceedings with Robson, scoring a well-deserved try, after plunging over from dummy-half before Reynolds had his second try for the game with a typical never-say-die kick chase effort into the in-goal line.

Next up for the Magpies is a return to Campbelltown Stadium next Sunday to take on the defending premiers, Canterbury Bulldogs, while the winless Warriors face another road trip next Sunday when they take on the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles at HE Laybutt Sporting Complex.

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v Wentworthville Magpies
Leichhardt Oval
Saturday, 24 March – 1.10pm
Live broadcast on Channel Nine and 9NOW

Fast-finishing Bulldogs can't stop Magpies

A heroic two-try performance from Rhyse Martin wasn't enough to inspire a comeback victory for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs as the Wentworthville Magpies claimed a defiant 24-22 win at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday. 

The unlikely victory came off the back of two dynamic performances from wingers Damon Goolagong and Greg Leleisiuao as they each crossed for two tries on either side of half-time. 

They stormed to a 24-12 lead after Leleisiuao’s second effort gave them some breathing space midway through the second-half, but tries to Martin and Jayden Okunbor late in the contest ensured a fighting finish for Brad Henderson's men.

Martin admits the Bulldogs lacklustre first-half made it difficult to build pressure, particuarly when they were starved of posession for extended periods. 

“It was the incomplete sets, I don’t think we completed back-to-back sets in the first-half and we just put ourselves under the pump,” Martin told NSWRL.com.au.

“We conceded two tries off the back of it and I think it lead into the second-half a bit as-well.

“We just needed to get into the grind with them, we were playing soft footy trying to come up with the pretty plays and they weren’t coming off.”

The Magpies dominated the opening exchanges with an early double to Goolagong giving them a healthy 12-point lead after just 15 minutes.

He delivered an athletic finish in the right-hand corner courtesy of a classy backline movement before he was on the end of a cross field kick from halfback Henry Rawalui just four minutes later.

The Bulldogs ill-discipline in the early stages ensured a sluggish start but they finally found their groove when Martin burst onto a Jack Cogger short-ball for their first try in the 20th minute. 

Both sides were brutal in defence as the Magpies forward pack were matching the stature of their counterparts, but they were unable to extend their lead as they held onto a 12-6 advantage at half-time. 

The Bulldogs responded in perfect style when Tuipulotu Katoa scored in the 42nd minute, although the Magpies hit-back after two powerful efforts from Leleisiauo.

The first came after a relentless surge from 20m out after he scooped up a loose ball and weaved his way through the Bulldogs defence, before repeating his efforts eight minutes later with a strong finish in the left-hand corner.

Keighran kept his perfect kicking record with the boot when he nailed the sideline conversion to set a 24-12 scoreline, but when Martin burried his way over the line from dummy-half in the 60th minute the Bulldogs were quickly brimming with confidence.

Okunbor's try with just four minutes remaining gave Martin a chance to level the scores but his attempted sideline conversion was to no avail.  

Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles v North Sydney Bears
Lottoland
Saturday, 23 March - 5.20pm

Bears claim big win over Blacktown Workers

By Alex Hrissis

The North Sydney Bears have claimed their first win of the season with a 32-12 win over the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles at Lottoland on Saturday evening.

North Sydney opened the scoring early with a try to winger Asu Kepaoa but Blacktown Workers hit the front after Leva Li crossed for two tries in quick succession.  However, it was the Bears who went into the break with the lead after two classy tries from Kieren Moss setting a 16-12 scoreline. 

Blacktown struggled to make an impact in the second half with the Bears racing in three tries in an impressive team display. 

More to come

Newcastle Knights v Penrith Panthers
McDonald Jones Stadium
Saturday, 23 March - 3.15pm

Naden stars in Penrith homecoming

Robert Crosby

The Penrith Panthers have made it two from two in the Canterbury Cup NSW with a dominant first half paving the way for a 20-4 win over the Newcastle Knights at McDonald Jones Stadium.

Coming into the match following Round One wins over Newtown and Wentworthville respectively, the Panthers needed just four minutes to open the scoring through Brent Naden in his first match back at Penrith following stints with Newcastle and Mounties.
 

Taking the lead out to 10-0 in even time, second rower Matheson Johns proved the beneficiary of the Knights shaky defence, while if not for multiple play-the-ball infringements while in possession the visitors could have extended their lead further.
 

Coming close to scoring his second try ten minutes before the break only for the final pass to be ruled forward, Naden managed to make amends moments later after finding himself in the right place to gather in Jarome Luai’s grubber.

With Jed Cartwright managing just one conversion in the first half, the Panthers took a 14-0 lead into the sheds at halftime.

Exchanging sets early on in the second half, a knock-on from Knights winger Kiah Cooper inside his own half proved costly as Caleb Aekins touched down underneath the posts a few plays later to blow the score out to 20-0 with 20 minutes to play.

Needing to be next to score to have any chance of pulling off a comeback, Newcastle fullback Tex Hoy continued his strong start to the season with a dashing run to get the Knights on the board with 15 minutes remaining, however,  the visitors would prove too strong to finish as 20-4 winners.

After missing the opening round of the season with a knee injury, Newcastle halfback Mason Lino could be in for another stint on the sidelines after being assisted off the field shortly before halftime with a knee complaint. 

Next Saturday, Newcastle travel to Aubrey Keech Reserve to take on Mounties, while Penrith host St George Illawarra at Panthers Stadium. 

South Sydney Rabbitohs v St George Illawarra Dragons
Metricon High Performance Centre
Saturday, 23 March - 2.00pm

Rabbitohs victorious in gritty affair against Dragons

Tom Gibbs

The South Sydney Rabbitohs remain undefeated in the Canterbury Cup NSW for 2019 after a closely fought 24-20 win over the St George Illawarra Dragons at Metricon High Performance Centre on Saturday afternoon.

After getting out the blocks early with two tries in quick succession, it was the home side who survived a second half surge from the Red V, with Corey Allan scoring the match-winner in the final minute of play. However, it was the very familiar name of Jack Johns who helped his team to victory through some key scoring involvements.

The Rabbitohs opened the scoring in the first set through winger Dylan O’Connor, making the most of loose ball from five metres out. After consecutive sets in the 20-metre zone, the home side followed up in the 9th minute with a barge-over try through front rower Rhys Kennedy.

At the 14-minute mark, the Dragons fought back to 10-6 courtesy of late inclusion Luciano Leilua, scoring out wide from a 20-metre dash before saving a potential try by diving on a kick just moments later.
 

With Connor Tracey being a late scratching through injury, playmaker Jack Johns  set up Jacob Gagan with a well-placed grubber to extend the Rabbitohs’ lead to 16-6 at the break. 

St George Illawarra brought the margin to four points early in the 2nd half as fullback Tristan Sailor found the try line with some skilful footwork. Back rower Jackson Ford scored a try of his own in the 52nd minute before a successful Zac Lomax conversion gave the Dragons an 18-16 lead.

The contest quickly became an arm wrestle in the final stanza with penalty goals to Mawene Hiroti in the 62nd minute and Lomax in the 70th.

Trailing by two points, it was the home side who had the final say in the last minute through Corey Allan, as Johns recorded his second try assist of the match with another pinpoint grubber.

Newtown Jets v Mounties
Shark Park
Saturday, 23 March - 12.45pm
Broadcast live on Fox League

Bateman stars as Mounties tame winless Jets

By Kristy Harris

James Segeyaro’s late inclusion for the Newtown Jets wasn’t enough to tame a ruthless Mounties outfit as they dominated with a 32-16 victory at Shark Park on Saturday. 

Hopes were high for the Jets as they welcomed Segeyaro and Kyle Flanagan into the starting line-up, but the Mounties were too strong from start to finish as they earned their first victory of the year.

Mounties co-captain Luke Bateman, with 70 NRL games under his belt, charged his way to the try-line for the first of the day as his side crossed for five more in a relentless 16-point victory. 

Winger Tony Satini used his dynamic strength to get his body over the line on two occasions for the Mounties, one of which coming in the dying stages to seal an impressive victory.

Meanwhile, Hudson Young backed up his stellar two-try performance with a powerful display on the edge and is sure to put himself in the frame of first-grade selection following an injury to Raiders star Joseph Tapine.

Young crossed for an early try in the 13th minute shortly after Bateman opened the scoring as the Mounties peppered the Jets try-line with constant attacking raids.

But a classy backline movement saw Newtown hit back through Matt Evans just moments later, but they were unable to capitalise on their momentum as the Mounties raced out to a 22-6 lead at half-time after tries to Satini and Sebastian Kris.

Bailey Simonsson got his name on the scoresheet after enjoying a strong NRL debut against the Titans in Round 1, while the Jets rued the loss of Jackson Ferris after he left the field with a fractured hand.

The Jets whipped into shape following a stern half-time message from coach Greg Matterson with two tries in the second-half, the first courtesy of a William Kennedy run from his own end which was finished with a powerful Bronson Xerri effort from close-range. 

Xerri again proved threatening as the full-time siren drew near after he skipped across field from a left-to-right shift before finding Siosifa Talakai to give the Jets a glimmer of hope.  

But while they had their chance to salvage a possible comeback with valuable field position in the closing stages, the Mounties defence held strong.