The Blacktown Workers pulled off the upset of the Ron Massey Cup season so far with a stirring 31-26 win over defending premiers Mounties at Laybutt Sports Complex, Blacktown last Saturday.
In a heartstopping contest, the Workers upset the visitors’ rhythm when Braeden Batiste snared an early intercept to score a runaway try and give the home side the lead.
The Workers increased the lead with Josh Fraser bagging a double, second-rower Kurt Horton scoring a try in his first game against his old club and skipper Dean Parata scoring a try to give the home side a big lead at the break.
Mounties stormed back in the second half on the back of a hat-trick of tries to centre Jordan Martin and winger Alofi Matele’s ninth try of the season to get “The Mulga” within striking distance.
When Mounties second-rower Steve Tavita crossed to score with less than 10 minutes left, scores were locked up at 26-all.
The Workers then steadied when Horton crossed for his second try out wide to give him a personal tally of 14 points – including his three goals with the boot – before Workers five-eighth Tiger Vatuvei sealed the upset of the season to date with a field goal in the last minute.
Western Suburbs displaced Mounties in second spot on the Massey Cup ladder with a grinding 17-4 win over St Marys at St Marys Leagues Stadium last Saturday evening.
After a tight opening 20 minutes, the Magpies opened the scoring when Tala Mapesone finished a clever right-sided move from a penalty to give Wests a narrow 4-nil half-time lead.
Wests extended the lead five minutes into the second half when Jay Bonnell took a Jerome Mose tap back from a bomb to score.
The Saints replied immediately with a Jake Butfield try, before the match exploded thanks to a melee after a shoulder charge by Saints fullback Brent Naden.
Saints five-eighth Adrian Davis and Wests fullback Shannon Gallant were sinbinned by referee Liam Nicholls for their part in the melee.
Wests extended the lead after Davis and Gallant returned from the bin when a James Mirceski pass sent hooker Dayne Craig over for his seventh try of the season. Gallant’s conversion saw the lead out to 14-4.
Wests then steadied with a Gallant penalty goal with eight minutes left, before half Brendan Waters calmly potted a field goal to see the Magpies home with less than five minutes to play.
Cabramatta returned to the top eight with a handsome 32-16 win over a disappointing Windsor Wolves at New Era Stadium last Saturday Night.
Half Jake Jackson contributed 16 points with two tries and four goals from six attempts and the Two Blues were always in control, as they got out to a big half-time lead.
Windsor scored second half tries through Kain Howarth and Tori Willie, but it was not enough to threaten Cabramatta’ s big lead in the closing stages.
The Guildford Owls and the Auburn Warriors fought out a desperate 24-all draw at McCredie Park last Sunday afternoon.
In another thrilling contest that ebbed and flowed all day, two tries from Warriors winger Ben Dakuwaqa brought the visitors back from behind to level scores at 24-all with less than 10 minutes left.
Both sides missed field goal attempts in the closing stages which forced both teams to share the points – a result that was not good for either side’s efforts to stay in the Massey Cup top eight.
The Asquith Magpies maintained their position inside the Ron Massey Cup top eight with a 36-24 win over the Hills District Bulls last Sunday at Storey Park.
Asquith started on fire with tries to Jack Hawkins and Cameron Yeates in the first eight minutes, before the Bulls replied with a converted try by hooker Lionel O’Malley in the 11th minute to trail by only two points.
Both teams went try-for-try until Magpies winger Alex Nicholls-O’Neill snared an intercept and dashed 95 metres to score. O’Neill’s ninth try of the season came two minutes from half-time to give Asquith a 20-12 lead at the break.
The Bulls started the second half with urgency and were rewarded with two converted tries in three minutes to take a 24-20 lead, after Lebanese international James Boustani finished off a sweeping movement to score in the 47th minute.
Powerful winger Jeco Makatoa replied for the Magpies to regain the lead four minutes later, before Asquith took their chances over a Bulls outfit that made too many errors in the closing stages.
Magpies skipper Joel Latham finished off a right side attack to extend the lead to six points, before dynamic interchange forward Will Lofu Lofu sealed the win with a converted try three minutes from time.
Finally, Concord-Burwood stayed in top four when they eventually got the better of Kingsgrove Colts to win 50-8 at Hurstville Oval last Sunday.
Fullback Bernard Gregorius and centre Latrell Schaumkel both scored two tries as the Wolves had to work hard to get over the top of a Colts outfit that were tougher in defeat than in recent weeks.
Wentworthville’s bye saw them move to the Ron Massey Cup outright lead on 14 points, ahead of Wests, Mounties and Concord-Burwood all on 12 points. The Colts remain last on just two points.
This weekend sees just two matches set for decision as part of another split round – both on Sunday. Concord-Burwood play Asquith at Goddard Park, while the Hills District Bulls play St Marys at Crestwood Reserve.
Triple H FM has another big weekend of coverage – starting on Friday Night with the Sydney Shield match between Belrose and Asquith at Lionel Watts Reserve at 7:00pm.
Then it’s another Super Sunday at Crestwood Reserve between the Hills District Bulls and St Marys Saints - with the Sydney Shield clash kicking off at 1pm and Ron Massey Cup at 3pm.
All the weekend action can be heard on 100.1FM, or via live streaming at www.triplehfm.com.au, or on the TuneIn app.
