Mounties 36 (J Kennedy, D Cahalane, J Walsh, J Rokoqo, S Tevita, M Beggs tries; Walsh 6 goals) bt Auburn Warriors 4 (H Akauola try)
Auburn eliminated from Ron Massey Cup Finals Series.
The Ron Massey Cup preliminary finals are here and all four top-four sides remain fighting for their place in the game’s biggest stage – the Grand Final next Sunday, 27 September at Pirtek Stadium. The two blockbuster preliminary finals feature the Asquith Magpies up against the Windsor Wolves and the Wentworthville Magpies taking on minor premiers, Mounties.
An unrelenting Asquith defeated the Blacktown Workers 38-14 to knock them out of the competition. Asquith face the Windsor Wolves in the preliminary final this Saturday, 19th September at New Era Stadium with the winner advancing to the grand final. In their two regular-season meetings, they are one a piece. In round 22, the Wolves won 36-10 while in a make-up game in May Asquith defeated the Wolves 36-24.
The Asquith Magpies’ second half against the Workers was spellbinding. Trailing 14-0, Asquith scored 38 unanswered points sounding out a stern warning to all sides remaining. “It does give us confidence, we have been a bit inconsistent all year and hopefully we can have a good week at training, build some confidence and put together a complete game,” said winning captain Aaron Groom.
On where the game will be won next week, Groom said: “In the middle. Windsor are very strong in the middle, if we can stop their go-forward we have a good chance to get the win.
“It’s very exciting to be playing in a Preliminary Final. Last year we were in the same position. We need to focus and our goal is to go one better and make the Grand Final – I would be more excited if we win it next week.
“We rely on all 17 players to contribute so no (key players) in particular, we need all of us to perform as a team.”
There was also plenty of finals excitement at Belmore on the weekend with Auburn reduced to 12 men after a nasty head-high tackle early in the first half, resulting in the send off. Mounties took full advantage and crushed a depleted Auburn 36-4 to book their place in the other preliminary final against Wentworthville this Sunday afternoon at Leichhardt Oval, who earned the week off after defeating Asquith last week in the Qualifying Final.
Be sure to be part of an explosive weekend of finals footy with two cracking contests to determine who will partake in the Ron Massey Cup grand final.
