Defending premiers Mounties re-established themselves as Ron Massey Cup heavyweights when they came from behind to topple the Western Suburbs Magpies 30-18 in the Match Of The Round at Carrawood Park, Carramar last Saturday.
After conceding the first try, the Magpies – again led by star half Brendan Waters – then dominated the last 15 minutes of the first stanza. Fullback Shannon Gallant scored on the stroke of half-time to give Wests an 18-10 lead at the break.
Mounties, however, clicked into gear in the second half. Taking advantage of better ball control and poor Magpies discipline, Mounties scored four unanswered tries – including a double to winger Alofi Matele – to clinch the victory. Mounties secured their win when Blake Ritchie scored in the closing stages against a 12-man Wests, while Gallant was in the sin bin for a professional foul.
Wentworthville moved to sole leadership of the Ron Massey Cup with a tight 24-22 win over a gallant Blacktown Workers outfit at Laybutt Field, Blacktown last Saturday.
After conceding the first two tries to trail eight-nil, the Workers – with fullback Henry Raiwalui starring against his old club – came back to lead 12-8 with two converted tries in reply, before the first of two tries to winger Roydon Gillett gave the Magpies at 14-12 lead at the break.
The lead changed hands four times in an exciting second half. Gillett got his second before back-rower Danny Howard scored inside the last five minutes to give the visitors a 24-22 lead. The Magpies then held on against a last-ditch Workers attack to maintain their unbeaten start to the year.
Newcomers St Marys moved to second spot on the Ron Massey Cup ladder on percentages, with an impressive 32-22 win over Guildford Owls at St Marys Leagues Stadium last Saturday evening.
With class centre Geoff Daniela again prominent with a try and former Penrith Panther Tom Eisenhuth posting a double, the Saints made it successive wins over their last two starts by scoring six tries – sending the Paul Fletcher-coached Owls out of the top eight as a result.
Auburn Warriors made it back-to-back wins with an entertaining 32-28 win over Hills District Bulls at Lidcombe, where both sides scored six tries each.
Addison Demetriou kicked four goals from six attempts, which would be the difference as the Warriors maintained their position inside the early season top eight.
Concord-Burwood stunned Windsor 32-22 in the all-Wolves battle at Windsor last Saturday.
Winger Sam Latu scored two tries for Concord-Burwood, cancelling out centre Jack Nelson’s double for Windsor as the visitors’ six-tries-to-four win sent the 2015 Preliminary Finalists crashing to second last on the Ron Massey Cup ladder.
On Sunday evening, to complete the Round, Cabramatta withstood a second-half comeback from the Asquith Magpies to prevail 30-20 in rainy conditions at New Era Stadium.
The Two Blues led 10 points to four at half-time and looked to be ‘home’ at 24-4 when half Jake Jackson scored his second try 10 minutes into the second half.
Asquith scored three tries in nine minutes to bring the score back to 24-20 before Cabramatta centre Isaac Montgomery completed a sweeping counter attack in the final minute to clinch the two competition points for the hosts with his second try.
Kingsgrove Colts got their first points for the year with their first bye.
‘Wenty’ are the only unbeaten side on six points for three wins, with St Marys and Mounties leading the next group of six teams on four points. Hills District Bulls round out the top eight on percentages as all other teams have two points to their credit.
Asquith and Kingsgrove kick off the Easter Round at Norford Park, Sefton this Thursday Night at 7:00pm, with all other games set down for Easter Saturday.
Triple H FM will be calling this Saturday's double-header from St Marys Leagues Stadium, where St Marys host Cabramatta in the Sydney Shield from 4:15pm and in Ron Massey Cup from 6pm. For more info visit www.triplehfm.com.au