Minus a host of their Intrust Super Premiership NSW regulars, Mounties have shown they'll once again be a big threat come the business end of the season, trouncing the Western Suburbs Magpies 28-8 at Campbelltown Stadium on Saturday (14 July).
Match: Magpies v Mounties
Round 18 -
home Team
Magpies
5th Position
away Team
Mounties
4th Position
Venue: Campbelltown Stadium, Sydney
Their roster stretched due to injury, suspension and NRL commitments, Mounties overcame what looked to be a much stronger Magpies outfit – crossing for five tries against the competition's second-best defensive outfit.
Lining up in the place of the absent Mikaele Ravalawa, fill-in winger Jordan Martin crossed for Mounties' first try. Martin's put-down was an easy one, capitalising on the work of his inside men, Craig Garvey and Brendan O'Hagan.
Provider Garvey soon after had a four-pointer of his own when he cut through the tiring Wests pack. The No.9 turned on the speed to leave defenders clutching at air, taking his side out to a 12-0 front as Tane Milne slotted a second conversion.
Wests hit back in the shadows of half-time courtesy of Toni Tali and Braden Robson who crossed for tries, but the 12-8 scoreline at the break masked Mounties' dominance, 40 minutes played.
Upon the resumption, it was Mounties who wrestled back the momentum.
Again, Garvey and O'Hagan combined – the latter providing the final pass for Corey Horsburgh to score the side's third.
Mounties completed the 24-point rout as Ed Murphy finished a long-range effort, before O'Hagan crossed for a deserved try within earshot of the full-time siren.
MOUNTIES 28 (J Martin C Garvey C Horsburgh E Murphy B O'Hagan tries T Milne 4 goals) bt WESTERN SUBURBS 8 (T Tali B Robson tries)
