The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup recap | Round 12

Mounties overcome slow start to end Penrith’s unbeaten start to 2021

Stewart Moses

Mounties have overcome a slow start, to inflict Penrith’s first loss of the season with a stylish 38-16 win over the competition leaders at BlueBet Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

One of, if not Penrith’s best player over the opening half of the season, Izack Tago started and finished the first try of the afternoon. A quick spread left from 40m out caught Mounties right edge defence napping when Tago put Jennings away down the left touchline, before the winger kicked back inside for the backrower to score out wide to give the Panthers an early 4-0 lead after 11 minutes.

Some concerted defence prevented Mounties from levelling the scores just minutes later when Mounties centre Falakiko Manu ultimately lost the ball over the line.

Penrith also had their moment to extend the lead in the next set when the recently re-signed winger Thomas Jenkins broke the defensive line only for Brent Naden to spill the pass with the try line wide open.

Although just as Mounties threatened to open their account, a looping pass from second rower Dean Matterson was intercepted by Jennings, who ran 85m to score in the south-east corner and with Kurt Falls nailing the sideline conversion, the home side led 10-0 after 27 minutes.

Mounties finally opened their account in the 32nd minute through Jack Miller after the backrower steamed onto a short pass from his five-eighth Rhys Davies, to score from close range. With Kamren Cryer’s conversion from a relatively simple position, Mounties were well and truly in the game trailing 10-6.

Mounties were in again just minutes later when Davies, again the architect, rolled a deft kick into the goal-line where fullback Declan Casey emerged from the scramble to touch down. With the successful conversion again from a similar position to the first, Mounties took a shock 12-10 lead.

The visitors weren’t done with yet, with Davies pulling the strings again, putting through a kick that rebounded back into the arms of Manu who put winger Tuipulotu Katoa over in the north-west corner just as the siren sounded, and just like that Mounties turned a 10 point deficit into a 18-10 lead at the main break.

Mounties continued their dominance in the second half with Katoa notching up his double in the 44th minute, finishing off a slick backline movement inside Penrith’s 20 to give the visitors a handy 22-10 lead.

Mounties would soon score their fifth successive try through Renouf Atoni in the 58th minute, with Davies again instrumental in the lead up. Despite Cryer missing the conversion attempt, the visitors looked firmly in control leading 26-10.

A penalty goal to Cryer in the 63rd minute gave Mounties a comfortable lead, before the Panthers finally found some points of their own through a try to prop Billy Tsikrikas from an Anton Iaria offload, narrowing the gap to 12 with 12 minutes remaining.

That was as close as it got for the Panthers as Mounties scored twice more in the closing minutes of the game through tries to Josh Daley and Tupou to storm away with an impressive 38-16 victory.

Mounties can now look forward to having the bye next weekend, while next Saturday the Penrith Panthers will look to regroup when they face the equally high-flying Western Suburbs Magpies in a top of the table clash at Lidcombe Oval.

Western Suburbs Magpies v St George Illawarra Dragons

Magpies overcome early scare to make it nine on the trot

Hannah McGrory

The Western Suburbs Magpies have made it nine wins in a row to maintain second position on the ladder in The Knock-on Effect NSW Cup, after a determined 26-18 over St George Illawarra Dragons at Lidcombe Oval.

The match marked the return of St George Illawarra forward Jack De Belin but despite a strong start from the Dragons they were unable to maintain the momentum with the Magpies scoring the final two tries of the match to secure the win.

“Boys are buzzing with nine wins in a row, we have a winning culture here at the moment that we are building,” Magpies hooker Jake Simpkins told NSWRL.com post-match.

“We were deprived of the ball a little bit in the first half, we knew we just needed to get our defence right and we would be able to put some more points.

“Defence is a massive part of the game, we were roaring in the second half  and worked hard for each other.

“We said it would turn around, the wind can be a strong factor. We would get our chance, just had to hang in there.”

The Dragons were the first to score through fullback Tyrell Sloan, who scored out wide on the back of a great run. Siti Moceidreke hit the upright with the conversion before the the ball went over for a 6-0 lead.

The visitors went over again after a terrific pass for winger James Schiller on the left hand side of the field but conversion was waved away.

In the 13th minute De Belin returned to the field, with a loud cheer from the crowd supporting him as he ran on and the Magpies suffered a setback at the same time with fullback Zac Cini being assisted from the field with a right ankle injury.

Dragons halfback Adam Clune was in next for the Dragons after chasing a bouncing kick in goal before scoring the four pointer. Moceidreke successfully converted the try to extend their lead 16-nil.

In the 28th minute Austin Dias barged his way over for the Magpies to score their first points of the game. The conversion was successful. 

A penalty goal on the buzzer from the Dragons allowed them to go in the sheds in control at 18-6 at half-time.

The Magpies came out strong in the second half, with Fitzgibbon scoring the first points of the second half before the conversion was waved away.

Magpies halfback Jock Madden was next in to score for the home side, converting his own try before a flying Fitzgibbon was in for his second of the day to help the home team to a lead for the first time that afternoon at 20-18.

They continued to dominate through the field as Tom Freebairn was next in after a great run, and successful conversion to extend the lead 26-18 and cap a memorable comeback.

South Sydney Rabbitohs v Parramatta Eels

Eels start and finish too strong for Rabbitohs

Gerard Cronin

The Parramatta Eels have bounced back from a disappointing loss last week to dominate the South Sydney Rabbitohs on the way to a 22-12 victory at Stadium Australia.

On the back of a league-leading 81% completion rate, Parramatta asserted their dominance early with tries in the first 10 minutes to Haze Dunster and Michael Oldfield, which saw them quickly jump out to a 10-0 lead.

Souths gradually worked their way back into proceedings and answered back with a try to centre Braidon Burns in the right-hand corner after some deceptive short side play by Jacob Gagai.

Bunnies halfback Dean Hawkins then converted from the sideline to bring the score back to 10-6 in the 22nd minute.

Burns nearly had another try 10 minutes later, as he shrugged off multiple defenders on his way to the tryline, but lost control in reaching out to score.

Both sides threatened to put on more points in the remaining minutes before the break, but were unable to trouble the scorers any further, as Parramatta held a 10-6 lead at half time.

South Sydney came out stronger to begin the second 40, with a series of attacks stretching the Eels on both sides of the field.

The pressure eventually told, as prop Joe Lovodua burrowed over for a four pointer to tie things up. A successful Hawkins conversion would then give the Rabbitohs their first lead of the game.

However, a mistake on the very next set from the home side gifted Parramatta prime field position. The Eels were unable to capitalise on that opportunity, but promising centre Will Penisini managed to make amends – as he raced over for a try with 17 minutes remaining and ever-trusty goalkicker Jordan Rankin added the extras to bring his side in front at 16-12.

From there, the blue and golds began to turn the screws, by applying pressure on attack and five eighth Hayze Perham managed to do the same on defense, causing a turnover and winning the race to ball, as the Eels bounced out to a ten-point lead, that would not be dragged in.

Following their third straight loss, South Sydney head back to Redfern next week to take on fellow strugglers St. George-Illawarra, while Parramatta travel to Newcastle to duel with the Knights.

Newcastle Knights v Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles

Blacktown Workers make it back-to-back wins

James Ward

Newcastle Knights today has gone down 38-16 to the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles in The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup at McDonald Jones Stadium.

After a grinding opening to the game, Blacktown Workers opened the scoring in the 18th minute through lock Denzal Tonise.

Sea Eagles centre Tim Simona had the Sea Eagles second try soon after to improve the lead for the away team to 12-0.

The Knights bridged the deficit when five-eighth Simi Sasagi scored off a pin-point kick from winger McKenzie Baker on the stroke of half-time.

With the scores at 12-4, the Sea Eagles were the next to score with winger Tolutau Koula crossing over in the 45th minute.

Koula scored his second in the 57th minute to extend the Sea Eagles lead to 22-4 and they never looked back from that point on.

A procession of tries followed as the Sea Eagles ran away with the lead before props Mat Croker and Daniel Ticehurst scored consolation tries for the Knights.

North Sydney Bears v Canberra Raiders

Hat-trick hero Carr helps Bears dominate Raiders

Anthony Eltarraf

The North Sydney Bears have defeated the Canberra Raiders in a convincing 34-12 thrashing at North Sydney Oval.

With the opening quarter of the game remaining scoreless, it looked to be a low scoring encounter. However, the tries began rolling in after Tom Carr gathered a loose ball in the in-goal to score the first of the game right on the stroke of the first quarter. Ronald Volkman successfully converted to give his side a six-point lead.

It did not take long for the Bears to double their lead through centre Brad Abbey, who regathered his own kick to score near the corner before Volkman converted again.

The Raiders responded just five minutes later with a try of their own through a barging Hudson Young, who fought his way over the line to score the Raiders' first of the game. Brad Schneider successfully converted to take his side back within six points.

The Bears were able to swing momentum back their way before they extended their lead once again through Tom Carr, who sprinted down the side line to score his second try of the game after a smooth spread from the home side. Volkman converted a third straight to take his side into the sheds with an 18-6 lead.

The home side dominated the second half, scoring two more tries through Sione Hopoate, who touched down in the corner, and Kobe Rugless, who ducked under the Raiders line from dummy half to score near the posts. Volkman converted one from the last two to take the Bears' lead to 34-6.

A late try to Leo Thompson, which was converted again by Schneider lessened the margin for the Raiders to 22, however it remained just a consolation, with the North Sydney Bears defeating the Canberra Raiders convincingly, 34-12.