Dominant performances were a feature from the opening weekend of finals in the 2025 Sydney Shield and Leagues Clubs Australia Ron Massey Cup, with Elimination and Qualifying Finals matches held at both Ringrose Park and HE Laybutt Sporting Complex on Saturday 23 August.
Saints make statement after early arm-wrestle
Kicking off the afternoon’s action was the Sydney Shield Qualifying Final between second-placed Manly Leagues and St Marys Saints in third, but it was St Marys who took the game by the scruff the neck to record an ominous 44-10 victory.
It was different story in the early exchanges with the two sides picking up a try each, the first through Saints winger Kaleb Farr in the fourth minute then Manly Leagues centre Max Davies shortly after.
The 6-6 deadlock was eventually broken at the 20-minute mark when St Marys picked up three more tries in quick time, for fullback Matthew Curl, hooker Billy Thompson and dangerous five-eighth Dylan Marshall. Along with Farr’s three conversions and a penalty goal, all of sudden the Saints took a 24-6 lead into the break.
Although Manly got the second half off to the start they needed after fullback Braith Alexander’s four-pointer, St Marys regained control crossing for another four tries including Marshall’s second, to run away with the win and book their place in the Major Semi-final against Wentworthville United.
Wenty put reigning Premiers away
Wentworthville Magpies have made sure a different team will be lifting the Leagues Clubs Australia Ron Massey Cup in 2025, after coming away with a 26-8 win over the Glebe Dirty Reds at Ringrose Park.
With Glebe hoping to emulate their 2024 heroics with a fairy-tale finals run from fifth position, winger Sione Manakofua’s opening try in the Elimination Final wasn’t enough to help them overcome a strong Wenty outfit.
The Magpies would soon hit back through hooker Raymond Faroun before edging ahead 6-4 with Dylan White’s conversion. Centre Alfred Smalley found his way over the line just shy of half-time to extend the lead to 10-4.
Manakofua was in again early in the second half to bring the deficit back to two points for Glebe, but Wenty pushed further ahead with tries to Beau Newlands, a second for Smalley, then five-eighth Kruz Niutili-Schmidt to put the result beyond. The Magpies’ win sees them stay alive for the Minor Semi-final at St Marys Leagues Stadium on Saturday 30 August.
Hawks soar into Major Semi with strong first half
The Ryde-Eastwood Hawks turned in an emphatic first-half performance to ultimately secure a 36-22 win over Mounties in the Leagues Clubs Australia Ron Massey Cup Qualifying Final at HE Laybutt Sporting Complex on Saturday.
With both sides crossing in the first 20 minutes – Hawks’ Anthony Raheb (sixth) then Mounties’ Eddie Faalua (19th) – the second-against-third was certainly living up to the billing.
But from that point Ryde-Eastwood put the foot down to cross the stripe on three more occasions prior to half-time, courtesy of No.14 Noah Johannssen, five-eighth Adam Fearnley, then crafty No.9 Joe Lovodua. Simon Tito nailed all four conversions to lead 24-6 at the break.
Brad Abbey’s 42nd-minute try gave Mounties a glimmer of hope, but the Hawks did well to manage the remainder of the contest – with Lovodua scoring a second – to claim a comfortable 14-point win.
The Hawks now head to the Major Semi-final against St Marys Saints for a chance at Grand Final qualification, while Mounties earn a second chance to stay alive in the Minor Semi against Wentworthville Magpies.
Earlier at HE Laybutt, Mounties ran away with a 34-14 win in the Sydney Shield Elimination Final, which now sees them take on Manly Leagues in the Minor Semi.
All four Semi-finals matches take place at St Marys Leagues Stadium on Saturday 30 August, with the action kicking from 11am. Tickets are $10 at the gate and every game is streamed live on BarTV Sports. Click here to subscribe.
