Friday, July 23, 2010

Rnd 20 NSW Cup Preview - Wests v Norths

The Magpies fell agonisingly short of a brilliant comeback against competition leaders Balmain Ryde-Eastwood last weekend. The Magpies piled on 22 unanswered points in the second half but couldn’t muster up a match winning try despite dominating possession and field position in the final minutes. The Bears clocked up their second win in a row against Shellharbour and now have the top eight in their sights and they believe this game is one they can sneak away with. Should the Bears want to grab the two points on offer here they will need to shut down Junior Moors on the fringes. Moors looked ominous in his damaging effort against the smaller Balmain fringe defenders playing a hand in almost all of the Western Suburbs’ tries last weekend. Western Suburbs coach Leo Epifania will be looking for another grinding performance from his unheralded back-row of Andrew Pearn, Josh Davis and Jamie Sharkie. All three have been in career best form in 2010 and many at Campbelltown believe they are the reason why the Magpies are in contention for a home final.

Western Suburbs Magpies Vs North Sydney Bears
Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Saturday, July 24
Kick-off: 3.00pm
Referee: Michael Laverty

Monday, July 12, 2010

Pictures: Junior Magpies take on Group 6 Country Cousins

The Junior Magpies U/13, U/14 and U/15 played against representative teams from Group 6. All teams put on a fine display of rugby league in front of a good crowd.

Western Suburbs Magpies Under 13's 2010


Western Suburbs Magpies Under 14's 2010



Western Suburbs Magpies Under 15's 2010

Sunday, July 11, 2010

I am a Magpie

I AM A MAGPIE 
(To be sung to the tune of  "I am a Champion")

Today gentlemen, I am honored to coach you
More honored to be leading you onto the field of battle
But there’s another honor to be bestowed upon you
And that is in the answer that comes with that question:
Who am I? I AM A MAGPIE!


That’s right, and you need to remember that all through this game
I will conquer what has not been conquered
Defeat will not be in my creed
I will believe what others have doubted
I will always endeavor to pull esteem, honor, and respect out of my team
I have trained my mind and my body will follow
Who am I? I AM A MAGPIE!


I will acknowledge the fact that my opponent does not expect me to win
But I will never surrender
Weakness will not be in my heart
I will look to my comrades and to those who are a part of me in this world and those who have trained me
And I will draw strength from them
Who am I? I AM A MAGPIE!


I will gladly go out into the field of battle
And I will move in everything I can do
And I will reach my field of battle by any means at my disposal
And when I get there, I will arrive violently
I will rip the heart from my enemy, and leave it bleeding on the ground
Because he cannot stop me
Who am I? I AM A MAGPIE!


To my side I have comrades, comrades that have been with me through thick and thin
Who have sacrificed their blood, sweat and tears
Never will I let them fall, never will I let them down, and I will never leave an enemy behind
Because our opponent does not know my heart
Who am I? I AM A MAGPIE!


No one will deny me, no one will define me
And no one will tell me who and what I am and can be
Belief will change my world
It has moved continents, it has moved countries, it has put men on the moon
And it will carry me through this battle
Who am I? I AM A MAGPIE!


Defeat, retreat: those are not in my words
I don’t understand those definitions
I don’t understand when things go wrong
I don’t understand mistakes
But I do understand this:
I understand victory,
And I understand never surrendering
No matter how bad things go my heart and my mind will carry my body through limits and weakness
Who am I? I AM A MAGPIE!


Today will be that day
Not tomorrow, not next week, but right now, right here
In your house and in your homes
Who am I? I AM A MAGPIE!


History will remember me
I will not let worrying affect my cause
I will define myself
I will write my own pages
And no one will tell me what I cannot be
I will never give up
Not until I’ve given everything I got
Because who am I? I AM A MAGPIE!

NSWRL Game Cast: Wests v Shellharbour

1st Minute: Underway here at Campbelltown Sports Stadium. The Dragons kick off and the Magpies will get first use of the ball. As noted in the team lists, the Magpies are boosted by the return of Nathan Waters while unfortunately for the Dragons Jake Marketo is out and has been replaced by Mark Mooney.
2nd Minute: TRY What a start for the Dragons. The end of the first set and Falcone sets up for a 40-20 but great pressure by Aaron Henry who charges it down, regathers and charges 35m to score beside the posts. Scott Jones converts and the Dragons will play from in front today. Dragons 6 Wests 0
6th Minute: Wests have recovered from that poor start and are starting to assert themselves in regards to field position. Good to see Nathan Waters back out there after missing for a number of weeks due to injury.
10th Minute: Wests dodge a bullet as a rampaging Junior Paulo drops it cold on the 4th tackle right in front of the Wests try line.
14th Minute: Some razzle dazzle by Wests on the last finishes with John Skandalis putting in a grubber and ALMOST getting to it in goal but Jeff Zwolsman cleans up for the Dragons and gets them out of trouble. Great work by Skando, turning back the clock!
18th Minute: Most of the play is at the Wests attacking end at the moment but Wests haven't really looked like scoring to be honest... I'm sure it will come eventually but they will need to respect the ball a bit more before that can happen.
20th Minute: A penalty to Shellharbour 35m out and surprisingly they turn down the two and kick for touch but then turn it over almost immediately. Think they would like to go back and take the shot now!
24th Minute: TRY Well the Magpies are on the board, it was scratchy but it counts. Sharkie was brought down just short of the line and the ball somehow spills out the back and Kurt Kara simply picks it up and falls over the line. Everyone thought Sharkie was tackled or had lost it but the man in the middle Phil Henderson points to the spot. Sharkie converts and we are locked up at 6-6
28th Minute: TRY Great work by Nathan Waters who puts a pearler of a ball on for Josh Davis who is far too strong for a couple of Dragons defenders. Sharkies conversion is good and Wests now lead 12-6
34th Minute: not a lot to report here at the moment. A lot of the game being played between the two twenties and a few errors also stifling the flow
Half Time I wont lie people, it hasn't been the best game of footy I have ever seen but it is still close so at least we are in for an interesting second half... Back soon with the second half action


Half Time (NSW Cup) Wests 12 lead Dragons 6

42nd Minute: back underway here and unfortunately a couple of errors to start the second half. Obviously the half time speeches about looking after the ball didn't do the trick. Shellharbour on the attack though and will look to square things up.
48th Minute: TRY Great work by Everingham as he jinks and jives and sets off on a twenty metre run and eventually flicks one out the back ALA Matty Gidley, and it hits Troy O'Sullivan on the chest who scores beside the posts. Sharkie converts and Wests now lead 18-6. Big job for the Dragons now. They must score next!
53rd Minute: Things starting to open up here as the Dragons are now being a bit more adventurous as they look to chase the game and the Magpies are replying in kind... Pritchard and Kepa look most likely for Wests and Lett as per usual is probably the Dragons best avenue to the try line.
56th Minute: TRY I am a genius! Great ball by Junior Paulo sets guess who on his way to the try line??? Michael Lett. Lett scores out wide (as predicted by NSWRL Media) and Scott Jones slots it and we have a ball game once again. Wests 18 Dragons 12
60th Minute: The Dragons looked to have scored in the corner after Kepa lost the ball near his own line and a Dragons player dived on it claiming the TRY but it was ruled that the Dragons player stripped it one on one but propelled it forward in the process.. Close call for Wests
64th Minute: The Dragons are really finishing strongly here and they are being aided by some helpful penalties. Can they bring on a grandstand finish?
66th Minute: TRY WOW, big finish coming here as Michael Lett grabs a double with a simple run one off the ruck. Scott Jones adds the extras and we are locked up at 18-18 with a little over ten remaining. Will Shellharbour finally break the duck??
70th Minute: TRY Wests answer straight back as Alex Ranieri looked to be held up over the line as four defenders had him a foot off the ground but at the least second after what seemed like an eternity he rolls his body weight and collapses to the ground. The ref points to the spot. Unfortunately Gus Aiga hits the post with a fairly simple conversion so the lead is only 4 not 6! Wests 22 Dragons 18
75th Minute: TRY Great work by Falcone who has been brilliant in the last few minutes. He makes a line break and almost scores but on the next tackle the Dragons defence is at sixes and sevens, Waters sends it wide to Everingham who steps inside and scores what should be the sealer. Aiga kicks a harder conversion than the one he missed and it's 28-18
Full Time TRY as the siren sounds Gussy Aiga does his best Dancing With the Stars impression as he sprints down the touchline and scores. He converts his own try and at full time it is Wests 34 Dragons 18
What was not the best of first forties was well and truly made up for by a highly entertaining second half. Falcone was great in the second and was helped by the likes of Everingham, Pearn and Skando who were all really good when the game was in the balance.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Wests Tigers beat Titans at Campbelltown


Wests Tigers have recorded a grinding 15-14 victory over the Gold Coast Titans tonight at Campbelltown Sports Stadium in round 18 of the Telstra Premiership.The win moves Wests Tigers to 24 points and into third place on a congested competition ladder.
“I prefer not to have to go down to the wire like that but still, we have a little bit more steel in us,'' said a relieved Wests Tigers Coach Tim Sheens.
“There is still plenty of footy to be played against some good sides. I like to be seven in front like we were and stay seven in front.
“A win is a win and as we have said recently, we will take it anyway we can get it.”
Gold Coast opened the scoring in the second minute when half-back Scott Prince put through a grubber kick behind the line for centre Mat Rogers to score out wide.
Rogers converted the try for a 6-0 lead after three minutes.
Referee Gavin Badger called on video referee Sean Hampstead in the 13th minute to determine a try in the corner to winger Mitch Brown from a grubber kick by hooker and captain Robbie Farah. The try was awarded to leave Wests Tigers trailing 6-4.
Half-back Benji Marshall magnificently converted the try from the sideline from 23 metres out for a 6-6 scoreline after 15 minutes.
Rogers converted a penalty goal from 15 metres out to give the Titans an 8-6 lead after 23 minutes. Wests Tigers Prop Bryce Gibbs was penalised for a late tackle around the knees of Prince in a clearing kick.
Marshall then converted a penalty goal from 30 metres out in the 35th minute to level the scores at 8-8.
Wests Tigers took a 9-8 lead into half-time when Marshall, from a standing start, snapped a 50 metre field goal over the crossbar to leave the field to a standing ovation from Wests Tigers supporters. It was a field goal you just had to see to believe.


Second Half
Wests Tigers appeared certain to score in the 48th minute when lock Chris Heighington found open space to send a pass to centre Blake Ayshford. Unfortunately Ayshford dropped the ball 10 metres out with winger Lote Tuqiri unmarked outside of him.
A fight erupted from a scrum in the 59th minute between hookers Robbie Farah and Nathan Friend.
Farah claimed to referee Gavin Bagder that he was headbutted. Titans second-rower Mark Minichiello was sin-binned for 10 minutes for being third man in after throwing punches from the back of the scrum.
Farah later said Friend had been baiting him throughout the game.
“Sometimes emotions do flow over. We got the penalty, so it was good,'' Farah said.
“There was a bit of sledging going on. He was at me all game, hitting me after I past and that, so I had a little dig at him.
“We packed into the scrum and he led with his head. I wasn’t too please about that so I stood up foy myself.”
Prince saw it differently and was surprised the penalty went to Wests Tigers.
“You put your heads into a scrum and you see a headbutt in every scrum,'' he said.
“I guess it doesn’t give him (Farah) the license to throw the first punch though."
Ayshford made up for his earlier mistake when he crossed over in the 66th minute in the corner after Heighington offloaded a desperate pass to Farah who dummied before passing to Ayshford to score.
Heighington had Aysford and Turiqi on his outside before going back inside after brushing off winger William Zillman.Marshall converted the try to give Wests Tigers a 15-8 lead after 68 minutes.
The Titans struck back four minutes later when a Prince grubber kick saw winger Kevin Gordon fly through to dive on ball to score in the corner. Rogers converted the try from 23 metres out for a 15-14 scoreline.
Badger ruled a pass forward from five-eighth Greg Bird to Zillman forward in the 75th minute just when the winger was in open space and 60 metres away from the tryline
Wests Tigers kept charging forward towards the Titans tryline inside the final minute to record victory in front of a crowd of 14,050.

Wests Tigers play North Queensland Cowboys at Leichhardt Oval next Monday night at 7pm.
WESTS TIGERS 15 (B Ayshford M Brown tries B Marshall 3 goals B Marshall field goal) bt GOLD COAST 14 (K Gordon M Rogers tries M Rogers 3 goals).

10/07/2010 12:44:21 AM

Friday, July 9, 2010

Wests Call to Arms

Help Wests tackle cancer! The Magpies will be collecting in support of "Call to Arms" raising money to fight cancer in men. Make your donation at the ground this Saturday or if you an't make it to tomorrow's game - you can still join the Magpies Call to Arms by donating at our event page. Help us reach our $1,000 target and support the fight against cancer in men.and be a part of the fight to save men's lives.


Event Page


Thursday, July 8, 2010

Rnd 18 Preview - Wests vs Shellharbour

If there were any doubts before, there aren’t any more, the Western Suburbs Magpies are officially in a form slump. Having lost four of their last five which also included a less than convincing win against the Vulcans in round 14, the break may have came at the perfect time for the Magpies. The Dragons will head to Campbelltown knowing that they haven’t tasted victory since a win against the Bears way back in round five and there is little doubt that Terry Gilogley and his men will be trying to move heaven and earth to break that unwanted streak. Michael Lett returns to the back for Shellharbour after spending some time in the NRL recently as cover for Brett Morris, Matt Cooper, Darius Boyd and Beau Scott who have all missed games over the origin period. With the Dragons (NRL) having the bye this weekend, there is some chance that a number of fringe players may make surprise appearances here. After playing a pivotal role in the NSW Residents victory against QLD on Wednesday night, Nathan Waters despite not being named is expected to play and Andrew Fifita is the Wests Tigers 19th man on Friday night against the Titans, but once again he may take his place here if his services are not required in first grade. Despite Wests recent indifferent form it would be hard to see them not win here, if they are serious about contending for the 2010 title then surely this is a game they can’t afford to lose.

Western Suburbs Magpies Vs Shellharbour Dragons
Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Saturday, July 10
Kick-off: 3.00pm
Referee: Phil Henderson
Broadcast: NSWRL Match of the Round to be aired on Fox Sports 2, Wednesday, July 14, 5.00pm
Broadcast: www.nswrl.com.au’s Weekend Game-Cast, proudly brought to you by Teamm8

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Magpies Development Squads

Wests Junior Magpies Development Squads will kick off their school holiday match schedule with games against Balmain at the home of the Wests Tigers Joint Venture - Concord Oval, tomorrow. The Junior Magpies U13s, U14s and U15s will be playing from 10am, with the U17s development squad to round out the day.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Bare Foot interviews Magpies

West's Magpies' NSW Cup Team Officials and Players were interviewed by Bare Foot Rugby League at Durant Oval, Warwick Farm tonight.  It will appear on Channel 180 Foxtel 4.30pm to 6.30pm Wednesday this week.  It will be replayed at 11.30am and 3.30pm Thursday.  They recorded training in the gym and on the field.