Western Suburbs began their 2014 OAMPS pre-season campaign in style with
a physical and deserved 26-16 victory over Windsor at Lidcombe Oval.
After
being outclassed a fortnight earlier by the Penrith Panthers NSW Cup
side, the Magpies looked to show what they were capable of, and the
Magpies didn't take long to demonstrate they meant business.
After
a series barnstorming runs, Dayne Craig ran the short side to create an
overlap before handing off to Tala Mapesone, who strolled over. Michael
Stevens potted the touchline conversion and the Magpies led 6-0 after
just four minutes.
An exchange of penalties and handling errors
stalled the game but with seven minutes to quarter time, the Magpies
added to their lead with a series of short passes down the left hand
side finding Junior Vaivai, who stepped inside the Windsor fullback to
touch down. Michael Stevens pushed the kick across the face of goal,
which saw Wests secure a 10-0 lead which they took to the first break.
Wests
picked up where they left off with a bizarre try to begin the second
quarter. A Windsor bomb was allowed to bounce and was picked up by
Junior Vaivai. Vaivai kicked ahead to avoid going out and was deemed to
have regained possession by the referee despite the protests of the
Wolves players. From the ensuing play the ball, Michael Stevens sold a
dummy to the first marker and sent Rusty Bristow storming through what
would more accurately be described as a chasm rather than a gap in the
Windsor defence, Bristow running 50 metres to touch down out wide.
Stevens again failed to convert, Wests ahead 14-0 four minutes in.
Wests
added to their score on ten minutes with Brstow's second try, who
carried plenty of defence over the line after a glorious long ball from
Michael Stevens. Unfortunately, Stevens' boot wasn't quite as on song as
his hands, with yet another conversion attempt sailing wide, with Wests
now leading 18-0.
Windsor needed to score quickly and did so
Iain Riccardi, who performed a neat hit and spin manoveure to touch
down. James Thiel added the extras from alongside the posts and Windsor
were back to within a dozen.
However, Windsor could not maintain
their momentum and right on halftime, the Magpies registered their fifth
try with Stevens again playing provider with a long ball, which this
time found the chest of Junior Vaivai. Unfortunately yet another Stevens
conversion sailed wide, with Wests heading to the main break ahead
22-6.
The third quarter was memorable not for any wonderful
attacking moves, but rather the incredible scrambling defence Wests put
together to begin the period. This was vindicated seven minutes into the
second half, as a lovely cutut ball from Nu Akeripa sent Tala Mapesone
in for his second of the day, the third player to register a double.
Michael Stevens was not enjoying a change of luck with the kicks, Wests
ahead 26-6 after 49 minutes.
As the third quarter wound down,
Wests were starting to feel the pinch of some extended periods of
defence, and Windsor prop Jack Quealey took advantage of a tiring
Magpies defence to charge through the Magpies' smaller player to grab a
try. James Thiel failed to convert and, with 20 minutes to play, Wests
lead by 26-10.
The final quarter was a true trial as both sides
gave up the ball as often as penalties, although the Wests defence was
certainly the more aggressive. However, Windsor would have the last
laugh, as Logan Geyer stormed through the Wests defence to race from
halfway to score. Iain Riccardi slotted the extras, but it was too
little too late as the Magpies ran out victors by 26-16.
Magpies
coach Leo Epifania said he was happy wth the performance as, although
there was still much to work on, there were clear signs of improvement
from the team's last performance against the Panthers. Epifania said
more hard work and more game time would see even more improvement and he
felt the Magpies are n the right path for the coming season.
Wests
will now look to take revenge for their elimination in last year's
preliminary final when they take on Wentworthville next weekend.
WESTERN
SUBURBS 26 (Tala Mapesone 2, Junior Vaivai 2, Rusty Bristow 2 tries;
Michael Stevens 1 from 6) def WINDSOR 16 (Iain Riccardi, Jack Quealey,
Logan Geyer tries; James Thiel 1 from 2, Iain Riccardi 1 from 1)
Penalties: Wests 6 Windsor 13
Halftime: Wests 22 Windsor 6
Western Suburbs
1. Ryan Clarke
2. Tala Mapesone
3. Rusty Bristow
4. Jerome Mose
5. Junior Vaivai
6. Andrew Sultana
7. Michael Stevens
8. Jarrad Szczudlo
9. Dayne Craig
10. Fred Tevago
11. Shane Lalogafau
12. Nu Akeripa
13. Tunui Maurangi
14. Rhys Norman
15. Maurangi Maurangi
16. Rhys Tucker
17. Craig Shipley
18. Hayden Johnston
19. Jacob Folent
20. Thomas Crealy
21. Ronnie Palumbo
22. PJ Hunt
23. Fran Welsh
24. Soni Passi
25. David Ryan
Windsor
1. Adam Williams
2. Naya Freeman
3. Mitch Denning
4. PJ Cartwright
5. Chris Aunese-Scanlan
6. Logan Geyer
22. Kauri Aupouri
8. Jack Quealey
9. Campbell Battye-Smith
10. Jordan Hall
11. Iain Riccardi
15. Rangi Tagaloa
13. Dave Cowhan
14. Ryan Traonte
16. David Mahe
17. Malcolm Timbery-Thornton
18. Darcy Trindall
19. Jason Doran
20. James Thiel
21. Brandon Smallwood
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