A thrilling game at Sportingbet Stadium saw Western Suburbs emerge with a hard fought 20-16 victory over Windsor.
The Magpies opened their account on eleven minutes with a backline move bring cut off by a storming Shane Lalogafau coming back on a glorious angle to score alongside the posts. Dayne Craig appears to be relishing his new kicking duties, splitting the uprights and leaving Wests ahead 6-0.
Western Suburbs were playing an expansive game shifting the ball touchline to touchline and their exploration struck gold on the quarter hour as Akeripa got outside his man and found Tala Mapesone via Junior Vaivai, Mapesone showing too much strength for three cover defenders. Dayne Craig shaved the upright with his kick from barely a metre in from the Western touchline, Wests up 10-0 after 17 minutes.
Windsor responded almost immediately off the back of a double-error from Wests via a knock-on and penalty, with Shenelle Haumono hitting the line at speed and crashing over. Iain Roiccardi was successful with the two, Wndsor back to within four at the quarter mark.
Windsor started to dominate the play the ball and their speed at the ruck paid dividends when hooker Vila Halafihi dummied his way through the line and motored 25 metres to go over. Iain Riccardi’s successful conversion put Windsor in the lead 12-10 with 12 minutes to oranges.
Both sides had opportunities to score in front of the break, however both opportunities, on the Windsor left/Wests right side went to ground, the Wolves carrying their two point advantage into halftime.
Just five minutes elapsed before Windsor had a chance to touch down, as hooker Vila Halafihi failed to control the ball as he looked to ground it.
Wests took advantage of their reprieve and after a wonderful passing movement, David Atuau was unable to get a dummy half poass away, but managed barge over himself. Michael Stevens added the extras and Wests retook the lead 16-12 with 13 minutes gone second half.
Three quarters of the game had elapsed when a Wests kick deflected fortuitously for Rusty Bristow but, under pressure from the covering defence, Bristow was unable to find Jerome Mose in support, Bristow’s pass heading into touch.
Wests nearly touched down three minutes later, after a great left side raid, but Jack Madden’s efforts were in vain as he was dispossessed as he stepped through Windsor’s line, just a metre out.
Windsor felt aggrieved with ten minutes remaining after a steal call went against Hutch Maiava, allowing Wests to regain possession. The Magpies rolled downfield with plenty of forward runs, and a Michael Stevens offload sent Dayne Craig over in the North East corner. Craig was horribly unlucky to pull his kick across the face, Wests however still ahead 20-12 with nine minutes remaining.
A high tackle penalty for Windsor piggybacked them downfield, an overlap on the right side allowing Hamish Pomare to score agonisingly close to the touchline. Iain Riccardi's kick was pulled across the face, leaving Wests clinging desperately to a 20-16 lead with five to go.
Windsor nearly scored from the restart through a full set, but Wests scrambled well to kill of the bat down off a Windsor bomb 20 out from their own line.
Wests had one last scoring chance, a Stevens grubber through the line finding Windsor at sea, but Daniel Abou-Sleiman was unable to soccer successfully, the ball travelling dead. Windsor’s last gasp chip kick finding Abou-Sleiman just 30 seconds later, Wests hanging on for a much deserved 20-16 victory.
For Wests, Dayne Craig, Junior Vaivai and Nu Akeripa were unbelievable, while for Windsor, Vila Halafihi led the pack well, ably supported by Eli Makaui and Shenelle Haumono.
WESTERN SUBURBS 20 (Shane Lalogafau, Tala Mapesone, David Atuau, Dayne Craig tries; Dayne Craig 1 from 3, Michael Stevens 1 from 1) def WINDSOR 16 (Shenelle Haumono, Vila Halafihi, Hamish Pomare tries; Iain Riccardi 2 from 3)
Penalties: Wests 6 Windsor 7
Halftime: Wests 10 Windsor 12
Western Suburbs
15. Daniel Abou-Sleiman
2. Tala Mapasone
22, Junior Vaivai
3. Rusty Bristow
4. Jerome Mose
14. Jack Madden
7. Michael Stevens
13. Tunui Maurangi
9. Dayne Craig
19. Fred Tevago
11. Nu Akeripa
12. Shane Lalogafau
17. Andy Fiagatusa
6. David Atuau
10. Soni Paasi
16. Ronnie Palumbo
18. Dwayne Lemafa
Windsor
1. Nayah Freeman
14. PJ Cartwright
3. Kieran Croft
15. Hamish Pomare
5. Chris Aunese-Scanlan
6. Jarrod Brackenhofer
7. Eli Makaui
8. Hutch Maiava
9. Vila Halafihi
24. Pat Hollis
25. Iain Riccardi
11. Ryan Tramonte ©
12. Shenelle Haumono
10. Mitch Clark
13. Dave Cowhan
17. Ryan Cusack
18. Moses Leota
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