Rnd 7 Ron Massey Cup - Match Review

Wests held on to defeat Kingsgrove 32-24 last weekend at a gloriously sunny Leichhardt Oval.

Kingsgrove opened the scoring for the afternoon with a soft try for Petros Thanos straight through the middle of the ruck. Sam Madah converted from adjacent to the posts to put the Colts ahead 6-0 after as many minutes.

The Colts try spurred Wests into action and some strong running and fast attack caught Kingsgrove short on their own line, with Magpies hooker Matt Jones burrowing over. David Attua pulled the conversion wide, Kingsgrove up by two after a quarter hour.

Kingsgrove nearly added to their lead after Magpies custodian Amanono Tovio spilt the long kick by Braeden Batiste, but the Wests line held solid to hold the Colts up on the last tackle.

Western Suburbs continued to find space through a tiring Colts defence and were rewarded just after the half hour, with Michael Mate providing for, and then receiving back, a quality ball from Tala Mapesone, to touch down out wide. Eddie Paea slotted the touchline conversion to push Wests out to a four point lead with seven minutes to the break.

Wests blew the game open just a minute later when some rapid fire passing forced David Attua back on the inside, where he found Eddie Paea, who strolled through a gaping wound in the Colts line to collect his second try of 2013. Paea converted his own try and the Magpies jumped out to a ten point lead five minutes before the break.

The Magpies weren’t done, however, and a scurrying run from Matt Jones drew in the Colts markers, allowing for an inside ball to captain Dean Rysko, who showed good strength to touch down despite the attention of three Colts in defence. Eddie Paea slotted the simple conversion attempt to see Wests leading 22-6 at half time.

The Magpies came out crowing in the second half and took just two minutes to find the line, with a glorious last tackle pass from Eddie Paea finding Tala Mapesone on a saloon passage to the line. Paea bravely rose after being flattened as he passed it to shave the upright with his conversion attempt, the Magpies jumping out to a twenty point lead with just three minutes elapsed in the second stanza.

Kingsgrove needed to score next to stay in the game and after being held up, or so said the referee according to the Colts faithful, a neat kick from Braeden Batiste found Miseli Vaikeli reaching high to pluck the ball from the air. Sam Madah converted from touch to put the Colts back in touch at 26-12.

The Magpies were quick to hit back just five minutes later, though, with some wild passing eventually creating gaps in the Kingsgrove line, Seffa Silafau on hand to bustle his way over. Paea added the extras from next to the posts, Wests regaining their 20 point break with 20 minutes on the clock.

The Colts refused to give in and their determination gave Braeden Batiste time on the last tackle to place another lovely bomb to the south-eastern corner of the sun-drenched Leichhardt, with Miseli Vaikeli picking the ball off and bringing it around for his second of the afternoon. Sam Madah slotted the conversion from in front, and the Colts were still in the game at 32-18 with 15 minutes to play.

Kingsgrove grew desperate and Braeden Batiste flung a long ball into touch. Wests, however, turned possession over immediately after the ensuing scrum, which allowed Batiste to atone for his error by jinking his way over the line. Sam Madah added the extras and Kingsgrove were finishing with a wet sail.

Wests refused to play conservatively, though, and Kingsgrove had an opportunity to make a grandstand finish of the game with two minutes to play, however Batiste could not hold on to his attempted intercept of Eddie Paea’s long ball.

For the Magpies, Tom Morrison was vital as the stabilising force for Wests, while Dean Rysko and Eddie Paea also led the way. For Kingsgrove, Miseli Vaikeli was immense for the Colts, with Braeden Batiste and Sam Burgess showing plenty of heart.

WESTERN SUBURBS 32 (Matt Jones, Michael Mate, Eddie Paea, Dean Rysko, Tala Mapesone, Seffa Silafau tries; Eddie Paea 4 from 6, David Attua 0 from 1)

KINGSGROVE (Miseli Vaikeli 2, Petros Thanos, Braeden Batiste tries; Sam Madah 4 from 4)

Penalties: Wests 4 Kingsgrove 7

Halftime: Wests 22 Kingsgrove 6


Western Suburbs

1. Amanono Tovio
20. Tuiniua Paiaaua
2. Jerome Mose
3. Michael Mate
5. Tala Mapesone
6. David Attua
7. Eddie Paea
10. Soni Paasi
17. Matt Jones
22. Seffa Silafau
14. Mason Harrison
11. Tom Morrison
8. Dean Rysko

9. Joel Jasmin
15. Todd Makejev
16. Sonny Bristow
18. Jamie Anyskiewicz


Kingsgrove
25. Ofa Felicia
1. Brett Manning
19. Sam Madah
3. Jake Beetson
5. Miseli Vaikeli
6. Aiden Carney
7. Braeden Batiste
8. Zac Wedesweller
9. Guillame Bonnet
10. Josh Graham
11. Sam Burgess
12. Mark Mooney
13. Petros Thanos

2. Graeme Suapoe
15. Daniel Hansell
17. Temata Rangi
18. George Keates