Western Suburbs not only registered their fifth consecutive win, but also climbed into the top eight, with a clinical 30-18 victory over a gallant Windsor at a chilly Windsor Sports Complex last Wednesday.
With a top eight berth at stake, both sides threw plenty at each other early, with Windsor the first on the scoreboard, as Sam Hollis found some space in behind the Magpies markers to touch down. Ben Stewart made the score 6-0 with as many minutes gone.
Wests dominated the next ten minutes in a determined effort to keep the game close and were rewarded as Limoni Kamuta, returning from injury, had too much strength for Chris Aunese-Scanlan on the Magpies right hand side. Michael Stevens pushed the conversion attempt wide to leave Windsor ahead 6-4 after 18 minutes.
Windsor received three consecutive penalties but failed to capitalise on their extra possession, with Limoni Kamuta registering an almost carbon copy of his first try by pushing through Chris Aunese-Scanlan. Michael Stevens again sliced the conversion attempt as Wests led 8-6 with ten minutes to oranges.
With the evening dew making the ball a little tricky to handle, Wests took the intiative by kicking early in the count. However, Windsor were quick enough to get a charge down, with Eddie Aiono picking up the scraps and racing 60 metres to score under the posts despite Nathan Waters’ valiant efforts in defence. Ben Stewart added the extras to put Windsor ahead 12-8.
Wests had a chance to level the scores right on halftime, as a bomb was batted back by Amanono Tovio to Limoni Kamuta, however Michael Stevens could not find the line, Windsor ahead 12-8 at the siren.
Windsor seemed to go into their shell after halftime as Wests made all the early running in the second half. The early momentum told as Shane Lalogafau pushed his way through the Wolves’ right hand defence on this occasion to put Wests in front. Michael Stevens pushed the difficult conversion wide to leave Windsor and Wests locked at 12 with half an hour to play.
Wests continued to completely dominate a conservative Windsor outfit and, with 20 minutes to play, a towering Nathan Waters bomb was marked by a flying Amanono Tovio, who raced in to score. David Atuau, fresh off a 22 point haul against Asquith, slotted the conversion, Wests leading 18-12 with a quarter of the game remaining.
Windsor were spurred into action by the Magpies hitting the front and Chris Satae grabbed a try back for Windsor five minutes later as Windsor went all in on the last with a short ball at the line, Satae showing enormous strength to beat four Wests defenders. Ben Stewart added the extras to tie the game up with 15 minutes to go.
Despite Windsor levelling the scores, Wests continued to throw everything at the Wolves and a booming 40-20 kick from Nathan Waters, welcomed by the loud Magpie fans present, was rewarded when David Atuau dummied left, then right, before barging his way through the Wolves defence. Atuau converted his own try to put the Magpies up 24-18 with ten minutes to play.
With five minutes left, Windsor went in search of the ball in defence, which allowed Nathan Waters to dummy his way in behind the Windsor line before offloading to Shane Lalogafau, who sealed the two points for the black and whites with his second try of the night. David Atuau added the two points, Wests finishing deserved 30-18 winners.
Magpies coach Leo Epifania was pleased with the win, especially considering Windsor is one of the more difficult places for visiting teams to win at. Epifania was also pleased that the Magpies produced a quality showing after Windsor dominated the opening exchanges.
For the home side, Hutch Maiava led from the front, with Blake South and Ben Stewart impressing. For the Magpies, Dean Rysko never took a backward step, Nathan Waters directed play well and Richard Ene was superb off the bench.
Windsor are now two matches into a daunting run of five games in fifteen days, with the Wolves facing Mounties at home on Saturday, while Wests travel to Kingsgrove.
WESTERN SUBURBS 30 (Limoni Kamuta 2, Shane Lalogafau 2, Amanono Tovio, David Atuau tries; David Atuau 3 from 4, Michael Stevens 0 from 3) def WINDSOR 18 (Sam Hollis, Eddie Aiono, Chris Satae tries; Ben Stewart 3 from 3)
Penalties: Wests 7 Windsor 4
Halftime: Wests 8 Windsor 12
Referee: Daniel Olford
Touchjudges: Peter Sciberras, Jason Higgins
Western Suburbs
1. Sam Aiga
2. Fusi Toutai
3. Trent Jennings
4. Limoni Kamuta
5. Amanono Tovio
6. Michael Stevens
7. Nathan Waters
8. Soni Paasi
9. Dayne Craig
10. Sonny Bristow
11. Jerome Mose
12. Tom Morrison
13. Dean Rysko
14. Shane Lalogafau
15. David Atuau
16. Salesi Funaki
18. Richard Ene
Windsor
1. Alan Eisenhuth
2. Joshua Jay
3. Eddie Aiono
4. Chris Aunese-Scanlan
5. Adam Williams
6. Ben Stewart
7. Eli Makaui
8. Hutch Maiava
9. Blake South
10. Chris Satae
11. Ryan Tramonte
12. Shenelle Haumono
13. Sam Hollis
14. Clay Robinson
15. Rangi Tagaloa
16. Blake Dunscombe
17. Iszak Taalili
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