Junior Reps Wrap

HAROLD MATTS

Western Suburbs commenced their 2015 Harold Matthews campaign with a blistering 32-4 demolition of St. George at Kogarah.

A physical opening from the red V saw Wests attempt an offload which was knocked down in the tackle by the home side and, from the ensuing scrum, Sam Rembridge cut the Dragons D open to race 90 metres to open the scoring at 6-0 to the visitors after four minutes courtesy of the conversion to James Tautailalefua.

A strong set from the kick off created space on the right, and the redV became the red l l as James Tautailalefua strolled through untouched out wide. Tautailalefua pulled the conversion wide, the Magpies up 10-0 inside 7 minutes.

Forward passes dominated the next ten minutes until Wests found space on the left, James Tautailalefua showing too much speed for the covering defence in a 70 metre dash to the line before converting his own try for a 16-0 advantage after 20 minutes.

Saints had no answer to the man mountains in the Magpie pack and, exhausted on the back of two penalties, the Dragons switched off, Rua Ngati diving over from a quick tap from two metres, Wests taking their 20-0 to half time after James Tautailalefua hit the upright.

The Dragons needed to be first on the board after the interval and did so, Mitchell Clift muscling his way through the middle of the ruck to grab four, but not six, as his kick struck metal after two minutes of the second stanza.

Wests made amends at the 40 minute mark, though, Ray Ngati sneaking under everyone to burrow in. Tautailalefua split the sticks and Wests regained their halftime adavantage and then some, ahead 26-4 with 20 minutes to go.

Thankfully there was no ground announcer on duty, because they would have been having nightmares watching the James Tautailalefua show, as the Magpies custodian sliced through off a scrum win to go 90 metres to touch down under the posts and claim his trick and, with a conversion thrown in for good measure, a 32-4 break for Wests with 14 minutes remaining on the clock.

Wests nearly signed off with another one, but Maurice Faaae couldn’t keep the ball under control as he crossed the line, the Magpies taking the two points by 32-4.

WESTERN SUBURBS 32 (James Tautailalefua 3, Rua Ngati 2, Sam Rembridge tries; James Tautailalefua 4 from 6) defeated ST.GEORGE 4(Mitchell Clift tries; Mitchell Clift 1 from 1)

Penalties: St. George 6 Western Suburbs 7

Halftime: St. George 0 Western Suburbs 20

Western Suburbs

 1. James Tautailalefua

2. Billy Omerod

3. Sam Rembridge

4. Nathan Patolo

5. Maurice Faaae

6. Gus Garzaniti

7. Ailand Davis-Pihema

8. Jonathon Talamaivao

9. Rua Ngati

10. Lachlan Russell

11. Alex Potifara

23. Lucas Castle

13. Ben Seufale

14. Christian Urso

15. Zane Rifai

17. Hyrum William-Pulotu

20. Denzel Tavui

St. George

 1. Usaia Lovodua

2. Jack Herlihy

3. Jordan Nader

4. Hussein Awada

5. Saurisi Mocevakaca

6. Anthony Romanovski

15. Ryan Economou

8. Daniel Thompson

9. Andrew Kapinga

10. Eniasi Tokelau

11. Peter Polutele

12. Feliuaki Palu

13. Mitchell Clift

14. Lewis Hannah

16. Jeffrey Alam

17. Franklin Pele

18. Harris Georgopoulos

SG BALL

St. George dominated a physical game against Wests, coming out 32-16 victors at Kogarah.

Wests opened the scoring with a nice piece of numerical symmetry, number eleven PJ Leifi crossing on the right side after as many minutes off a short out ball. Daniel Roberts was unsuccessful with the kick, the Magpies up 4-0.

St. George were finding the bigger black and white pack too much to handle, and a simple short ball on to the chest of Julius Lavaao was too much for the Dragons, Lavaao barging over adjacent to the posts for a 10-0 lead after 23 minutes courtesy of Daniel Roberts.

The red V finally found their way to the line after 31 minutes, a series of angle passes finally ending with Jai Doolan streaking in under the uprights, the Dragons’ deficit reduced to four after Bessie Aufaga-Toomaga slotted from in front.

The Dragons struck immediately, a bomb allowed to bounce by Wests and Bessie Aufaga-Toomaga snapping up the crumbs to dart over before converting his own try to give St. George an unlikely 12-10 lead at half time.

St. George picked up where they left off in the second half, and after five minutes, Jayden El-Jalkh snuck through the centre of the ruck to touch down and, with Bessie Aufaga-Toomaga’s kick successful, the Dragons were out to 18-10.

The natives began to grow restless as both sides turned up the physicality, but it was Wests who kept their heads, Tom Angel showing incredible strength to go through five Dragons in 15 metres to touch down. Daniel Roberts added the extras, and the Magpies were back to within two points after 57 minutes.

The Dragons, though, refused to allow the Magpies any leeway, Jai Doolan burrowing over after a quick play the ball caught Wests too slow to get back. Bessie Aufaga-Toomaga failed to convert, however, the Dragons only getting back to a six point break with 16 minutes remaining.

The Dragons kicking game was something to behold, a midfield bomb falling perfectly in between converging Magpie defenders but not before Bessie Aufaga-Toomaga marked the ball and popped it back, Ben Cassell showing too much speed to get to the corner first. Aufaga-Toomaga pushed the kick wide again, but the red and white started to look comfortable at 26-16 with ten to go.

The Dragons put the game to bed with three minutes to go, Eddie Faalua catching a tiring Wests defence off guard and pushing over the line. Bessie Aufaga-Toomaga nailed the conversion, the Dragons running out 32-16 victors.

ST.GEORGE 32 (Jai Doolan 2, Bessie Aufaga-Toomaga, Jayden El-Jalkh, Ben Cassell, Eddie Faalua tries; Bessie Aufaga-Toomaga 4 from 6) defeated WESTERN SUBURBS 16 (PJ Leifi, Julius Lavaao, Tom Angel tries; Daniel Roberts 2 from 3)

Penalties: St. George 5 Western Suburbs 4

Halftime: St. George 12 Western Suburbs 10

Western Suburbs

1. Jye Brooker

2. Harrison Coskerie

3. Liam Cassidy

4. David Wright

5. Toa Mata’afa

6. Daniel Roberts

7. Hosea Leuea

8. Julius Taavao

9. Ryan Leet

10. Lenny Suani

11. PJ Leifi

12. Ray Stone

13. Elijah Mannah

14. Jake Scott

15. Tom Angel

16. Hans Ta’ala

17. Jerome Maufu

St. George

1. Ben Cassell

2. Jayden El-Jalkh

3. Lachlan Hughes

4. Jai Doolan

5. Bessie Aufaga-Toomaga

6. Brandon Boumelhem

7. Joe Lovodua

8. Eddie Faalua

9. Reece Robson

10. David Naufahu

11. Delane Cherrington

12. Izaha Te’amo

13. Elijah Hunt

14. Treymaine Brown

18. Tristan Green

19. Ofa Tuitupou

20. Stuart Mason