MATCH REPORT NSW CUP WEST’S MAGPIES VS. CENTRAL COAST CENTURIONS, ROUND 21, 31 JULY 2010 – MORRIE BREEN OVAL, GOROKON.
Once again, as was the case in round 19, this contest was a game of two distinct halves with West’s winning the first half and Central Coast winning the second. For West’s, Ben Falcone and Junior Moors were ruled out through injury. The reshuffle brought Daniel Fitzhenry and Andrew Fifita into the starting line up. During the week, utility forward David Harris was injured at work and was unable to take the field which gave Dean Rysko, who has been out with a leg injury for some weeks, an opportunity to force his way back into the Magpie squad.
I am sure our readers will remember that Fitzhenry played for West’s Magpies before being called into the West’s Tigers team in 2002\. He returned to West’s Tigers late last year after a stint in the English Super League.
Heavy rain fell on the coast in the lead up to this game; however the pitch presented in a fairly good condition. The Centurions elected to start the game with a deep kick into Magpie territory. The ball was carried forward, but during their second hit up, the ball came loose after a crunching tackle. With the feed, the Centurions were expected to go on the attack, but after winning the scrum, their player was pushed over the touchline.
The following play gave the visitors good field position, but committed defense from the Centurions put a stop to a number of promising attacking raids. In the 7th minute after another ball came loose in a copy book tackle, the Centurions packed a scrum on the half way line. After winning the ball, half Scott Dureau decided to kick on the first tackle. This caught the Magpies by surprise and in a run to the try line, winger Kevin Naiqama outpaced the Magpies cover defense to score in the corner. Hooker George Ndaira converted the try from out wide to take his team to 6 points to 0 lead. These were to be the only points to be scored by the home team in the first half.
The Magpies lifted and following clever attacking kicks by Magpie half and Captain Nathan Waters; they were presented with repeat sets. This is exactly what the boys needed. In the 13th minute, after a couple of settling runs up the centre of the field, Fitzhenry called for the ball before running to the line. Drawing players to him he put in a clever kick over the heads of the defenders. Reading the play perfectly, winger Gus Aiga leapt high to catch the ball before diving over the try line. Jamie Sharkie’s kick from the side line shaved the upright and was waved away. Centurions 6 Magpies 4.
Almost from the restart of play, the Magpies ran the ball deep into the Centurions territory. Waters again turned the defense around with a well placed kick on the last tackle. The Magpies defense moved up as one, restricting the forward movement of the Centurions. In the 18th minute, after continued pressure, the Centurions attempted to put in a clearing kick which was charged down by Waters. After re gathering the ball he ran thirty metres to score under the post. Sharkie added the two points on offer, increasing the Magpies lead to 10 – 6.
In the 21st minute the Centurions were penalised for an infringement in a tackle. Waters found touch on the opposition’s 25 metre line. In a set play, hooker Troy O’Sullivan scooted from dummy half before passing the ball back inside to a rampaging Andrew Fifita who ran through two attempted tackles on his way to scoring the first of his two tries of the day. From a simple position, Sharkie converted the try. Magpies 16 Centurions 4.
The play certainly favored the Magpies when Waters, continuing his fine kicking, put in a powerful kick which was taken on the oppositions try line. Chasing through was Daniel Fitzhenry who pulled off a ball and all tackle to stop the opposition player in his tracks.
Play settled for several minutes, with both teams throwing the ball around in a fine display of attacking football, but it was the Magpies who made the clean breaks. First centre Andrew Everingham ran from dummy half, advancing the ball some thirty five metres down field. This was followed by prop Duan Poaneki who was tackled inches from the try line. Yes, the Centurions defense was up to the mark.
After receiving the ball, the Centurions gained good ground before a jolting tackle by winger Kieran Turner forced a turn over. The Magpies kept the ball tight for the set before deciding to run on the last tackle. Fullback Rhys Pritchard feigned to kick before weaving his way through the defense only to be tackled just short of the line.
From the play the ball, the Centurions made good ground trhough the Magpies defense. With only three minutes of the half remaining, the Centurions tried their hand by throwing the ball wide, but unfortunately for the home team, big centre Nua Akerips picked the ball cleanly out of the air before sprinting some 70 metres, scoring a fine individual try. With the half coming to a close, Sharkie put the ball over the black dot from a difficult angle. West’s Magpies 22 Centurions 6.
The second half started at a furious pace. Big hits were the order of the day. The pitch was drying quickly and those at the ground knew that the Magpies had to consolidate their lead early in the half.
After receiving the ball from the kick off, the Centurions put in a clearing kick early in the set. It was taken cleanly by Pritchard who made good yards. Quick play the balls gave the Magpies the opportunity to charge back into the oppositions half. After completing a fine attacking set, Waters put in a kick deep into the Centurions corner. The Magpie chase was good, but a quick stepping outside back soon had the Centurions with all of the go forward. After running some 80 metres, they were denied a try by the Magpies scrambling defense.
This was to be the start the Centurions were looking for. In the 7th minute, after running the ball downfield, a well directed pass was received by centre Harmony Hunt who scored a well constructed try. Ndaira added the extras. Magpies 22 Centurions 12.
Things remained pretty even for the next fifteen minutes or so, until West’s Captain and play maker Nathan Waters was injured. Leaving the field he would take no further part in the contest. Despite this, the Magpies went close to replying in kind when Fitzhenry was held up over the try line. After taking the ball back to the ten metre line for the recommencement of play, it was swung wide before being knocked on close to the home teams try line.
From the ensuing scrum, the Centurions made good yards before a hard running second row forward in the form of Marvin Filipo forced his way over the Magpies line for a strong try. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful. Magpies 22 Centurions 16.
By this stage, the Magpies had tackled themselves to a standstill, but despite their heavy work load, a flying Pritchard went on a sensational weaving run downfield, beating several defenders with pace. He linked up with centre Andrew Everingham who continued in a similar vein, running to the Centurions try line. Unfortunately, after crossing the line, he was tackled heavily and lost the ball. Everingham was forced from the field following this tackle, and as was the case with Waters, he took no further part in the game. The Magpies interchange was certainly dwindling.
The Magpies produced a good defensive set before the Centurions kick was taken by Pritchard who once again made good metres. When West’s turned the ball over, the Centurions quickly advanced to the Magpies 30 metre line. On the last tackle, Dureau positioned himself to put up a pressure kick, but a good chase from Fifita put an end to that. That chase caused Dureau to throw the ball forward. Whilst this diffused things temporarily, an unforced error from West’s gave the opposition another shot at them, but the Magpies held strong. Pritchard was then on the spot when a towering bomb was put up by Dureau. After taking the ball cleanly he took play to the Magpies 40 metre line. In the 32nd minute, the Magpies, after several speed sets, had the opportunity to turn defense into attack. Taking the ball from dummy half, Fitzhenry ran across field before picking out a hard running Fifita who reached out to score near the posts. The conversion attempt by Sharkie flew wide. West’s 26 Centurions 16.
A ten point lead seemed to be a winning margin, but the Centurions would show they had plenty left in them. After receiving a relieving penalty, the Centurions threw caution to the wind, off loading the ball in heavy traffic, but this tactic paid off when in the 35th minute Naiqama evaded a tackle to score in the corner. With the failed attempt at goal, the Magpies were hanging onto 26 points to 20 lead.
A draw was not out of the question, but when Sharkie put up a high kick off, which came down on the oppositions try line, a bad bounce caused the ball to be knocked on by a Centurions player. From the scrum win, the Magpies steadied, but when attempting to kick the ball on the last tackle, a Magpie player was blind sided by strong Centurions defense.
With the crowd on the edge of their seats, the Centurions charged downfield, and when given possession, the Magpies were penalised for a shepherd. This was the oppositions chance to snatch a draw, but with only one minute left on the clock, the Magpies showed plenty of courage and held firm. The final score line read West’s 26 Centurions 20.
Scorers for the Magpies – 2 tries to Andrew Fifita, with tries to Nua Akerpia, Gus Aiga and Nathan Waters. Jamie Sharkie 3 goals.
Scorers for the Centurions – 2 tries to Kevin Naiqama, with tries to Marvin Filipo and Harmony Hunt. George Ndaira 2 goals.
Leo Epifania’s best three – Andrew Fifita, Daniel Fitzhenry and Andrew Pearn.
Players player – Daniel Fitzhenry.
Fine performances were also put in by West’s fullback Rhys Pritchard, prop forward Alex Ranieri, centre Andrew Everingham, half Nathan Waters, second row forward Josh Davis and hooker Troy O’Sullivan.
For the Centurions Kevin Naiqama, Scott Dureau, Marvin Filipo and Chris Adams had strong games.
Next game – Round 22 West’s Magpies vs. Newtown Jets, 3pm Saturday 7 August 2010 Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
