Official Wentworthville Magpies Thread II

[Forty20]

There is some jersey grabbing going on down our right-edge which ultimately results in a try to the Cutters as their #24 (Charlie Faainga) crashes over from short range.

The conversion is good.

Illawarra hit the lead for the first time today, 18-16.

35min gone.

 

[Stagger eel]

That was an awful awful decision..

 

[Forty20]

We should offer a deal to pat Matalae similar to the one both Jerome and Gilbert are on... He's a bit of weapon on the right edge

He has been very good over the last month, hasn't he?

Wenty are handing Illawarra momentum at this point with a penalty from the kickoff set.

Fortunately Illawarra decide they want an even match and fail to find touch with the kick.

Maliota and Parata attack down the left before Wenty switch back to the right with Mataele.

Fluke puts in a terrible kick, which is toed ahead by Giblet who looks to have scored but the ref blows a penalty - ruling Gilbert offside. I thought the replay showed the call was a tough one.

The Cutters go on the attack due to that penalty, MacKenzie gets beaten by Vidot but the ball is bad to his winger and Wenty het the ball back only to lose it straight away.

Illawarra squander a certain try now!

The pass is correctly called forwards after the Cutters had players queued up out the left to score. What a left off.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

We should offer a deal to pat Matalae similar to the one both Jerome and Gilbert are on... He's a bit of weapon on the right edge

Have the NRL made a decision on the second tier cap for next year?

 

[Forty20]

Gilbert loses the ball in a tackle to close out the half.

Even missing Edwards and Harrison, Wenty would be dirty on their effort thus far.

Hopefully they will come out firing in the second half.

Half Time

Wenty trail Illawarra 16-18.

 

[Stagger eel]

Have the NRL made a decision on the second tier cap for next year?

I believe not

 

[Forty20]

I imagine there a few of the current Wenty squad that may be secured to a second-tier deal pending the outcome of any changes to the second-tier cap.

 

[oldmancraigy]

The only bloke on the field who is in next year's fulltime squad is Lorenzo Ma'afu.

And how is Edwards able to play NRL when the match impacts on Newcastle's finals chances?

Well, we don't know the reason Edwards can't play, just that it is cap related! I could imagine 2 scenarios which would prevent him playing any but 1 game this year, because it would impact how he would be counted against our cap in 2014.
Perhaps they got to the stage where we wanted to play him (say 7 weeks ago?), but decided that we could only give him 1 game, and that we'd rather re-sign him for next year than play him this?

Or it could just mean that someone else has been flicked that we haven't yet heard about?

 

[Forty20]

There is a post on nospam07 that states that Allgood is out and Edwards is replacing him.

 

[Forty20]

Wenty will be kicking off in the second half.

 

[Forty20]

Illwarra ruck it past halfway in their first set before Herekutukutuku brings it back out just short of the 20m line.

Parata breaks through the line, dragging a defender with him. He tries to get the ball away to a flying Jake Mullaney but Mullaney can't hold onto it and loses the ball.

Cutters scrum 30m out from their line.

 

[Forty20]

MacKenzie reads the backline move well to shut down Cook.

Mataele ends up being the one to retrieve the ball grubber kick on the last and he is belted by some willing defence to force a line drop out.

44min gone.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Mullaney is worse in NSW Cup than he is in first grade.

I imagine there a few of the current Wenty squad that may be secured to a second-tier deal pending the outcome of any changes to the second-tier cap.

Clubs should be free to sign as many players as they want to contracts under $50k, with the caveat that any player who hasn't played NRL that year is free to break contract at any time. Would need some tidying up to protect clubs' youth prospects of course.

 

[Forty20]

Garvey is pulled down by Parata in a good tackle but a good play-the-ball puts Wenty in trouble as Illawarra go to their left.

Cook somehow scores despite the attention of three defenders. Really soft stuff there. Wenty had Cook held up for all money but somehow he manages to plant to ball down.

The conversion is good.

Illwarra lead Wenty 24-16.

Poor start by Wenty.

Injury concern to Dylon Gilbert, who is off the field receiving treatment for his ribs.

46min gone.

 

[Forty20]

Illawarra find touch 10m from Wenty's goal line with a superb kick by Garvey.

 

[Forty20]

There are some good runs by Parata, Mataela and Ma'afu - the last of which also slips a lovely offload.

Wenty bomb it towards the posts on the last via Mullaney. Cook soars high to get first crack at the ball but loses it as he comes down and a well placed Ben Fritz scoops up the loose ball to score under the posts.

Fluke raises the flags.

Wenty trail Illawarra 22-24.

50min gone.

 

[Forty20]

Rawalui fields a shortish kickoff on our 20m line. McKinnon pinches some good metres from dummy half and he is followed by a good run by Moliata.

The pass from dummy half is called forwards, which is a pity as Mullaney and Herekututukuku looked to have scored down our left.

 

[Forty20]

Illwarra score a try with a well worked backline move. Cook goes straight through via an inside ball outside and then immediately links up with his outside backs out to the left. Herekutukutuku tries to cover the runner but he crosses out wide.

Cranston makes it five in a row.

Illawarra leads Wenty 30-22.

54min gone.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

30 to 22 to cutters about 25 to go

 

[Forty20]

Wenty produce a better defensive set on this occasion, keeping Illwarra to the halfway line.

Herekututukuku is driven backwards in his kick return but despite the poor start to the set, Wenty drive their way into Illawarra's half.

The set is finished with a poor kick and two or three tackles later the Cutters break through Wenty's line, stealing 30 odd metres before the runner is pulled down.

On the last, Illawarra attack down the short side but they are trapped and it is a turnover.

57min gone.