100 games of first-grade experience were the difference as the class of halfback Will Smith and fullback Bevan French helped the Wentworthville Magpies to a 26-10 win over Western Suburbs on Sunday afternoon at Bankwest Stadium.
Along with hooker Matt McIllwrick, who boasts 56 NRL games, the pair put in a composed performance against their more inexperienced counterparts.
Smith, whose last first-grade appearance was in Round 13, was a constant threat in attack finishing the match with three try-assists while his kicking game was precise.
French, who tops the try scorers in the Canterbury Cup NSW competition, was deceptive as always with the ball in hand while also another valuable kicking option.
An early penalty gifted Western Suburbs prime attacking field position and they capitalised with ease, halfback Jock Madden playing it short for a charging Luke Garner to score.
Madden was successful with his conversion, handing Wests a 6-0 lead.
A smart kick from Smith and strong contact from French then saw Wentworthville force a dropout to earn their first shot at points.
And they too were quick to take advantage, a left-side spread ending with Smith putting Ethan Parry over.
Smith couldn’t land the conversion from near the sideline, leaving the score at 6-4 after 10 minutes.
Wests eventually hit back when Tommy Talau fended off Parry to surge over in the 17th minute.
Madden’s conversion drifted right of the posts.
In a seesawing affair, an error coming out of trouble from Wests fullback Watson Heleta invited Wentworthville back into the contest.
McIllwrick threw a crash ball to Oregon Kaufusi, the successful conversion then locking things up with 15 minutes remaining in the first half.
Two opportunities went begging in the next five minutes as both Smith and Stefano Utoikamanu went over the line but were unable to get the ball down.
Smith made up for it minutes later though, bagging his second try-assist of the game as he put Salesi Fainga’a over.
The conversion attempt from Smith was waved away.
Their first-grade experience telling, Smith and French together forced consecutive dropouts to heap further pressure on Wests and it told as Rhys Davies darted out of dummy-half to score in the dying moments of the half.
He landed the conversion to hand Wentworthville a 20-10 lead at the break.
After a relatively uneventful opening 15 minutes to the second half, Tim Mannah burst through the middle and could see the speedy French backing up in support.
But the fullback was held back, prompting the officials to blow a penalty and Wentworthville extended their lead.
Smith was the creator once more, this time throwing an ambitious long ball which bounced up for Haze Dunster to soar over in the corner.
Davies nailed the conversion from the sideline.
Wests went over for two late tries, the first to Kane McQuiggin before Max Burey chased down a chip kick, leaving the final difference at six points.
