Late tries to Dylan Smith and Kauri Aupouri-Puketapu has given the Western Suburbs Magpies a 32-22 victory over the Newtown Jets at Lidcombe Oval on Sunday.
It was a fittingly hard-fought contest as both sides challenged for the Tommy Raudonikis Cup although it would be the Magpies who prevailed with rapid-fire tries in the closing stages proving the difference.
The Jets were made to rue the loss of Kyle Flanagan in the lead-up to kick-offalthough Luke Polselli impressed in his absence with a starring display in a losing side.
Western Suburbs were relentless in the opening exchanges with three unanswered tries in the first 10 minutes – Jacob Liddle with the first try in just the third minute before Kane Bradley followed suit shortly after.
David Nofoaluma gave his side a healthy 16-point buffer with a try in the 10th minute, but the Jets would gained a surge of confidence when Matt Evans crossed just 10 minutes later.
Evans got his second try just five minutes before half-time following some great lead-up play from James Segeyaro to reduce the deficit to just four at the break.
Tries to Isaac Lumelume gave the Jets an unlikely lead but it was short-lived as Kane Bradley picked up his second try of the afternoon and put Wests back in front.
With 20 minutes to go there was a two-point difference between the teams, until Jets centre Jackson Ferris broke the deadlock with a try in the 61st minute.
Just moments later, Tyson Gamble and Jets halfback Braydon Trindall went head to head in pursuit of a Segeyaro kick which eventually lead to the match-winning try to Dylan Smith.
In the end, it was a battle of desperation Magpies prevailed with a try to Aupouri-Puketapu. They’ll look to maintain this momentum when they verse the Bears next week while Jets take on an in-form South Sydney Rabbitohs side
6 Tries:
- Jacob Liddle 3'
- Kane Bradley 6'
- David Nofoaluma 11'
- Kane Bradley 53'
- Dylan Smith 67'
- Kauri Aupouri-Puketapu 73'
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