NSWRL Wrap: Pressure mounts on Mounties, Glebe close the gap on top teams

RON MASSEY CUP

The two-horse race continues in the early stages of the Ron Massey Cup, with Ryde-Eastwood and St Marys both maintaining their strong form to secure three wins from as many outings, with comfortable wins over Mounties and Brothers respectively.

They’re joined on six points by Glebe, who made light work of the travelling Silktails in challenging conditions on Sunday. Meanwhile defending champions Hills Bulls got their campaign underway with a win against Wentworthville.

Thanks to the Bulldogs’ enjoying the bye, Mounties are now firmly rooted to the bottom of the table, but they’ll fancy their chances this week as they play host to the travelling Fijian side.

RYDE-EASTWOOD 26 (R Miller, M Gray, C Ma’anaima, B Cousins tries; T Cassel 5 goals) D. MOUNTIES 18 (I Williams, J Olive, B Goodman, R Ioelu tries; L Christensen goal). 

HILLS BULLS 22 (K Hayman, S Garner, D Narayan tries*; B Keighran 3 goals) D. WENTWORTHVILLE 10 (A Quast try*; D Smith goal). 

ST MARYS 30 (H Bonanno 2, J Vaegaau tries; J Rafferty-Butfield 3 goals) D. PENRITH BROTHERS 6 (D Tonise try; R Garner goal). 

GLEBE 22 (S Malu 2, D Makoare-Boyce, R Travers tries; Makoare-Boyce 3 goals) D. KAIVITI SILKTAILS 4 (R Tabusakia try). 

*Not all scorers’ names provided.

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NEXT WEEK: 

Wentworthville v Penrith Brothers
Ringrose Park, 4pm Friday

Ryde-Eastwood v Glebe
Lidcombe Oval, 3pm Saturday

Mounties v Kaiviti Silktails
Aubrey Keech Reserve, 5pm Saturday

Hills Bulls v Canterbury-Bankstown
Crestwood Reserve, 3pm Sunday

SYDNEY SHIELD

Though the competition is still in the early stages, there are five times tied on four points after three rounds of the Sydney Shield - although Cabramatta were denied a chance to maintain their unbeaten start against Glebe when their match was postponed on Sunday.

That gave St Marys a chance to jump to the top of the ladder, but they were brought undone by local rivals Brothers, led by inspirational five-eighth Donovan Boney who amassed a personal tally of 18 points behind three tries and as many goals. It gave the boys in blue some sweet revenge after last year's Shield grand final loss to the Saints.

Wentworthville secured their first win of the season in a tough-fought contest against Hills, but Mounties are still chasing their first win of the season after losing to Ryde. Things won’t get any easier for the Mulga as they host a well-rested Cabramatta team next week.

‍RYDE-EASTWOOD 30 (H Henson 2, M Curl, M Townsend, R Joynes tries; S Masri goal*) D. MOUNTIES 16 (K Whitton 2, M Lewin tries; K Savage 2 goals). 

WENTWORTHVILLE 28 (J Jana 2, L Habkouk, R Maroun, O Scott tries; J Katrib 2, D Nati, Habkouk goals) D. HILLS BULLS 24 (M Knezevic, J Rizk, D Baumann, L Thomson, C James tries; Rizk 2 goals). 

‍PENRITH BROTHERS 30 (D Boney 3, M Pokia 2, V Kuli tries; Boney 3 goals) D. ST MARYS 14 (K Farr, B Nouredine, F Tuimaualuga tries; O Finau goal). 

GLEBE v CABRAMATTA postponed

*Not all scorers’ names provided.

NEXT WEEK: 

Ryde-Eastwood v Glebe
Lidcombe Oval, 1pm Saturday

Mounties v Cabramatta
Aubrey Keech Reserve, 3pm Saturday

Hills Bulls v Moorebank
Crestwood Reserve, 1pm Sunday

Wentworthville v Penrith Brothers
Ringrose Park, 2pm Sunday

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