Wests Tigers have been defeated 26-4 by the Wentworthville Magpies tonight at Kirkham Oval in the first NSW Cup trial match of 2015.
Some of the best young talent from the Club was on show, including a host Under 20s players who lined up for their first taste of senior football.
Five players that are yet to even play a Holden Cup match for the Club featured for Wests Tigers: Mark McCormack, Te Kapua Murray, JJ Felise, Junior Tatola and Jacob Liddle.
It was a tough opening period to the match with plenty of big hits, most-notably a bone-rattler from Wests Tigers centre Watson Heleta on Wentworthville fullback Adam Quinlan, who lost control of possession as a result.
Wentworthville were first to post points in the match with centre Ben Crooks crossing on their left edge off the back of a well-worked backline shift. The conversion was successful from the Magpies, making it 6-0 after 18 minutes.
Parramatta enjoyed a wealth of possession and field position towards the backend of the first half, with the Wests Tigers defensive line eventually cracking in the 38th minute when halfback Zack Docker-Clay scored with a nice show and go.
Wests Tigers went into the break trailing 10-0; however there were some promising signs for the second half from the youthful side consisting primarily of Under 20s players.
A fresh Wentworthville side entered the game in the second half, having almost an immediate impact as backrower Zeb Tawha hit a second man play and crossed for a try on the 43-minute mark.
Winger Henry Raiwalui extended Wentworthville’s lead out to 18-0 soon after, reeling in a cut-out pass and stepping two defenders to score near the posts.
Wests Tigers were denied what looked to be a try in the 49th minute, with Te Maire Martin throwing a looping cut-out ball to winger Te Kapua Murray who followed it up with what was called a forward pass back on the inside to Heleta.
Martin made no mistake in the 58th minute, throwing an excellent pass at the line to backrower Wesley Lolo, who hit the hole perfectly and scored near the posts. Wentworthville’s lead was cut to 18-4 just before the third quarter interval.
Wentworthville enjoyed a wealth of possession to open the final quarter of the match, with Wests Tigers’ defence holding strong before the line was eventually broken by halfback Jack Madden in the 66th minute to extend the Magpies lead to 22-4.
With four minutes remaining in the match, Wentworthville crossed for another try and extended their lead to 26-4, which would prove to be the final score of the match.
