Pathways Hub - Week 2

UNE SG Ball Cup (Under 19s) - Balmain Tigers

Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup (Under 19s) - Wests Tigers 

SLE Laurie Daley Cup (Under 18s) - Macarthur Wests Tigers 

UNE Harold Matthews Cup (Under 17s) - Western Suburbs Magpies 

The Harold Matthews Cup Magpies have scored their second win in as many games to begin the 2025 season, after defeating the Bulldogs 34-18 in Round 2.

Wests held a 22-12 lead at half-time and didn’t take their foot off the accelerator in the second stanza, with halfback, Curtis Lakeman and winger, Josh Vella proving to be particular standouts in the impressive win.

An early Magpies error in attempting to defuse a high ball led to the Bulldogs scoring in the very first set of the match through captain, Chinedu Udeh.

An outstanding Magpies try brought the game level shortly after though, as Lakeman grubbered through the line, with Vella soccering the ball back to his halfback, who regathered to score under the posts.

It was Lakeman and Vella combining again in the 10th minute to grab the Magpies’ second, with the speedy winger brilliantly leaping through the air to snatch the No. 7’s kick and plant the ball down.

Vella scored his second of the morning to extend the Western Suburbs lead when he finished off a nicely executed scrum-base play, started by Lakeman and fullback, Tom Goodfield.

Front-rower, Jake Gaffney scored his fifth try in just two weeks shortly after entering the action, however the Bulldogs hit back shortly before half-time to keep the match within reach at 22-12.

Elijah Sefo collected a loose ball that went backwards through the hands of Vella to reassert the Magpies’ dominance on the contest shortly after the break, and powerful winger, James Lanyon scored out of dummy-half to extend the Magpies’ winning margin out even further.

A late converted try to Bulldogs prop, Dallis Taoai and a penalty goal via the boot of Vella would be the final scoring of the morning’s play, with Wests emerging victorious, 34-18 at Hammondville Oval.

UNE Harold Matthews Cup (Under 17s) - Balmain Tigers

Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup (Under 17s) - Wests Tigers 

SLE Andrew Johns Cup (Under 16s) -  Macarthur Wests Tigers