It was a case of one big win and a heartbreaking loss for the Wests Tigers Pathways sides at Lidcombe Oval on Sunday.
Knock-On Effect NSW Cup: 50-24 win
Western Suburbs Magpies recorded a huge 50-24 win over the Parramatta Eels at Lidcombe Oval on Sunday in round 22 of The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup to keep their finals hopes alive.
The Magpies dominated the first half to take a commanding 28-6 lead into the break before finishing the match with nine tries.
Five-eighth Max Liles and second-rower Lachlan Broederlow scored two tries each.
Half-back Javon Andrews, fresh from his NRL debut last week for the Wests Tigers, scored a try and kicked seven from nine goals for a personal haul of 18 points.
Andrews set up the opening try when he delivered a lovely pass for Broederlow to stroll over behind the posts for a 6-0 lead after five minutes.
Five minutes later, it became 12-0 to the Magpies when centre Solomone Saukuru dived over for his 20th try this season off an Andrews pass. It came on the back of a magical run from winger Tino Tavana from a short drop out regather.
A break down the left flank by winger Fiohiva Fainga'a saw him send full-back Jack Attard on a clear run to the line for an 18-0 lead after 20 minutes.
Fainga'a then crossed himself seven minutes later when Andrews and second-rower Ethan Roberts combined with Saukuru to send the winger over for a 22-0 lead.
After conceding a try to the Eels, the Magpies extended their lead to 28-6 when Liles sliced through the defence to score out wide four minutes before half-time.
The Eels opened the scoring in the second half before the Magpies crossed again through Tavana after a long cut out pass from hooker Jared Haywood for a 34-12 lead after 48 minutes.
Two minutes later, Liles was in his for his second after finishing off an 80 metre try after a superb run down the left flank by the powerful Siale Fainga'a for a 40-12 lead after 51 minutes.
The Magpies then conceded two straight tries to the Eels for a 40-24 scoreline before Broederlow crossed for his second after Tavana took a towering midfield bomb from Andrews to send the strong second-rower over the line.
Andrews then capped off a fine game after offloading to Saukuru who put a kick through for the half-back to win the race to the ball for the 50-24 scoreline.
The win leaves the Magpies in eighth spot on 26 points, two behind the fifth placed South Sydney Rabbitohs. The top five teams contest the finals.
Western Suburbs Magpies now play the second-placed North Sydney Bears at North Sydney Oval on Sunday, 9 August, at 3pm.
Jersey Flegg: 17-16 loss
A late field goal to the Parramatta Eels saw the Wests Tigers fall 17-16 at Lidcombe Oval on Sunday in round 22 of the Jersey Flegg Cup.
Trailing 16-10 at half-time, the Tigers clawed their way back to level at 16-all before the Eels snuck home with a 75th minute field goal.
Down 6-0 after 10 minutes, the Tigers drew level through a try to captain Jeriko Filipi-Talisau after the hooker burrowed his way over from dummy half.
The Tigers jumped to a 10-6 lead after winger Filipe Huahulu showed tremendous speed to cross in the corner in the 21st minute.
The Eels then scored two tries in five minutes to take a 16-10 lead into the break.
The Tigers drew level with a converted try to five-eighth Sonny Edwards-Moeke in the 62nd minute after he pushed off three defenders to get the ball down to make it 16-all.
The Eels then snapped a fifth-tackle field goal through half-back Lincoln Fletcher in the 74th minute that proved to be the difference in the end.
The loss leaves Wests Tigers in sixth place ahead of a clash with the Kaiviti Silktails at Churchill Park, Lautoka, on Saturday, 8 August.
