It was a case of two wins and a loss for the Wests Tigers Pathways sides over the weekend.
The Tigers tasted victory in Jersey Flegg and NSW Women's Premiership and a loss by the Magpies in the Knock-On Effect NSW Cup.
Jersey Flegg vs Kaiviti Silktails: 32-14 win
It was a humid afternoon at Lautoka’s Churchill Park as the Wests Tigers Jersey Flegg side took on the Kaiviti Silktails.
The visitors started on the back foot, conceding two tries in the opening 13 minutes to trail 10-0.
A 16th-minute runaway try from Jack Nicholas down the right sideline started the points climb for the Wests Tigers.
Only a few minutes later, Filipe Huahulu went over on the opposite edge, with Logan Brookes converting to bring the scores level.
Mitchell Taotua would then continue that pattern, going over on the right edge and powering through the Silktails defence.
Towards the end of the first half, Brookes went over from an offload by Jared Haywood, before converting his own try to send the Tigers into the sheds leading 20-10.
After the break, the Silktails bounced back, scoring the opening try of the second half.
In the 50th minute, prop Archie Duncombe made a run through the middle and powered his way over the line to the loudest cheers of the day from his family and friends in the crowd at Churchill Park.
The score remained 26-14 until the final play of the game, when the ball was spread to the left edge for Huahulu to go over for his second try of the match.
Brookes converted the final try to round out a successful trip to Fiji, heading to the airport 32-14 victors.
The Wests Tigers will host the St George Illawarra Dragons at Lidcombe Oval on Sunday, 16 August, at 11am.
NSW Women’s Premiership vs Wentworthville Magpies: 30-12 win
Wests Tigers ran in six tries to two against the Wentworthville Magpies in the NSW Women’s Premiership at Ringrose Park on Saturday.
Winger Tia-Jordyn Vasilovski crossed for two tries with Wests Tigers coming home strongly after trailing 12-8 at half-time in the Round 8 match.
Vasilovski opened the scoring when she finished off a nice left-side play following a good offload by second-rower Lucyannah Luamanu-Leiataua.
Two tries in five minutes to the home side saw the Magpies take a 12-4 lead after 24 minutes before Vasilovski scored her second try unmarked to leave the Tigers trailing by four at the break.
Luamanu-Leiataua then caught some flimsy defence out in a strong run from dummy half to beat four players to give Wests Tigers a 14-12 lead after 55 minutes.
Forward Brooke Talataina then spun her way over the line two minutes later for a 20-12 lead.
Wests Tigers made it three tries in seven minutes when lock Diamond Graham produced a classic show and go to score next to the posts to make it 26-12.
The visitors closed out the match with centre Jewel Faaui brushing off two defenders to cross out wide for Wests Tigers third win of the season.
Wests Tigers now play the Illawarra South Coast Steelers at Collegians Sporting Complex, Wollongong, on Saturday, 15 August, at 3pm.
The Knock On Effect NSW Cup vs North Sydney Bears: 48-16 loss
A major second half collapse saw the Western Suburbs Magpies suffer a 48-16 loss to North Sydney Bears at North Sydney Oval on Sunday.
The Magpies scored three first half tries to take a 16-12 lead into half-time against the second-placed Bears, but it proved to be the end of the road for the visitors.
The Bears put on 36 unanswered points in a second half shutout to finish with eight tries to three.
Prop Bunty Afoa scored the Magpies first try in the 16th minute when he bumped off two defenders to cross next to the posts.
Fullback Heath Mason grabbed their second in the 25th minute after he ran off a short inside pass from hooker Tristan Hope.
Fiohiva Fainga'a got the Magpies third try after diving over from a cut out pass from Mason.
The loss leaves the Magpies four points outside the top eight with three rounds remaining.
The Magpies now play the Dragons at Lidcombe Oval on Sunday, 16th August, at 1pm.
