The Wenty Magpies have notched up a 36-30 victory in an arm-wrestle against the Illawarra Cutters on Saturday at Pirtek Stadium, including a try to fan favourite Fuifui Moimoi and a double to fullback Justin Hunt.
With both clubs camped in the top three on the VB NSW Cup ladder, the game was evenly matched from kick off.
Eels and Wentworthville fullback Justin Hunt opened the scoring on the right hand edge, while Rory O’Brien scored for the Cutters all within the first 6 minutes of play.
The two sides stayed neck and neck through the first half. The Cutters gained four points thanks to a runaway try to Sam Williams, while the Magpies answered back when Bureta Faraimo dragged two defenders over the try line with him.
Hunt ran over to the right of the posts for a second; Williams answered with a double of his own for the Cutters, and thanks to the keen boots of Luke Kelly for Wenty and Michael Witt for the Cutters, the sides headed to the break locked up at 18-18.
Illawarra grabbed the reins early after halftime as Runciman darted through the right edge defence of the Magpies to score, and Sam Williams bagged his third for the afternoon.
But a powerful barging try from Fuifui Moimoi and a daring break and try by winger Henry Raiwalui saw the Magpies come back within striking distance at 30-28, and on the back of a strong run from fullback Justin Hunt, Wenty used the next play to send Ryan Morgan over to put them in front.
A late penalty goal to Luke Kelly sealed the win at 36-30.
Illawarra’s Josh Ailaomai was placed on report for a late hit on fullback Justin Hunt.
Wentworthville Magpies - 36 (Hunt 2, Faraimo, Moimoi, Raiwalui, Morgan. Kelly: 5/6. Penalty goals: 1/1)
Illawarra Cutters - 30 (O’Brien, Williams 3, Runciman. Witt: 5/5)
