By Terry Liberopoulos

The Auckland Vulcans held on to win 42-34 in a close match against the Wentworthvile Magpies yesterday. After leading 28-16 at half time the Vulcans fought off a strong comeback by the Chris Sandow led Magpies.

It was the Magpies that opened the scoring after six minutes of action when Jordan Atkins scored. Sandow added the extras and the home side was leading 6-0.

The Auckland Vulcans then took control to pile on five tries in 17 minutes to take control of the game.

Willie Peace began the scoring when he dived over in the corner in the 13th minute. Three minutes later, the Vulcans grabbed the lead when Tevita Latu went over to make it 10-6.

Centre Rusty Bristow crossed in the 22nd minute and that four pointer was followed four minutes later by full-back Glen Fisiiahi.

On the half-hour mark, Steve Waetford added another touchdown for the Auckland Vulcans. Winger Dylan Collier kicked the extras and the visitors were cruising at 28-6.

To their credit, the Wentworthville Magpies hit back with two tries to Ryan Morgan to go into the half-time break down by 28-16.

The Vulcans increased their lead to 32-16 after Konrad Hurrell scored in the 47th minute. The Eels hit back three minutes later when Morgan recorded his third try in the game. Sandow missed the conversion but the deficit was reduced to 12 points.

The Auckland Vulcans looked to have wrapped up the game when Fisiiahi scored his second try of the game in the 54th minute. Collier had no trouble with the conversion to put the visitors ahead 38-20.

The Wentworthville Magpies refused to lay down and they bounced back with a try to Atkins in the 62nd minute before Sandow scored. Both tries were converted by Sandow to make the score line

38-32 with nine minutes remaining.

But the Magpies momentum was broken when Hurrell went over for his second try to give the Auckland Vulcans some breathing space at 42-32.

The scoring wasn’t over with Wentworthville Magpies scoring with three minutes remaining in the game but time beat them in the end.

Auckland Vulcans                      42 (Fisiiahi 2, Hurrell 2, Bristow, Latu, Peace, Waetford tries; Collier                    5 goals)

Wentworthville Magpies             38 (Morgan 3, Atkins 2, Howard, Sandow tries; Sandow 5 goals)

Half Time                                  28-16 Vulcans

Other Results:

Cronulla Sharks 34                                 vs         North Sydney Bears 24

Balmain Ryde Eastwood Tigers 22         vs         Windsor Wolves 50

Newtown Jets 42                                   vs         Manly Sea Eagles 10

Mounties 28                                          vs         Illawarra Cutters 56

Western Suburbs Magpies 0                  vs         Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs 78

Newcastle Knights                                 Bye

Points Table:

NEXT GAME:

Round # 10 (Home)      

Balmain-Ryde Eastwood, Saturday 5th May

Mt Smart # 2

Kick off 1.00pm