By Lawrence Machado
The Hills Bulls underlined their Ron Massey Cup credentials when Shane Kiel scored a last minute try for a remarkable victory over Glebe Dirty Reds 26-24 at Cronulla.
The Bulls were gone when Glebe sped to an 18-0 lead inside 20 minutes on a hot Good Friday afternoon but a fiery talk by the Hills coach Mick Withers at half-time turned the game around.
Glebe led 24-20 with the clock winding down when Kiel finished off a good team move by scoring on the right side with a Tom Carr conversion sealing it.
“The team showed a bit of character to pull off the win after we made a few errors in the first half,” Withers said.
Jesse Marsche, Josh Benjamin, Dom Reardon and Tom Carr scored earlier for the Bulls.
The Bulls lie second in the standings, behind St Mary’s, both on six points from three wins, with the latter having a better goal difference.
On Sunday, April 11, the Bulls play their first home game this season against Ryde-Eastwood at Crestwood Oval at 3pm, with the Sydney Shield game starting at 1pm.
“We are expecting a large crowd for this clash which will be a tough one,” Withers said. “Ryde-Eastwood are a quality team and we are geared up for a fight.”
The Bulls are also getting ready for their annual Nathan Gremmo Memorial Shield game on Sunday,
April 18, against Blacktown Workers. “This is a very emotional game for our club and players, with many knowing Nathan who was a ball boy for our shield team,” Withers said.
Nathan was killed in an accident in May 2015 with his family deciding to donate his organs.
WOLVES CELEBRATE FIRST WIN
Meanwhile, Windsor Wolves celebrated their first Ron Massey Cup win since 2016, seeing off the Fijian Silktails 30-26 at Hammondville Oval.
The Wolves turned a 0-6 deficit to a 24-6 lead in a remarkable 14 minutes in the first half before defending bravely in the last 10 minutes to thwart the Fijians.
Centre Zac Mackay converted all five tries which proved the difference in a pulsating match.
“This was a very good win in trying circumstances because we had nowhere to train due to the flooded grounds,” delighted coach Chris Yates said.
“It will be a big confidence boost for the players because the last time the club won was in 2016, after which they fell out of the competition before returning in 2020. In their only game last year, the Wolves were belted by the Fijians before Covid-19 ended the competition. So beating this physically-intimidating Fijian side was great for us. Eton Lindsay and Kakapuna Fotu, who scored twice, played very well.”
Kyle Cassel, Tyler Cassel and Mitchell Souter also touched down for the Wolves.
The Wolves have a bye this weekend and are away to table toppers St Mary’s on Saturday, April 17, at 5pm.
