By Tallon Smith

Western Suburbs have joined De La Salle and Dapto as victorious teams in the Illawarra Rugby League’s Magic Round at WIN Stadium courtesy of a 20 points to 16 win over Thirroul in a nail-biting final game on Saturday afternoon.

In a match that featured many former NRL players on both sides, with Jy Hitchcox, Sosaia Feki and Grant Millington lining up for Wests against Steven Marsters and Bradley Deitz wearing the famous blue and white of Thirroul, the Devils held off a gallant Butchers side who almost completed an amazing comeback.

The Red Devils opened up a 6-0 lead through a runaway try to Lachlan Hurst, later extended to 8-0 via a penalty landed by five-eighth Mitchell Porter on his way to a 4/4 kicking performance.

Just before the half-time break, Wests five-eighth Justin Rodrigues put on a stepping display to score in his 100th game, which saw the lead grow to 14-0 at the break. 

However, in the second half the Butchers finally sprung to life, with tries to Joshua Martin and Wayne Bremner giving the Thirroul side hope heading into the closing stages. 

With the game in the balance, the Red Devils’ Colby Pellow scored what proved to be a match winning try, with a late flurry of activity and a second try to Bremner ultimately not being enough for the Butchers, with Wests holding for the four point victory.

The Red Devils’ win sees them atop the Mojo Homes Illawarra Cup table, but only clear of fellow Magic Round winners De La Salle on for and against.

Speaking of De La Salle, the boys from Caringbah caused a major upset when they defeated the two-time defending premiers Collegians 28-14 in the second game of the day.

Collegians led the game early on, with a try to Jay Watling seeing the Collie Dogs opening the scoring before De La Salle hit back through Chaz Jarvis not long after.

Blake Phillips crashed over to restore Collies’ lead just before half time, with the Dogs 14-6 up and looking the slightly stronger of the two sides in the first half.

However, the De La Salle side clicked into gear in the second half, running in five tries on their way to an incredible victory which now sees the club sit equal first, only behind Wests on for and against.

In the first game of the day, the winless Dapto Canaries and Corrimal Cougars faced off, with Dapto the side to break the drought courtesy of a 50-6 thumping of their rivals.

Fullback and captain Troy Pieper was on fire for the Canaries with a try and seven goals to his name in an 18-point haul that spearheaded his side’s victory.

The Cougars now sit outright last on the table in their bid to avoid picking up the wooden spoon for the second consecutive year, whilst Dapto are equal with Thirroul on the edge of the top four.