NSW Junior Reps

Junior rep’s Round Five Wrap

by
dailytelegraph
07/03/2023

Thomas Dellow scores a hard try in the Sharks Harold Matthews Cup comeback in Rnd 5 (Photo : Steve Montgomery)

Junior rep’s Round Five Wrap

Author : Jason Hosken and Sean Teuma NewsCorp Sport

Junior rep’s Round Five Wrap

THE home stretch of games is well underway in the NSWRL junior reps.

Round five action is underway with teams looking to make their mark and get into finals position for the run home.

Catch up on the latest results from around the grounds.

EELS STRIKE EARLY OVER RAIDERS

Parramatta enhanced its Tarsha Gale finals aspirations with a crucial 26-12 defeat of Canberra at Belconnen.

Withholding early pressure from the home side, the Eels struck first in the seventh minute with a big left foot step from Kalisi Mahe catching the defence napping close to the line.

That lead was extended soon after on the back of some individual brilliance from Tallara Bamblett, breaking clean through the line and putting Alysha Bell over untouched.

Just as things looked to be getting away from the Raiders, a dropped ball off the restart allowed them an immediate response,

Lara Cosgrove slicing through the defence from the scrum to score, bringing it back to 12-4, a score that would hold at the break.

Bamblett, Mahe and Bell were in the thick of things again, with a flat ball finding Mahe, who drew in three defenders to put Bell over again without having a finger set on her.

Bell’s brilliant boot pushed

Bell’s brilliant boot pushed the lead to 14, but again the Raiders refused to lie down.

Another mistake from the kick-off allowed Canberra to score their second try from a scrum, as fullback Georgia Willey stepped through five attempted tackles on her way to the line.

Any hope of a fightback was quashed by a surging 30m burst from Debbie Doueihi who scored a scintillating try to seal the win.

The Eels claimed their biggest scalp of the Harold Matthews season with a confidence boosting 24-6 win over Canberra.

Sustained pressure and a well-timed unders ball close to the line saw Ocean Vaivela barge his way over early on for the visitors.

Canberra responded almost immediately, with a crash play guiding Andrew Muir over the line to tie it up.

Fagalele Fagalele swung it back in the Eels favour though, with a brilliant stepping effort seeing him get past a handful of defenders to send them in front 12-6 into the sheds.

An intense start to the second half was broken open when Vaivela crashed over for his second of the afternoon, helping to seal the win.

It wasn’t all despair for the Raiders, with their unbeaten SG Ball campaign intact following a 42-18 victory.

The two sides traded blows throughout the first half, with scores tied through 39 minutes of play.

That soon changed with the Raiders racing away with the contest in the end, scoring five tries and putting the sword to the Eels, highlighted by a Chevy Stewart hat-trick.

PANTHERS ON THE CHARGE AFTER FOURTH STRAIGHT WIN

Penrith have hammered home their Harold Matts title credentials with a crushing 22-4 demolition of the fourth placed Wests Magpies.

The Panthers bounded out of the gates to lead 10-0. Five-eighth Jack Attard crossed first, before last week’s two-try hero Cameron Bamblett added another in just the sixth minute.

Struggling after last week’s first defeat of the season in Canberra, Wests finally woke from their slumber in the ninth minute.

In landing the Magpies’ first blow, centre Heamasi Makasini reduced the margin to a converted try in a frantic opening.

Amazingly, the flow of points dried up until after half time.

Up 10-6, Penrith surged again, and with tries to Casey Mclean and lock Kye Raven, they put the result beyond doubt just 10 minutes into the second half.

In a clash of the western Sydney heavyweights, the Western Suburbs Magpies struck late to edge out Penrith 26-22 in a thrilling SG Ball contest at BlueBet Stadium.

Still smarting after last week’s first loss of the year to Canberra, Wests came out firing.

Talented prop Jordan Miller barrelled over in the opening minutes, and they tightened their grip on the previously unbeaten Panthers when Lachlan Galvin crossed to make it 12-0 in the seventh minute.

Penrith stemmed the flow and counted with two of their own to trail 12-10 at the break.

With Wests on the ropes, Riley Pollard struck again for Penrith, the five-eighth’s four-pointer put the homeside in front 16-12.

In a ding-dong battle of the two junior strongholds, Wests were far from done.

Fullback Heath Mason found his way over the line, and they regained the lead at 20-16 when backrower Zakauri Clarke dotted down in the 54th minute.

With seven minutes remaining, the lead changed hands once again when prop Luron Patea found his way into the in-goal, and with Pollard’s conversion Penrith held a two-point breathing space.

But in a competition chock-full of potential superstars

But in a competition chock-full of potential superstars, hooker Tallyn Da Silva rose to the top when Wests needed it most.

His try in the closing stages secured a valuable win and helped the Magpies jump from sixth to second on a congested ladder.

Penrith continued its resurgence in the Tarsha Gale Cup with a comfortable 22-10 win over the Wests Tigers.

After last week’s first win of the year on the road to Manly, the Penrith girls returned home and immediately found their rhythm scoring three tries to lead 16-0 at the change of ends.

After a dour opening, playmaker Taya Lazare finally broke through the Tigers’ defence to score in the 18th minute.

Fullback and captain Yasmine Baker then followed it up with another four minutes later, before Jemimah Tagaloamatua found the stripe on the stroke of half time.

After consecutive heavy losses, the Tigers could have easily packed it in after the break.

But instead, they earned their stripes and reduced the margin to just six following tries to Taytana Pati Ah-Cheung and half Imogen Lowe.

With the match in the balance, the Panthers had the final say when centre Bella McEachern crossed in the final minute to put the result beyond doubt.

BULLDOGS BARK SINKS SEA EAGLES

Canterbury kept its unbeaten record intact in the Tarsha Gale Cup, brushing aside Manly 18-4 at Belmore.

A three-tries to one opening half put the Bulldogs in command at 14-4. With the damage done, they took the foot off the pedal, before cruising to a comfortable fourth consecutive victory.

It took just six minutes for Bulldogs prop Latisha Smythe to crash through Manly’s front door, and they had another try three minutes later, this time out wide to centre Litia Fusi.

Shahana Lasini-Rite crossed for the Sea Eagles’ only points of the day, as the northern beaches girls stumbled to a fourth straight defeat.

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs’ Harold Matts season continues to go from strength to strength, jumping to top spot on the table following a 30-16 win over the Sea Eagles at Blacktown.

Canterbury backrower Sosaia Alatini set the tone inside the opening minute, scoring the first of three unanswered tries before the break, which were all converted by Mitchell Woods on a day where the skipper was faultless with the boot.

Manly’s winless campaign received a boost

Manly’s winless campaign received a boost when centre Benjamin Keene-O‘Keefe scored the first of his two four-pointers to help narrow the gap to 12.

But the joy was short lived when Hori Fua countered to put the Bulldogs ahead 24-6 after 40 minutes.

In promising signs, the Sea Eagles fought hard and outpaced Canterbury 16-12 in the second half.

The Bulldogs alway had their measure and put the result beyond doubt when hooker Mason Phillips crossed for his second 10 minutes before the final siren.

The Manly Sea Eagles have broken their SG Ball duck in spectacular fashion, running all over the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 34-14.

Having shown glimpses of form throughout the opening four rounds, the Sea Eagles gapped the Bulldogs with four unanswered tries in a clinical first half to lead 22-0.

Manly winger Teapo Stoltman scored a first half double after striking in the opening minute of the match.

Iverson Matai scored the last of Canterbury’s three tries after the break to get them within 14-points, but it was Manly’s day and Max Hayley had the final say when he crossed in the final minute of play.

NSWRL Junior Reps Round Five Results, Ladder & Players’ Stat’s

Harold Matthews Cup Results, Ladder & Players’ Stat’s

Balmain 14-12 Syd Roosters

Penrith 22-4 Wests

Norths 16-18 Central Coast

Manly 16-30 Canterbury

Canberra 6-24 Parramatta

Cronulla 18-18 South Sydney

SG Ball Cup Results, Ladder & Players’ Stat’s

St George 24-10 Illawarra

Balmain 4-46 Syd Roosters

Penrith 22-26 Wests

Norths 46-26 Melbourne

Manly 34-14 Canterbury

Canberra 42-18 Parramatta

Newcastle 40-18 Warriors

Cronulla 32-16 South Sydney

Tarsha Gale Cup Results, Ladder & Players’ Stat’s

Manly 4-18 Canterbury

Cronulla 20-10 South Sydney

North Sydney 8-36 Roosters Indigenous

Canberra 12-26 Parramatta

St George 0-46 Illawarra

Penrith 22-10 Wests Tigers

BALMAIN AND THE ROOSTERS SHARE THE SPOILS AT LIDCOMBE

Balmain’s season in the Harold Matthews Cup is still alive following a gutsy come-from-behind 14-12 win over the Roosters at Lidcombe Oval.

Entering the clash in ninth spot, the Tigers overcame a 6-4 halftime deficit to cap off a memorable second straight win.

A try to fullback Baxter Warner four minutes after the break put the Roosters in command by eight.

But it wasn’t enough, as Balmain hit the front following tries to centre Malik Amine and fullback Michael Nassar, before holding firm in a gripping final 10 minutes.

The Roosters’ SG Ball machine has well and truly kicked into gear.

Up against a rejuvenated Balmain who were chasing a third straight win, a merciless Roosters hit the afterburners in an eight-try romp on the way to a clinical 46-4 demolition.

Coming off a win and a draw, the Bondi boys needed another victory to continue their climb up the ladder from 10th place.

Tigers’ winger William Malloy struck first in the second minute, but from there it was all downhill.

Speedy centre Cooper Toy crossed to put the Roosters in front in the 10th minute, and by half time they’d added another four to lead 30-4.

Once again, Cassius Tia was electric.

The five-eighth with NRL potential written all over him had a day to remember, scoring two tries and landing seven goals in a personal tally of 22-points.

After a slow start to the season, the now seventh placed Roosters will almost certainly have the frontrunners looking over their shoulders.

SECOND HALF SINKS STEELERS

St George is off the mark in the SG Ball Cup with a big 24-10 defeat of Illawarra at Kogarah.

A hot start saw captain Dylan Egan cross early, before strike centre Te Umuariki Heremia-Tukere extended that lead to 10-0.

Jesse Williams helped the home side get back to within a converted try before the break however, keeping them in the hunt.

They continued that momentum after the break, posting four unanswered tries to race away with a big victory, including a double to winger Joven Gyemore.

The Tarsha Gale Cup was a one-way affair, with the Steelers running out resounding 46-0 winners over the Dragons.

They piled on the points on either side of the break, racing in nine tries including doubles to Ella Fisher, Darcy Eade and Sulieti Ahio.

With their second win of the season they now sit in third position.

ROOSTERS INDIGENOUS REMAIN UNDEFEATED

The Roosters Indigeous Academy improved to 5-0 in the Tarsha Gale Cup following a 36-8 win over North Sydney at Kenthurst.

Two early tries to Ally Bullman and Imogen Hei set up an early 12-0 lead for the visitors, before Caitlin Hollis struck moments before the break to get them back to within eight points.

The Roosters started the second half as they did the first, putting scoreboard pressure on the Bears with centre Sharlize Campbell crossing the stripe and making the comeback task a real challenge.

Kiannah Bright kept Norths within two tries, but ultimately it wasn’t enough to stop the Roosters juggernaut as Skyla Adams, Paige Lowe and Eliza Lopamaua raced in late tries to stretch the scoreboard.

Both sides were winless coming into today, but it was the Central Coast that stole it at the death to deny Norths in Harold Matts 18-16.

A tight affair saw the Bears take their first lead just after halftime through Alema Seualuga, and hold it right until the last minute.

That’s before Samisoni Talakai got across the line to break the hearts of North Sydney and get the Roosters up and running in 2023.

North Sydney’s SG Ball finals hopes remain alive after a comfortable 46-26 win over Melbourne.

The Storm started well and had an early 10-6 lead, before the Bears clicked into gear to open up a 28-10 advantage soon after halftime.

In what was an entertaining clash, both sides combined for 13 tries.

SHARKS GET ON THE BOARD

Brooke Elliott dives in for a try in her return game (Photo : Steve Montgomery)

The Sharks landed their first win of the Tarsha Gale season, downing South Sydney 20-10 at Cronulla High School.

Despite an early sin bin to Rabbitohs forward Shyla Mundine, fellow front row partner Cherellyn Tapuai got the scoring underway inside 10 minutes, with Tairah Bolatigici ensuring they held a 10-4 lead at the break.

Cronulla struck first in the second half as Brooke Elliott brought the score back to 10-8.

They again took full advantage of the one-woman advantage as Sereena Moussa crossed to give them their first lead of the game, which was extended to a matchwinning one through Alena Pale Eli.