Round Two of NSWRL Harold Matthews, SG Ball, Tarsha Gale Cup

A thrilling round of NSWRL junior rep action unfolded as competitors demonstrated their authority across classes.

This is how the weekend went so far:

BRILLIANT BULLDOGS SWEEP RABBITOHS

CANTERBURY’s hot start to the NSWRL Junior Reps season continued with another strong performance against South Sydney at Redfern Oval.

The Bulldogs walked away with a clean win that day, keeping them in high positions in all classes, highlighted by a masterclass from young Harold Matthews Cup captain and half Mitchell Woods.

In his second year in the competition, Woods showed attitude beyond his years to lead his team from a 10-0 deficit back to a 36-20 win.

A first-half double against the halfback ended three tries in six minutes for the visitors to send them 18-10 into the sheds.

Souths started strong to take the lead again with 20 minutes to go before another three-try blitz put the result beyond doubt.

said forest

“During pre-season we spent a lot of time on our fitness and we always knew that would kick in,” he said.

“We just had to keep up with them and sometimes we couldn’t, but in the second half of every half we supported ourselves and that’s why we came through.

“It’s a great start (to the year). Last year wasn’t our best year and the boys came here ready. I had good experience playing last year and really want to continue.

The big day for the visitors began in the Tarsha Gale Cup with a 30-16 win from behind to keep them at the top of the ladder.

In a half of swing swings, the home side held a 10-4 lead before Canterbury turned the screws in the second half.

Fast attempts from Waimarie Martin and Ebony Raftstrand-Smith turned the tide before Litia Fusi, a controversial four-pointer, continued to extend the lead.

Souths hit back through Shanelle Lyons but failed to recoup the subsequent kickoff, and the Bulldogs crossed again to quash any hopes of a resurgence.

“It was tough. We weren’t as disciplined as planned but it was a good shot and the Rabbitohs really gave it to us,” said captain Chelsea Makira.

“The first half was a bit sloppy. The coach got in our way at half-time.

“We worked really hard, so now everything is paying off. Hopefully we can make the GF, but we still have a lot to do.”

Like their opponents, the Bulldogs SG Ball side found themselves behind early before amassing four unanswered tries to walk away in a comfortable 32-14 win.

After a 10-minute overtime in the second half, they bounced back from a four-point deficit to take a commanding advantage late in the contest.

Jonathan Su’a ended the afternoon with a double and 16 points.

MAGPIE/TIGER TAME GUTSY KITE

Reigning Harold Matthews Cup Premiers Wests Magpies outlived the Dragons 16-8 to maintain their perfect start after two rounds.

In difficult conditions at Cabramatta, St George enjoyed the better of the first exchanges, but it was Wests who drew the first blood through Ali Hicham Karnib, the opportunistic winger who ran an intercept from 60 yards in the opener attempt.

And they doubled the lead to 8-0 in the sixth minute after center Heamasi Makasini fired in a fierce strike. Winger Riley Oitmann pounced on the broken game and slid into the left corner.

Unforced errors continued to hurt the Dragons, and in another, Hicham Karnib grabbed a first-half double as Wests opened up a practical 12-0 half-time lead.

Dragons substitute Tukia Taufa flipped over just after the break to take Saints to eight points, but it was quickly counted by Oitmann’s second before a late try from Dragons backrower Cyrus Stanley-Trail rounded out the final score.

The Wests extended their perfect start to the SG Ball season, holding off a quick 18-10 finish from the Dragons.

After a big win in the first round, it was difficult to see how the Magpies could improve, but they did, essentially on the back of hooker Tallinn Da Silva.

After missing the opening round, the classy dummy half kept the tenacious Dragons at bay with two brilliant plays either side of the break to open a 12-0 lead.

A magic inside ball knocked Jordan Miller over before the break. Then he did it all himself right after the break, hitting under the post in a set that followed a Dragons forward pass.

In a shootout, skipper Nick Quinn performed for the Dragons. First he sent Nicholas Tsougranis across the strip, then, 12 inches behind, half his side gave hope with a 60-metre sprint.

It would be as close for the Dragon as Wests did enough to last in the last nine minutes.

The Heart Tigers defeated the Dragons 18-14 in a thrilling six-try Tarsha Gale Cup contest in Cabramatta.

After last week’s devastating late loss to Manly, halfback Imogen Lowe proved a hero by winning the match by four points with five minutes remaining.

Dena Nuuialii scored a brace for the Dragons, but with three tries on each side, Imogen Hope’s three conversions proved the difference.

EELS FIGHT EAGLE DOWN

Parramatta rolled over last week’s heartthrobs, the Manly Sea Eagles, and opened their season tally with a rousing 16-8 win in Kellyville in the Tarsha Gale Cup.

In familiar scenes, Manly’s mighty mainstay Tafao Asaua opened the scoring just like last week, before another five minutes before halfback Shahana Lasini-Rite Manly gave Manly an 8-0 lead.

Eels center Caitlin Peadon halved the deficit within a minute of the restart and winger Alysha Bell’s switch left Parramatta two points down.

Bell did it all alone with 15 minutes left, her try put the Eels ahead and when the hooker crossed in Ashlee Pottinger for Parramatta’s third cross it rounded off a memorable win.

Parramatta defeated the Tigers 20-18, with Eels winger Lorima Rokosuka switching to the match-winner in the shadow of full-time.

In a thrilling end-to-end battle against Harold Matts, the Tigers took an 18-16 lead after hooker Soteila Fatui scored eight minutes before the final horn.

With Hayden Elkris in the trap, the Tigers had to dig deep in the closing stages with 12 defenders. They almost held out, but it was Parra’s day and Rokosuka’s late strike rounded off their first win of the year.

A quality squad from Eels SG Ball continued their impressive start to the season, beating the Tigers 28-10 in Kellyville.

Cody Parry had another day on Parra’s left edge, the evasive winger adding two tries to the four he bagged against the Roosters.

The Tigers were only four points down at halftime but fell behind with another four counter attempts after the break.

BEARS COOKING OVER HOT SHARKS

The North Sydney Bears stunned the Sharks 24-16 in the second round of the SG Ball Cup in Kenthurst.

After last week’s 50-point stash from the Knights, the Bears overcame a 10-point halftime deficit to inflict Cronulla’s first loss of the season.

Sharks winger Talanoa Penitani crossed in the first minute as the Shire boys threatened a repeat of last week’s quick opening.

The Norths regained their composure and hit back with a try on Bradley Avery, but back-to-back attempts to shore up Felix Faatili and Jacob Taulani saw Cronulla regain control at 16-6.

It was all down to North Sydney from there as the Bears scored three unanswered tries in the second half to cap a memorable morning in sweltering conditions in north-west Sydney.

The Harold Matts Sharkies rolled the Bears 26-10 and, just like last week, overcame a second-half deficit to continue their unbeaten run.

A much-improved North Sydney brushed aside last week’s heavy loss to Newcastle and they led 10-8 at the break after trying winger Blake Pasfield and full-back Ben Stringer.

A try on towering center Nilkora Williams put Cronulla ahead with 15 minutes to go and with renewed urgency they got on with the job, scoring another two through hooker Daniel Louka and backrower Beau Watson.

The Sharks and Bears couldn’t be separated in a 10-all Tarsha Gale Cup slugfest in Kenthurst.

In hot and sweltering conditions, Cronulla overcame a six-point halftime deficit to lead 10-6 after tries against Mercydes Metcalf and center Sage Gray.

Bears speedster Callie Morris equalized with a try in the 53rd minute and that’s how it would end after an unsuccessful attempt at conversion.

Robbers drop the hammer on roosters

Canberra’s young men have kept their torrid start to the season alive with two big wins over the Sydney Roosters at Henson Park.

Brock Apolevski ended the tournament with a brace as the Raiders led from start to finish to cement their position as true contenders with a 34-12 win.

The SG ball was a high-scoring affair, with Canberra leading 38-28.

Four attempts in the first 20 minutes opened up a huge 24-6 lead that the home side just couldn’t break.

Samuel Gash scored one try and scored five goals for an impressive personal tally.

The Roosters Indigenous Academy saved some pride for the day, claiming a huge 38-6 win.

Skyla Adams and Brooke Talataina ended the day with doubles.

Penrith, knights share the spoils

Newcastle are missing out on the Tarsha Gale Cup with an 18-8 win over the Penrith Panthers in Windsor.

Leading 12-0 at the break, a brace from Kirby Maslin put the Panthers back in the game before captain Leah Ollerton sealed the game in the last four minutes.

Penrith secured his first Harold Matthews win after comfortably posting the Knights 46-16.

Casey McLean scored a double within the opening 10 minutes as his side raced in eight tries.

A second-half double by Riley Pollard propelled the Panthers to a 22-12 win at SG Ball, their second win of the season.

Nick Murphy scored in the first five minutes for the home side and set the tone for the rest of the afternoon.

Originally published as NSWRL Junior Reps Round Two: All the action and highlights of the second round of the NSWRL season