Andrew Johns/Laurie Daley Cup: wrap, results, standouts from round two
Statements were made, winning streaks were extended while some teams broke their duck for the season during round two of the Andrew Johns and Laurie Daley Cups.
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After a blistering opening weekend, the Andrew Johns and Laurie Daley Cup competitions returned with a bang for round two.
Statements were made, winning streaks were extended while others broke their duck for the season as the best under-16 and under-18 rugby league players from regional NSW went at it at grounds around the state.
Meanwhile with a photographer at the Macarthur v North Coast Bulldogs clash in Camden snapping the best shots from both grades, there is a gallery to enjoy below.
Catch up with a wrap of the action.
Andrew Johns Cup
KNIGHTS GET THE BUSINESS DONE AGAIN
The Newcastle-Maitland Region Knights made it two wins from two in the Andrew Johns Cup with a 26-18 win over the Northern Tigers.
A fast start by the Knights saw the opening two tries go down their productive left edge, with centre Chip Valentish and winger Kade Paton both scoring for the second successive game.
From here it was the Knights’ spine that got the business done, with five-eighth Chase Butler, hooker Billy Toms and interchange hooker Heath Connell crossing for the remaining tries.
Darcy Rolph, Jake Rudder and Axel Crossley found their way over the line for the Tigers as they stubbornly remained within striking distance for much of the match.
It’s the second week in a row the Knights have put exactly 28 points on the board, while the Tigers remain winless after the opening two rounds.
ROOSTERS SURVIVE SECOND-HALF FLURRY
The Central Coast Roosters held off a valiant second-half resurgence from the Northern Rivers Titans to narrowly win 26-22.
It was one-way traffic in the first half, with the Roosters taking a 20-0 lead into sheds after scoring four unanswered tries.
The Central Coast side flexed their finishing ability from both sides of the park, with both wingers Chase Kapua and Semi Leweniqila finding the line. Centre Kohen Scott and second-rower Tulsyn McCulloch also collected four-pointers in the first-half rout.
However, whatever coaches Nick Forrester and Monty Brown said in the halftime sheds clicked the Titans into gear, as the team went on to find four second-half tries of their own.
Both prop forwards Billy Mulheran and Aiden Gersh picked up meat pies for the visitors, while fullback Ryder Nelson and winger Tye Hogan-Collins also snagged four-pointers.
In the end, a second try of the match and fifth of the season for Leweniqila was all that separated the sides, with the Roosters emerging as slender victors in the nine-try thriller.
TIGERS FLEX THEIR MUSCLES
It was one-way traffic at Kirkham Oval in Camden as the Macarthur Wests Tigers ran away 24-2 winners over the North Coast Bulldogs.
The victory takes the Tigers to two wins from two, while the Bulldogs didn’t look anything like the side that won comfortably in round one.
Winger Mawin Tema Soaai picked up two first-half tries to open his account for the season, showcasing his pace, strength and damaging running game with his first.
On the opposite wing, Drake Ayers also got on the scoresheet, joining Tema Soaai on two for the season after his opening round try.
Ronel Ribucan made the transition from wing in the first round to fullback in round two, showing no issues as he crossed for a four-pointer in the first half as well.
Dallis Taoai added a fifth for the Tigers in the second half in a comprehensive victory, leaving them undefeated alongside the Roosters for the season.
RAMS BOUNCE BACK IN STYLE
The Western Rams bounced back from opening round heartbreak to the Tigers with a comprehensive 38-12 win over the Riverina Bulls, who were unable to repeat their round one heroics.
The game was very much in the balance in the first half, with the Rams taking a mere four-point lead into the break after tries to five-eighth Triston Ross and centre Charlie Fischbeck put the side ahead of the Bulls, who crossed through Joshua Harris.
While the first half was an arm wrestle, the second half was all the Rams, who ran in four unanswered tries to rack up a healthy victory.
Triston Ross added a second of the match and a fourth of the season, joined by fullback Taj Jordan who also nabbed a couple to bring his season tally to three.
Bulls’ backrowerHarris scored a consolation second for the Bulls as a late on, an impressive third try of the season.
DRAGONS FIRE BACK
The Illawarra South Coast Dragons bounced back from a surprise round one loss to defeat the Monaro Colts 26-14 in Canberra.
The Dragons backline was firing on all cylinders with wingers Ashton Sommers and Denzel Amone, and both centres Phoenix Johns and Cooper Morrison, making their way onto the scoresheet. Johns was a top performer for the Dragons in his first appearance of the season.
For the Colts, centre Tyler Stonham picked up a double, joined on the scoresheet by five-eighth Johnny Constable.
However this wasn’t enough to stop back-to-back defeats, with Dragons interchange hooker Brian Bell scoring to put the margin beyond doubt in the second half.
Laurie Daley Cup
TIGERS BLOW KNIGHTS AWAY WITH SECOND-HALF BLITZ
The Northern Tigers have kept their unbeaten run in the Laurie Daley Cup alive after a second-half blitz saw the team run over the top of the Newcastle-Maitland Region Knights 36-8 at Cessnock Sportsground.
While the team trailed early and led just 6-4 at halftime, the Tigers turned on the afterburners in the second half as they ran in five tries to one to run away with the game.
Halfback Jordan Hamlin bagged a double while fellow spine players Jackson Smith and Jayden Seckold continued their strong starts to the season with four-pointers of their own.
Dylan Keane was sharp with the boot, kicking six from six as the Tigers jumped to the top of the table.
Meanwhile for the Knights, who got on the scoreboard through two Ralph Binge tries, it was the second loss from as many starts as the team once again conceded more than 30 points.
ROOSTERS SEE OFF TITANS IN ARMWRESTLE
The Central Coast Roosters recorded their second win from as many starts as the team saw off a late comeback to down the Northern Rivers Titans 18-14 in a tight match at Morry Breen Oval.
Goalkicking ultimately proved to be the difference as both sides ended up with three tries apiece, with some solid late defence keeping the Roosters’ record intact.
The Central Coast side started the brighter with centre Zahn McKay running a nice line to finish off a backline move for the game’s first try after just four minutes.
Playmaker Chaice Bayley then showed off his fancy footwork to step his way over from close range to give his side a 12-0 lead.
The Titans needed a spark and five-eighth Hudson Towell provided it, using his footwork and speed to break the line and score a 35m solo effort just before halftime to leave scores at 12-4 at the break.
The Roosters jumped 14 points ahead in the 48th minute when halfback Brooklyn Rosemeyer scored to make scores 18-4.
However just when it looked like the Roosters were cruising to victory, Titans’ fullback Kai Saric crossed with 16 minutes to go to his team back into the contest.
Towell then did it all himself once again, scooping up the rebound after grubbering the ball against the post to get things back to 18-14 and set up a grandstand finish with nine to go.
The momentum was all with the Titans, who pushed hard for a late matchwinner, however the Central Coast defence held firm to secure the four-point win.
MACARTHUR GO BACK TO BACK
The Macarthur Wests Tigers have strengthened their claim as one of the teams to beat in the Daley Cup after a 30-16 win over the North Coast Bulldogs at Kirkham Oval in Camden.
Winger Saint Fuatimau claimed a hat-trick and back-rower Archie Duncombe scored his second successive double as the Tigers once again went on a second-half blitz to remain undefeated so far this season.
The team went tit for tat in the early stages, with Fuatimau crossing for the first after nine minutes, only for Bulldogs fullback Samuel Petch to get one back for his side five minutes later.
Gene Wighton was the next to cross for the Tigers to give his side a 12-4 lead at the break, however a Sam Watts four-pointer early in the second half ensured things remained tight at 12-10.
With the game in the balance, Tigers backrower Duncombe stepped up for the second week in a row to get his side on a roll, charging over to extend the team’s lead in the 53th minute.
He was at it again five minutes later, backing up to finish off a line break from Macarthur halfback Dion Williams to put his side ahead 20-12 with just over 10 minutes to go.
With all the momentum, the Tigers punished the Bulldogs further, with Fuatimau scoring his second and then third late in the game to cap off a four-try, 13-minute burst for the team and keep them at the top of the ladder.
WESTERN OPEN ACCOUNT AGAINST BULLS
The Western Rams bounced back from round one heartbreak with a comprehensive 40-12 victory over the Riverina Bulls at Sid Kallas Oval in Cowra.
The Rams came out of the blocks firing and led 28-0 after a dominant first half as the team proved too fast and skilful for Riverina.
Winger Nathaniel Robinson scored a double as his team piled on seven tries to two and Cooper Black kicked six from seven in what was the biggest win of the round.
While the Bulls were completely outplayed in the first half, they showed plenty of ticker after the break to score two tries through Brayden Fejsa-Sexton and Lachlan Cole to draw the second half 12-all.
The victory was Western’s first of the season while Riverina will be hoping to open its account next weekend against Macarthur.
COLTS BOUNCE BACK IN GF REMATCH
The Monaro Colts have bounced back from opening round disappointment and in the process have somewhat made up for losing last year’s Daley Cup grand final with a strong 38-12 victory over the Illawarra South Coast Dragons in Canberra.
After a bright start, the Colts really turned it on in the second half with four tries to run away with the game and record the team’s first win of the season.
Smarting from a 14-0 loss to the Central Coast Roosters last week, Monaro were quick out of the blocks against Illawarra, with winger Brady Smith finishing off a nice move to put his side ahead in just the third minute and Jesse Milin charging over from close range to extend the lead to 10-0 after six minutes.
The Dragons hit back through Dreau Clark shortly after, however another Colts try to JJ Mau Pohiva gave Monaro a 14-6 lead at the break.
And while the Dragons brought it back to a two-point ballgame after fullback Brodie Breakspear burrowed over just after halftime, that’s as close as they got as the Colts took control of the game.
Lachlan Cunanan, Joseph Elton, Yuri Hromow and Mitchell Brophy scored for Monaro as they ran out 38-12 winners.
PHOTO GALLERY
Macarthur Wests Tigers vs North Coast Bulldogs - Andrew Johns Cup
Macarthur Wests Tigers vs North Coast Bulldogs - Laurie Daley Cup
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