NSWRL Junior Reps Rd 4: Latest results from Harold Matts, Lisa Fiaola, SG Ball, Tarsha Gale Cups
A drought stretching over 700 days was ended as the winning runs of a host of SG Ball contenders continued. Catch up on all the action from round four of the NSWRL Junior Reps competitions.
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Round four of the NSWRL Junior Reps season is here.
Follow along for all the latest around the grounds in the Harold Matthews, Lisa Fiaola, SG Ball and Tarsha Gale Cup competitions.
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Lisa Fiaola - Tarsha Gale - Harold Matthews - SG Ball
LISA FIAOLA
STEELERS SHUT OUT SOUTHS
Illawarra recovered from a heavy defeat by dishing out one of their own, hammering South Sydney 60-0 at Redfern.
The Steelers had to wait just over 90 seconds to post first points as Ella Greatz sliced her way through the line before finding Halle Barrett to go over untouched.
Illawarra continued to attack through their defence and they struck again with former Rabbitoh Ella Churchill breaking the line to put Mia Davis over in the corner.
Then it was a one-on-one miss that allowed Manawa Jen Tukere through to extend the margin to 16, before Churchill pushed it out further just minutes later when she took on the line and came out with a four-pointer.
Charlotte Nicholson and Shylah Mitchell also crossed and Davis ran in a second as the Steelers raced out to a 36-0 lead at the break.
Nicholson brought up a double early in the second half and Laila Poto added to Souths’ misery, with Soraya Amone bringing up the half-century.
SHARKS SURVIVE
In an epic opener at Kenthurst, the Sharks had to dig deep before edging out North Sydney 16-8.
Cronulla had the better of the opening stages and struck first on the back of swarming defence after Norths were trapped deep in their own half on the final tackle.
Heni Mayers crashed over in the next set when the prop steamed onto a clever inside ball from Isabella McDonald.
Sienna Best looked like extending the Sharks’ six-point buffer just before the break. Seemingly set to dive into the right corner, the winger was dragged down by a stunning cover tackle from five-eighth Indianna Carroll.
Sparked by the try-saving play, Norths hit back straight after the break when winger Eden Melham grounded a fumbled kick to make it 6-4.
Not to be outdone, Cronulla went ahead 10-4 when Sophia Brightwell regathered her own grubber kick to dash across out wide.
Chasing their first win of the season, Norths kept coming and hit back when fullback Timeka
Collins attracted the defence and sent Lily-May Price-Jones away to score untouched in the right corner.
Still down by two, Norths had their chances but Cronulla held on to record their second win in three starts when centre Kalahni Crews raced away in the last minute before unselfishly passing to Tahli Weigand to wrap it up.
PANTHERS BLITZ SEA EAGLES
A comprehensive stretch on either side of halftime has prompted Penrith to its second win of the season, downing Manly 24-14.
The two sides traded blows early, before the Panthers went on a run of four unanswered tries, putting them ahead 24-6 10 minutes into the second half.
Strong centre Vasaliva Feleti picked up a double for Penrith.
The Sea Eagles managed to fight back late with two tries in the final six minutes, but the bird had flown by that point.
KNIGHTS HOLD OFF TIGERS
The Knights survived a late scare to claim a huge Fiaola Cup scalp, downing the Wests Tigers 20-18 in Cessnock.
Breanna Rawlins and Aliana Fasavalu-Fa’amausili scored the only tries of the first half as the visitors held a slender 6-4 lead.
The two again traded blows early in the second before Maddison-Renae Seumanutafa gave the Knights the lead and Keira Callaghan broke through some tired defence to stretch the margin to eight.
Agnews Faaui scored in the dying stages to give the Tigers one last shot, but it was too late as the Knights secured a crucial win.
RAIDERS FIRE OVER DRAGONS
Canberra picked up its first win of the season in emphatic fashion, smashing St George 60-8 at Belconnen.
The Raiders were on fire early, opening up an 18-0 lead after scoring the opening four tries, before Brooke Carroll and Tameira Robertson-Wotton helped St George bridge the margin to just 10 at the break.
That was as close as they would get, with a Kymiah Stewart double in the opening six minutes of the second half spearheading a dominant second half.
The Raiders would go on to score eight unanswered tries as they won their first ever Fiaola Cup clash.
TARSHA GALE
SHARKS FIND BEST
A dominant second half has lifted Cronulla to a 36-10 win over North Sydney at Kenthurst.
An error from Norths on the third play of the game gifted Cronulla early territory and they took full advantage with Koffi Brookfield setting up fullback Chynna Hardy to step her defender and score.
The Sharks kept the pressure on, including a pair of chances to centre Milla Caine, but Norths managed to hold strong and keep within striking distance.
They were rewarded for their efforts as Logan Lemusu broke through the defence from a scrum to race 20m to score and give the Bears the lead in the 24th minute.
Norths couldn’t complete the set off points and were punished by Ella Ropata who put Lacie Bowling into a gap to score as the Sharks led 8-6 at the half.
The visitors came out firing in the second half and within five minutes the lead was out to 14 as Genevieve Mafi and Felila Fakalelu both got over the line.
The result was as good as done as Fakalelu performed a superhuman effort to break through eight attempts at tackle to score the try of the game.
Lilly Wilson gave the Bears faithful something to cheer about, before Brookfield and Bowling swiftly ended any comeback hopes.
STEELERS BOUNCE BACK
Illawarra bounced back from its first defeat in over a year to comfortably account for South Sydney 40-10 at Redfern Oval.
After being held up on the previous tackle, Tori Shipton was able to open the scoring for the Steelers in the sixth minute.
A penalty marched the Steelers upfield and they soon had a second as Alex Down turned Maria Paseka inside with a slashing run.
Shipton was able to break through the line and find Trinity Tauaneai who was brought down two metres from the line, and it was Shipton who coasted over from dummy half on the next play to make the lead 16.
The margin stretched beyond 20 as Billie Va’a ran over the top of two defenders to complete a stunning 55m effort.
Seriah Palepale made it 28-0 soon after the break, before the Rabbitohs finally showed some fight with an April Chappell double keeping them in the contest late.
DRAGONS END MAJOR DROUGHT
St George secured its first Tarsha Gale win in 727 days, downing Canberra 18-10 at Belconnen.
The signs were good for the Red V early as Erin Sheehy crossed within the opening two minutes.
That was before the Raiders found their footing and took a 10-6 lead into the break with Isabella Piper and Gabriella Savage getting over the line.
It was an inspired period midway through the second half that lifted the Dragons home.
Firstly Merinda Mihajlovic helped to take back the lead, before five minutes later Kamanu Li’i Dennis pushed the margin to eight.
It was a break that was big enough to end one of the biggest droughts in the Junior Reps.
PANTHERS RETURN TO FORM
Penrith has ended a two-game skid in style, running in eight tries to steamroll Manly 46-16 at Brookvale Oval.
The Panthers put together an impressive first half, starting with Samantha Hanrahan and finishing with Matilda Vella as they opened up a strong 22-4 halftime advantage.
By the time Janita-Lily Leota-Brown had her second, the Sea Eagles were right back in the contest trailing by two converted tries with 17 minutes to play.
That resistance was broken as the Panthers finished with a flurry, with Madison Wilson, Julie Notise, Monica Ben and Audrey Nadaya-Harb scoring in the space of 10 minutes to complete the strong victory.
KNIGHTS DROP HAMMER ON TIGERS
Newcastle has claimed its biggest win of the season, ending the undefeated run of the Wests Tigers to the tune of 28-4 in Cessnock.
Saxbii Shaw had the Knights playing from the front after just three minutes, before impressive Tigers winger Chaela-Lee Falls hit back soon after.
The game changed complexion with 10 remaining in the half when Juanita Jang was sent to the sin bin for a professional foul.
They were made to pay almost immediately with a lobbed Maronay Smuts cutout putting Macey Cox over in the corner.
Their lead became 10 just minutes into the second half when Charlie Norton barged her way over from dummy half.
Once Fane Finau bundled her way over the floodgates opened for the Knights, with Brandy Simpson and Queensland recruit Mariah Brown widening the gap late.
HAROLD MATTHEWS
HUNGRY ROOSTERS ON THE RAMPAGE
It shaped as an intriguing tussle, but the Sydney Roosters had other ideas as they blew away Penrith 32-0.
With one win each to start the season, the Panthers arrived at Henson Park eager to climb above their eastern rivals. In the end, they failed to get on the board and conceded three tries in each half.
Giant prop Charleston Te Rore set the scene early, brushing away several tackles to plant the ball under the posts.
Under relentless pressure to defend their own line, the Panthers cracked again 10 minutes later when centre Jackson Rodwell sent Cooper Moore flying into the right corner.
Following slick hands along the left edge, the Roosters added a third to lead 16-0 at halftime when lock Marquis Sando muscled across to force the ball over the stripe.
Five-eighth Charlie Webb put the contest to bed straight after the break, swooping on a loose pass before clearing the field in a 70 metre dash to the line.
Payton Gifford and Paula Teisina added two more four-pointers in the final 10 minutes.
GUTSY TIGERS DEFENCE
A gutsy Balmain have held off a determined North Sydney 16-14 in an epic finish at Lidcombe Oval.
In a scoreless second half, the Tigers were forced to defend their own try line in the closing minutes as the Bears pressed for their third win of the season.
After crossing twice in the first half, Norths’ damaging backrower Nicholas Kotarac seemed certain to carry the Bears to victory with three minutes to play.
With a head of steam, the No.11 charged towards the right corner but came up short when Tigers hooker Bill Antonopoulos somehow found a way to get under the ball.
Then with less than 60 seconds left, Norths once again chanced their hand on the same edge. This time halfback Hayden Moynihan had the line at his mercy, only for the ball to come free as he reached across the line.
Earlier, Balmain winger Benjamin Lawrence bagged a double with halfback Christian Azzi adding the go-ahead try just before the interval.
KNIGHTS SURVIVE SHARKS SCARE
Newcastle staged a late comeback to deny Cronulla 30-20 at Shark Park.
An entertaining first half saw Brodie Johnson post a double inside the opening eight minutes to put Cronulla ahead 12-0 early, before the Knights responded with Cooper Votano and Cody Baker to level things up in the shadows of halftime.
The Knights were pinged for an incorrect play the ball from the kick-off, allowing Cronulla one last chance in the first half which Thomas Beattie with a diving effort in the corner to send them ahead 16-12 at the break.
Daniel Green pushed Cronulla’s lead out to eight shortly after the break, but it was the Knights that would surge.
Chase Butler changed the game, firstly with a try and then with a chip and chase before finding Kyron Nixon-Croaker to put them ahead inside the final 10 minutes.
The Sharks had one last roll of the dice, however Tobi Beckett was ruled to have lost the ball over the line.
RAIDERS ON THE BOARD
Canberra is off and running in the Harold Matts after a comprehensive 32-18 defeat of St George at Kogarah.
With the Raiders searching for their first win of the season, they came out with intent and Kodi Roberts had them in front inside six minutes.
Winger Jack Lambert was able to hit back for the Dragons before Nioka Aldridge landed another punch for Canberra.
Kye Anderson rounded out a strong first half for the visitors to put them ahead 16-6.
The Raiders swiftly put the game away inside the opening 10 minutes of the second half, racing in three unanswered tries to open up a 26-point margin.
ROOSTERS GO STREAKING
The Central Coast made it back-to-back wins, resigning Wests to consecutive losses in the process after a 30-12 win at Woy Woy.
Duncan Gatt-Smith and Carter Mareko gave the home side a hot start before Kingston Finau was able to keep the Magpies in the contest at 12-6 down at the break.
The game was still in the balance coming into the final 12 minutes with the Roosters ahead by six, before Eli Bennett and Corben Devaney both got over the line to give the home fans plenty to cheer about.
SG BALL
TIGERS CONTINUE DREAM RUN
The Balmain Tigers made it four-straight wins after downing Penrith 28-12 on Friday night in Windsor.
A Harry Wald double gave the Panthers the early advantage, before a strong second half gave the Tigers the win.
Marc Tannous and Cohen Benson starred to combine with three try assists as they held the home side scoreless in the second half.
RAIDERS MAKE IT FOUR
The Roosters were forced to make a change inside 30 seconds after Peter Benjamin Uini came reeling out of a tackle and was subsequently ruled out after failing a HIA.
They soon recovered and some crafty work from the returning Toby Rodwell on the back of an offload from Lachlan Dooner saw him take advantage of the broken defensive line to score.
Out of nowhere the Raiders were able to hit back as Cooper Johnston raced 80m down the touchline from a scrum to level the scores.
Then the Roosters went bang, firstly through a short-side movement to find EJ Mahu-Delamere and then in the next set through Brooklyn Rosemeyer to open up a 16-6 advantage.
It was Canberra’s turn to hit back, and they did in style through Roman Tuaimau and a second to Johnston to edge ahead 18-16 through the opening 35 minutes.
Sylas Simon stretch the lead for the visitors soon after the break before Darcy Smith made it a two-point game once again approaching the final 15 minutes.
Just as Luke Cannon looked to seal it for the Raiders, Phillip Lavakeiaho crossed from dummy half to set up a thrilling last five.
MAGPIES UNLOCKED
It’s been a while coming, but a four-try haul to Saint Fuatimau has seen Wests score their first victory in style with an emphatic 50-4 take down of St George at Jubilee Oval.
In a major surprise, both sides entered the clash winless and floundering at the foot of the table.
Saints got the early jump when fullback Taj Jelacic put the reigning champions on the board after five minutes. From then on it was all Wests who ran riot with five tries in 16 minutes to lead 24-4 at halftime.
Heamasi Makasini scored the first from a Saints handling error. Fuatimau pounced on a kick in the next set, and the winger brought up his third in the space of 12 minutes when he raced over next to the posts following another Dragons mistake.
Makasini and backrower Byronn Laupepa had a field day on the left edge, and they continued the carnage early in the second half. Both teamed to send Fuatimau clear, before Laupepa backed up to make it 28-4.
In all, the Magpies scored 10 tries with Fuatimau celebrating his fourth with a massive swan dive in the closing stages.
SHARKS FIRE EARLY
A dominant first half gave the Sharks enough of a buffer to hold out Newcastle 34-22 at Shark Park.
It started with Prestyn Laine-Sietu crossing inside five minutes and ended with them holding a 22-6 buffer.
That advantage was pegged back to just four inside the opening seven minutes of the second half thanks to Ezekiel Ieti and Jaylan Bishop.
A second to Laine-Sietu helped Cronulla establish a 10-point buffer heading into the final 20 minutes.
Tryscoring machine Aidan Gow took his tally to nine when he crossed in the 66th minute to give the Knights one late chance to force a draw.
The Sharks showed enough resolve to hold them out and extend when Yuri Hromow made a clean break through the middle to bring up a double.
BULLDOGS IMPROVE RECORD
Canterbury made it a hat-trick of U19s wins after downing North Sydney 30-12 at Hammondville Oval.
Carson Tmalii gave the Bulldogs a dream start with a try inside the first two minutes, as Oliva Smith helped them to a 10-0 advantage as they raced the clock early.
Soteila Fatui gave the Bears some much needed points midway through the first half, as the score remained 10-6 for a large portion of the game.
That’s before Alex Conti crossed and Smith found his second in a five-minute period that saw them take the game away from North Sydney.
Conti ended the game with a double and an 18-point personal haul.
EELS END RABBITOHS RUN
Parramatta put a halt to South Sydney’s SG Ball run, coming from behind to prevail 26-16 at Eric Tweedal Stadium.
A composed start from both teams was broken open by the Rabbitohs who piled on three tries in an eight-minute stretch to race out to a 16-0 lead in the 15th minute.
It started with a looped Matthew Humphries pass putting Joshua Ballard into space, who was able to get through a few defenders to score.
In the very next set a Humphries bomb was spilled by the Eels, allowing a passage for Lancelot Tovio to cross.
A penalty gave the Rabbitohs good field position and they made it back-to-back-to-back tries as Humphries took the line on and powered his way over.
The bleeding finally stopped and the Eels were able to grab one of their own before the break with Nathan Howlett putting Lorima Rokosuka over out wide as they trailed 16-4 at the break.
It was Howlett that came up trumps early in the second half to help the Eels eat further into the lead, putting Dominic Farrugia over in the opposite corner to cut it back to 16-8.
Eight became two in the next set as the Eels opted to run it on the last, with a Howlett grubber pounced upon by Elijah-Shane Tapau to give them all the momentum with 20 to play.
Parramatta was given a golden opportunity to tie it up when given a penalty straight in front, but they went for the try and it came off as Rokosuka ran in for his second to put them ahead 20-16 with 12 to go.
The result was sealed when a Rabbitohs error gave the Eels a set on their line, with an offload from Jeziah Funa-Iuta to Beau Lucien getting them home.
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