Shane Rowe scores five tries to spur TAFE WS Polecats to impressive win over ACU

SHANE Rowe showed no signs of rustiness to plant five tries to power TAFE Western Sydney Norwest Polecats to a thumping 42-18 victory over Australian Catholic University in their rugby league clash on Saturday.

Shane Rowe scoring one of his five tries for Norwest Polecats against ACU.

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SHANE Rowe showed no signs of rustiness to plant five tries to power TAFE Western Sydney Norwest Polecats to a thumping 42-18 victory over Australian Catholic University in their rugby league clash on Saturday.

The Polecats were playing their first game in a nearly a month due to washouts and byes but Rowe settled their nerves with his hat-trick of tries within the first 19 minutes of their game at Marrickville Park.

The star centre added two tries after the resumption as the defending champions maintained their five-point lead at the top of the NSW Tertiary Students Rugby League competition, with nine wins and one washout. Rowe is now the club’s top try scorer with 12.

The undefeated TAFE Western Sydney Polecats.

Matty Thomas, Jason Gill and debutant Adam Whitelaw were the other try scorers for the Polecats, who had to overcome a two-try rally from ACU just before half time. Sean Prior added the extra points for five tries.

Caretaker captain/coach Shannon Norford was delighted at his team’s victory.

“I thought we played well across the whole park today, the side played to our strengths,” Norford said.

“Even with ACU who keep coming at us, we finally ran away with it in the end.”

ThePolecats seconds were also on the winning side, beating ACU 26-0, thanks to tries from Meimeite Siale (3) and Adam Whitelaw and three conversions by Ryan Bowen.

This Saturday, the Polecats take on second-placed UTS Tigers at Blackmores Oval, with the first grade competing for the John McMartin Challenge Shield.