Souths Juniors: Finals teams determined in last round, huge 60+ photo gallery
The final five is set in the Souths Juniors after a last round of drama. Check out the weekend action including our huge 60+ photo gallery, plus see the match-ups for week one of the finals.
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The final round of the Souths Juniors competition delivered drama and saw a premiership contender sound out a warning shot to the minor premiers.
Here’s how the final round played out:
COOGEE DOLPHINS 32 DEF ALEXANDRIA ROVERS 20
With both teams having their finals positions guaranteed it mattered little in the grand scheme of things.
But for the Dolphins their 32-20 victory over Alexandria at Coogee Oval is the perfect lead-in to the finals.
With the Rovers having the minor premiership locked up they were without a handful of their key players, but the Dolphins will welcome back a few faces next week as well.
They raced in six tries to four in an entertaining clash in which the Dolphins set the tempo early on with Andrew Horne scoring in the opening minutes.
MASCOT 40 DEF MARRICKVILLE 12
The task for Mascot was simple coming into their clash with Marrickville - win and they play finals footy.
They came out of the sheds with a great intent and six unanswered tries gave them the perfect start as they raced out to a 30-0 lead at Pioneers Park.
Marrickville hit back with two tries of their own to cut it to 18, but with too much on the line Mascot as able to respond and take out the win, ensuring they finish the regular season in fourth.
SOUTH EASTERN 16 DEF MATRAVILLE 6
The previous result at Pioneers Park meant the winner would advance to the finals and the loser finds themselves on the outer.
In front of their home fans South Eastern delivered in a low-scoring affair to snatch fifth position courtesy of a 16-6 victory over Matraville.
Connor Higgins scored the only try of the first half in the 16th minute as both sides brought the physicality.
Tyrese Tuwairua-Brown was able to push the lead beyond a converted try soon after the break, before Jarrod Stevens made a comeback tough for the Tigers with the score pushed out to 16-0.
Andre Wright got Matraville on the board with five minutes to play, but it proved too little too late as the Seagulls kept their season alive.
RESERVE GRADE
Coogee Dolphins missed a golden opportunity for a top-three finish after going down to Alexandria Rovers 10-6 at Erskineville Oval.
They held a slender two-point lead approaching the final 10 minutes, before Thomas Johnson was able to get the home side over the line.
With fifth spot already locked up, South Eastern had a solid tune-up for the finals with a 28-4 defeat of Moore Park.
Mascot had second locked down and showed they can be a force with a big 58-4 win over La Perouse, with Tyson Martin scoring a hat-trick.
FINALS WEEK ONE
Major - Mascot vs Redfern - winner to play Alexandria for a spot in the grand final
Minor - Coogee vs South Eastern - winner advances, loser eliminated
PHOTO GALLERY
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