NSWRL Junior Reps Rd 4: Latest results from Harold Matts, Lisa Fiaola, SG Ball, Tarsha Gale Cups

The halfway mark of the NSWRL Junior Reps season is almost here as we enter round four. Follow along for all the latest from around the grounds in the four major rugby league divisions.

The Raiders improved to 4-0 in SG Ball. Picture: Martin Ollman

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.

Cronulla secured victory against Norths. Picture Warren Gannon Photography

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.

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.

Maria Paseka Picture Warren Gannon Photography

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.

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.

Balmain’s defence lifted them to victory. Picture Warren Gannon Photography

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.

Joaz Ayamiseba. Picture: Martin Ollman

Originally published as NSWRL Junior Reps Rd 4: Latest results from Harold Matts, Lisa Fiaola, SG Ball, Tarsha Gale Cups