North Sydney Bears continue their pursuit towards finals footy in the NSW Presidents Cup as they maintain third position on the ladder after defeating Western Rams 42-26.
An action-packed first half saw Rams centre Jackson Brien score the first try of the day, followed by back-to-back tries by Bears five-eighth Coby Thomas who converted one to make the score 10-4 in the first quarter.
Bears centre James Tuitahi fed off the back of his teams momentum and scored his own four-pointer followed by Rams winger Jesse Wighton who scored soon after, upping the scorecard to 14-8 to remind the Bears they were still in the game.
Sione Hopoate scored one more try for the Bears to extend their lead 18-8 heading into halftime.
The second half was just as busy as the first right from the first whistle as Rams fullback Mitchell Andrews scored in the 42nd minute.
Bears conceded five tries in the second half with two conversions, but Rams did not throw in the towel too easily, as they scored three additional tries and one successful conversion by second-rower Bailey Hartwig to end the day 42-26 to North Sydney.
Dubbo CYMS have put on an absolute clinic at Apex Oval, smashing the Wentworthville Magpies 30-10 in the Presidents Cup.
Jack Kavanagh scored the first try of the afternoon for Dubbo but it was back-rower Billy Sing deserves a huge amount of credit for the try as he gained about eight post-contact metres and found his front while on the attack to set up a quick play the ball. Hooker Isaac Thompson then made the right play by jumping out of dummy half and going short to Kavanagh who crashed over.
A long-range try for Dubbo followed thanks to the speed and elusiveness of Dubbo fullback Tony Pellow who sold a ball to his right at the halfway line, snuck through a gap and charged for the right corner. He drew the fullback and passed to ex-NRL star Jayson Bukuya who showed his experience in supporting and brought the ball around under the posts.
The Magpies’ worst nightmare came true on the stroke of half-time when Dubbo went bang-bang in the final four minutes. A right-side shift and a long run from Jyie Champman proved too quick for the Wenty defence, before a grubber-and-chase was regathered by halfback Bayden Searle with only seconds left on the clock and then he passed to a supporting Pellow who ran away to score untouched.
The Magpies were there own worst enemy early in the second half when an error coming out of trouble led to Chapman scoring his second, before Mose Esera scored in the left corner to push the score out to 30-0.
The Magpies scored two late tries but it was all Dubbo who ran out 30-10 winners.
Other matches:
Glebe Burwood Wolves 36 def Thirroul Butchers 18
Maitland Pickers 48 def Western Suburbs 0
Click here for Presidents Cup draw.
