All the best action from Round 5 of the NSWRL’s junior representative competitions.
Bulldogs victorious as Sea Eagles stars return
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have put together three tries in the final 15 minutes of play to earn a 26-24 win against Manly-Warringah at Brookvale Oval in the UNE SG Ball Cup.
Despite the loss the Sea Eagles welcomed back two of Manly-Warringah’s development players and 2019 SG Ball grand finalists Kaeo Weekes and Tolu Koula, both of whom returned to the competition for the first time in more than year.
Koula scored the opener in the 15th minute and sealed a hat-trick after halftime which brought the score to 24-10. The Bulldogs mounted their fightback soon after with three quick tries to five-eighth Khaled Rajab, centre Brendan Tapuai and No.14 Lachlan Vale to secure the two-point win.
Click here for other results from the UNE SG Ball Cup.
Steelers too strong in local derby
The Illawarra Steelers recorded a convincing 42-14 victory over archrivals St George in the UNE Harold Matthews Cup on Saturday.
Illawarra scored first points early on through back-rower Dylan Egan and had a narrow 12-8 lead after 20 minutes. The Steelers then improved their lead to 10 points just before the break when fellow second row forward Callum Leikvoll crossed.
The Steelers picked up where they left off when Zakariya Maarbani scored within 60 seconds after kick-off for the second half before the Dragons hit back through Corey Ackers three minutes later. Illawarra went on to score three more tries as halfback Kynan Clough converted six from six on the way to a 28-point win.
Click here for other results from the UNE Harold Matthews Cup.
Eels beat Dogs, Payne and Brown shine
Parramatta’s Losalio Sita Payne and Canterbury-Bankstown’s Gwen Swann, who lined up as opposing props in Round 5, scored three tries each in their Harvey Norman Tarsha Gale Cup clash.
In what is a rare try-scoring feat for front-rowers in rugby league, the two middle forwards shared 24 points between them as the Eels came away with a six-point win after trailing by eight at halftime.
Saturday’s victory was Parramatta’s first of the 2021 season as they prepare to take on the seventh-placed Canberra Raiders in Round 6.
Click here for other results from the Harvey Norman Tarsha Gale Cup.
Finals spots locked in for Johns and Daley Cups
The finals picture is now clear in the SLE Andrew Johns and Laurie Daley Cups following the conclusion of the final round on Sunday.
In the Johns Cup the Central Coast Roosters and North Coast Bulldogs have qualified for the finals series after taking out 1st and 2nd in the Northern Conference. Monaro Colts and Illawarra South Coast Dragons will also progress following their top two finish in the Southern Conference. The four sides play off next week to determine which teams will meet in the decider.
The Daley Cup finals series will feature the Central Coast Roosters as leaders of the Northern Conference with the Western Rams and Monaro Colts from the Southern Conference. The fourth spot will be taken by the Northern Tigers unless North Coast Bulldogs can produce a victory in their postponed clash with South Coast Illawarra Dragons next week.
Click here for results from the SLE Andrew Johns Cup.
Click here for results from the SLE Laurie Daley Cup.
