All the latest action from the opening week of finals in the NSWRL's junior representative competitions, and a top-two clash in the Jersey Flegg Cup.
Dragons burn Panthers in field goal thriller
St George Illawarra Dragons have defeated ladder-leading Penrith Panthers 23-22 in the Jersey Flegg Cup with a 66th minute field goal to fullback Treigh Stewart.
The Dragons were forced to fight back after finding themselves down 16-0 at halftime following tries to Hayden Bonanno, Ilai Tuai and Logan Cohen.
They came out of the sheds firing and were on the board early through Sam Hooper and Benjamin Johnson, although Penrith hit back soon after when Logan Cohen went over for his second try of the match.
From there, it was all the Dragons with tries to Ben Arandt and Dantoray Lui leaving the Red V down by just two points. Stewart stepped up and knocked over the conversion, bringing the score to 22-all with just four minutes remaining.
The Dragons then marched their way down field for Stewart to seal the win and put the Dragons in second place on the ladder.
Click here for other results from the Jersey Flegg Cup.
Roosters dominate as the Sharks’ season comes to an end
Sydney Roosters Indigenous Academy have ended the season of the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the Harvey Norman Tarsha Gale Cup season after dominating their opposition in a 20-0 victory.
Courtney Tamati opened the scoring in the 7th minute and from there, it was a defensive affair with no points being scored until Keilee Joseph crossed early in the second half.
Avalon Pallier made her presence felt off the bench after she crossed over in the 38th minute and the game slowly started to slip away from the Sharks.
Second rower Otese Pule continued her brilliant run of form as she crashed over for yet another try in the 38th minute securing a 20-0 victory for the Roosters.
Click here for other results from the Harvey Norman Tarsha Gale Cup.
Magpies send the Roosters packing
Western Suburbs Magpies have ended the campaign of the Sydney Roosters in the UNE Harold Matthews Cup after securing a 18-16 victory at H.E. Laybutt Field.
It didn’t take long for the Magpies to get on the scoreboard with Solomone Saukuru crashing over in the first minute and Tajh Colquhoun converted to give his side a 6-0 lead.
The Roosters hit back nine minutes later through Mason Stottelaar but couldn’t land the conversion to leave Western Suburbs leading 6-4 at halftime.
William Craig opened the Magpies account in the second half with a try in the 46th minute and the trusty boot of Tajh Colquhoun extended the lead to 12-4.
Both sides went back and forth for the remainder of the game before Benaiah Ioelu finally cracked the Magpies defence. Haydan Ritchie added the two points to bring his side within striking distance.
Magpies five eighth Heath Mason ensured his side’s 2021 finals campaign remained alive after he went over in the 54th minute, with Colquhoun landing the conversion to give the Magpies a hard fought 18-16 win.
Click here for other results from the UNE Harold Matthews Cup.
Click here for results from the UNE SG Ball Cup.
