The best action from week two of the NSWRL's major competitions.
Lightning start for Thunderbolts in Jersey Flegg Cup
Victoria Thunderbolts have exploded out of the blocks in the opening two weeks of the 2022 Jersey Flegg Cup with back-to-back victories, marking a huge turnaround from last year’s winless campaign.
Scoring a combined 66 points with wins over 2021 ladder leaders the Wests Tigers in Round One, and South Sydney Rabbitohs on Thursday night, the Thunderbolts are certainly looking ominous to start the season.
Their Round Two victory began with an early flurry of tries – a Tiraa Ua double and a four-pointer to fellow winger Michael Vitale. Jonah Pezet converted two from three off the boot.
South Sydney replied with two quick tries through Penioni Tohi and Josh Rizk along with a Romano Cook conversion, before Victoria fullback Ammaron Gudgeon scored a fourth try for the home side to give them a 20-10 lead at halftime.
Despite the Rabbitohs’ best efforts to get back into the contest, another handful of consecutive tries by the Thunderbolts - including Ua’s hat-trick in the 53rd minute - proved too much to overcome for the visitors. Victoria went on to win 36-32.
Click here for more Jersey Flegg Cup results.
Semi-finalists decided for 2022 Country Championships
The last four of the Men’s and Women’s Country Championships have now been confirmed following the final round over the weekend, pitting the top two sides from the Northern and Southern Conferences against each other in next week’s Semi-finals
In the men’s competition the Northern Rivers Titans have finished atop the Northern Conference and will take on Illawarra South Coast Dragons, who took out second spot from the Southern teams. The other semi-final sees Monaro Colts facing off against Northern Tigers.
The Women’s Country Championships are set for a closely fought finals series with four undefeated sides going through to the semis. NMR Knights will line up against Macarthur Wests Tigers while the Dragons play off against Central Coast Roosters.
The Dragons are also the only combatants in this year’s finals who have the rare opportunity to take out the title in both the men’s and women’s divisions.
Hawks make a statement in season opener
Ryde-Eastwood Hawks have kicked off the Ron Massey Cup season in dominant style with a 38-6 win over Western Suburbs Magpies in front of a home crowd at TG Milner Field on Sunday.
The Hawks couldn’t have asked for a much better start to 2022, producing a perfect attacking display while holding their opposition to just six points.
Winger Mason Ward led the point-scoring with a tally of 12, including two tries and two conversions, while halfback Mitch Gray scored a brace of his own. Centre Jamin Williams scored a try and kicked one goal, while prop Callum Ellis, fullback Bradley Cousins and backrower Matthew Ryan also crossed the stripe for the home side.
Click here for more Ron Massey Cup results.
Click here for Sydney Shield results.
