All the latest updates from week seven of the NSWRL's major competitions.
Women’s Premiership kicks off in style
The 2022 Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership season began in thrilling fashion in Saturday’s triple-header, with all three results decided by a margin of just six points.
At Cessnock Sports Ground the Newcastle Knights played host to the Wentworthville Magpies as the home side overcame a four-point halftime deficit to win 18-12.
Winger Anika Butler produced a double in the first 25 minutes for Newcastle, while centre Christa-Lee Smith and back-rower Bree Chester scored the only tries in the second. Halfback Melanie Howard finished with one from three off the boot.
The second clash for the day was a low-scoring encounter between Mounties and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at Aubrey Keech Reserve with the Sharks earning a 10-4 win.
The Sharks opened proceedings in the fifth minute when No.2 Ella Barker crossed before opposing winger Haylee Hifo replied for Mounties 12 minutes later. The scores remained at four-all for another 36 minutes as Cronulla-Sutherland second row forward Talei Holmes finally broke the deadlock with the match-winning try, followed up by a Maddie Studdon conversion.
Saturday’s final contest had the Wests Tigers coming away with a 16-10 victory over South Sydney Rabbitohs at CommBank Stadium.
Tigers halfback and captain Emily Curtain – returning from a strong NRLW season with the Eels – made an impact in her Round One performance, steering the side around the park effectively and scoring eight points with a try and two goals.
Click here for more Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership results.
Knights firming after win over Eels
The Newcastle Knights have moved into outright second on the Jersey Flegg Cup competition ladder after beating Parramatta Eels 27-20 in their Round Six clash on Saturday.
Despite having an 8-0 lead at the 15-minute mark after tries to centres Harvey Neville and James Johnson, the Knights had to recover from a Riley Jones sin bin in the 25th minute and turn around a six-point deficit late in the match to secure victory.
Parramatta back-rower Lachlan Blackburn hit back with a four-pointer in the 23rd minute, but Newcastle still paid the price for their one-man disadvantage moments later when Nikau Wrathall crossed for the blue and gold during the 10 minutes. Fullback Corey Fenning’s second conversion gave the Eels a 12-8 going into the break.
Within eight minutes of the second half Jones made up for his time off the field with by scoring a try to help Newcastle even the ledger with second-rower Thomas Cant’s conversion.
While Eels halfback Ethan Sanders – and Fenning’s extra two points – put the visitors back in front by a converted try with just over 15 minutes remaining, the Knights came up with another try through Cant before No.7 Noah Ryan nailed a field goal three minutes from full-time for a 21-20 lead.
Hooker Kobe Rugless put an exclamation on the win when he scored in final stages. Cant successfully kicked the extras to complete the Knights’ seven-point win.
Click here for more Jersey Flegg Cup results.
Pickers extend competition lead with Round Five victory
The Maitland Pickers are now two wins clear atop the standings in the Denton Engineering Cup following their 22-12 Round Five victory against Wyong Roos.
Although the win on Saturday may not have been their most convincing, the Pickers maintain their undefeated record for the season to date and have quickly proven themselves as the team to beat.
Apart from their strong form, Maitland’s intentions are certainly clear with a strong squad at their disposal, boasting the NRL experience of former Newcastle Knights Brock Lam and Pat Mata’utia.
With five games in the books and 13 rounds remaining in the regular season, there will be plenty of interest to see how far the Pickers can go in 2022.
Click here for more Denton Engineering Cup results.
Click here for Ron Massey Cup results.
Click here for Sydney Shield results.
