All the latest updates from week eight of the NSWRL's major competitions.
Roosters claim victory after dominant first half
An emphatic first half display kickstarted the Sydney Roosters’ 36-4 win against Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in their Round Eight Jersey Flegg Cup clash at Accor Stadium.
With a 6-4 lead after 13 minutes, only separated by centre Taiala Tamati’s successful conversion, the tricolours went on to score three more four-pointers before halftime and continued to run away with the contest after the break.
The Bulldogs’ only try through winger Montel Sione Lasala in the 13th minute was bookended by Roosters No.5 Tevita Masima’s early double.
Last week’s Knock-On Effect NSW Cup debutant Jacob Preston crossed for the Roosters’ third 10 minutes later, before Corey Ross – who made a late switch to wing from the back row – got himself onto the scoresheet just prior to halftime.
Ross sealed a double of his own shortly after the break, followed by tries to lock Jake Stringer (41st minute) and Tamati (66th) to complete the dominant performance. Tamati finished with four conversions on the way to their 32-point win, which keeps the Roosters in outright first position after eight weeks.
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Tigers head North to upset reigning minor premiers
The Wests Tigers have produced a boil-over at Morry Breen Oval in Round Two of the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership, defeating 2021 minor premiers the Central Coast Roosters 16-4.
The clash was also one to look forward to with several big names from both sides taking to the field for the first time since the recent NRLW Grand Final.
After a scoreless 24 minutes to start the match, the visitors were first break the deadlock with a try for back-rower Christian Pio. Following halfback Emily Curtain’s conversion the Tigers were in again three minutes later, this time through centre Tess Staines.
While the Roosters managed to narrow the deficit back to six points as newly named Harvey Norman Sky Blues squad member Olivia Kernick crossed in the 43rd minute, Wests soon replied when No.18 Sarah Boyle scored. Curtain added the extras to take the Tigers’ lead to 12 points, enough to see out the final minutes for a memorable win on the road.
Under the new direction of head coach and True Blue Brett Kimmorley in 2022, the Tigers are now two wins from as many games to start the season.
Click here for more Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership results.
Bulls survive late scare to nab victory over Brothers
The Hills Bulls have held off a second half fightback to nab a 24-18 win against Penrith Brothers in Round Seven of the Sydney Shield.
The Bulls went into the halftime break with a 24-4 lead courtesy of tries to wingers Viliame Kuli and Michael Cheer, fullback Jacob Harrington, and a double for centre Dion Narayan. Halfback Mitch Hyde missed three from five conversions to give the opposition some hope of a turnaround, while Penrith winger scored the sole first half try for his side.
It was strong second half for Brothers, but namely back-rower Jermaine Ma’u, who scored every next point for the visitors including a hat-trick of tries and one conversion.
Penrith still had the chance to come away with a draw in the final moments when they received a penalty in the attacking half with no time remaining.
The potential comeback ended prematurely, however, as the kick to touch failed to find the sideline.
After the narrow six-point defeat, Penrith will be ruing the chance to take a result from the match having converted just one of their four tries.
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