All the best action from week 14 of the NSWRL's major competitions.
Tigers score late win after second half surge
The Wests Tigers produced an unlikely second half turnaround to secure a 22-20 win over Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in Round 14 of the Jersey Flegg Cup on Sunday.
Despite scoring one first half try in the third minute through new forward recruit Sione Fainu, compared to the Sea Eagles’ three, the visitors failed to convert on two occasions as the Tigers trailed 14-6 at halftime.
Winger Ashton Kolinisau opened the scoring for Manly, followed by prop Sosaia Moala and back-rower Samuela Fainu – the youngest of the four brothers – prior to the break.
The Tigers narrowed the deficit within a minute after the second half kick-off as centre Livai Saukuru crossed and halfback-captain Kade Hill converted, yet it was negated just as quickly when Fainu went in for his second. Fullback Charlie Thompson added the extras to bring the score-line to 20-12.
With 12 minutes remaining the hosts weren’t finished yet, and Saukuru made sure of it by securing his try double. Four minutes later it was hooker Michael Tannous who put himself on the scoresheet to level the scores, before Hill’s third conversion gave the Tigers the lead and the victory in the end.
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Knights too strong as Sharks struggle
The Newcastle Knights defended stoutly during their Round Seven Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership clash against Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, coming away with a 16-6 win at St Johns Oval.
While the Knights came up with three tries throughout the contest, the Sharks were unable to crack the opposition line for more than an hour of game time – at which point their hopes of a comeback were out of reach.
Newcastle were first to score in the 11th minute when hooker Monica-Lee Morris threw a crafty dummy before diving over the try-line.
Another 20 minutes surpassed before winger Anika Butler crossed for her side’s second, which came just moments from halftime for 10-0 lead.
The two-try difference stayed the same until the 57-minute mark, with recently-named Harvey Norman NSW Sky Blue Caitlan Johnston steaming through from 25 metres, before crashing over beside the left upright.
The Sharks managed a late consolation when Johnston’s NSW teammate Quincy Dodd found her way over the line with a scoot from dummy-half, and a Maddie Studdon conversion rounding out the final score.
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Roosters upset Hawks in Sydney Shield clash
The Sydney Roosters earned themselves a 22-14 victory over the second-placed Ryde Eastwood Hawks in Round 12 of Sydney Shield to keep in touch with the top four.
Moving to within four competition points of their opponents from the weekend, the Roosters’ win at TG Millner was a remarkable 34-point turnaround from their last meeting with the Hawks where they suffered a 48-22 defeat.
This time around, the Roosters opened the scoring through captain and halfback Tyler Colley, who snuck down the short side for a chip-and-chase before snatching a room service bounce to score behind the posts.
Ryde Eastwood hit back prior to halftime with a left side shift, when centre Joseph Delle caught the ball wide and beat a pair of defender on the way to line.
Just as Colley did early in the first half, he began the second in try-scoring fashion by taking a run at the defence from close range then accelerating through for his double.
The half also had a hand in the visitors’ next try soon after, bursting past the first two tacklers and finding No.5 Drew Lloyd in support.
The Hawks tried to mount a fightback when winger Kai Brady tiptoed the sideline for a try, but the Roosters took next to no time to cross the stripe again – courtesy of bench hooker Ratu Manoa Satala.
His try was ultimately enough to seal victory for the tricolours, aside from a late four-pointer and conversion by Hawks outside back Mason Ward to bring the deficit to eight points.
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