Catch up on some of the headlines from the Easter weekend action in the Jersey Flegg Cup and Harvey Norman NSW Women's Premiership.
Raiders struggles continue against Storm
Canberra Raiders’ tough season in the Jersey Flegg Cup continued in Round Six after they suffered a heavy 26-8 defeat at the hands of the Melbourne Storm.
While they didn’t get the result, the Raiders started the match well after centre Regan Carr utilised the wet conditions to slide over in the third minute. The Raiders ran in only one more try, which came 15 minutes later thanks to Kaden Williams who showed some nice footwork to break through and beat the fullback to slide over for a brilliant individual try.
Despite the difficult conditions, the Storm were more than willing to throw the ball around, resulting in an impressive team try which was finished off by halfback Ammaron Gudgeon who pushed up in support.
The Raiders headed into the break with a slim 8-6 lead but the Storm showed their premiership credentials in the second half, with key playmakers Gudgeon, Keagan Russell-Smith and Suliasi Prescott causing havoc in the middle of the field.
The Storm ran in two tries in the opening 10 minutes of the second half to Sheldon Diaz and Matthew Hill and from there, the game was quickly slipping away from the home side.
Not to be outdone by his fellow spine members, five-eighth De’Ontae Perese’s short kicking game proved vital as he put his halves partner Russell-Smith over for a try in the 53rd minute.
Second-rower Angus Hinchey secured the result in the 59th minute bringing the final score to 26-8.
Click here for more Jersey Flegg Cup results.
Bulldogs make a statement against competition heavyweights
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have made a statement against fellow top four side Central Coast Roosters after coming away with a 20-16 victory in Round 10.
Coming in off two straight wins, the Bulldogs needed to be at their best to defeat a stacked Roosters outfit featuring Harvey Norman NSW Sky Blues Isabelle Kelly and Millie Boyle, as well as Taryn Aiken.
It didn’t take long for the Dogs to get on the board thanks to the speed and left-hand fend of winger Georgia Ravics. Collecting the ball on her own 30-metre line, Ravics brushed off two would-be tacklers before using her pace to get around the fullback and plant the ball down next to the uprights.
The Bulldogs, who now sit second on the ladder, also had plenty of star power and Gayle Broughton oozed skill to beat several defenders and score on the left-edge.
The Roosters hit back through Aliyah Nasio but the home side had the last laugh in the first half after Taylah Preston went over in the ninth minute to extend the lead to 14-6 at the break.
While the Roosters scored two tries in the second half, it wasn’t enough to stop the Bulldogs who ran in one more to Kennedy Cherrington, who showed some late footwork at the line to break through and crash over near the uprights. Holli Wheeler converted to bring the final score to 20-16.
Bears keep Minor Premiership hopes alive with win over Dragons
North Sydney Bears have given themselves the opportunity to secure the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership next weekend after defeating St George Dragons 48-0 at Collegians Sporting Complex in Wollongong.
Boasting two Dally M Medallists in Raecene McGregor and Jess Sergis, the Bears were always favoured against the winless Dragons. They wasted little time in stamping their authority on the opposition when the left edge simply stripped the Dragons for numbers with Sergis the beneficiary.
The Bears ran in three more tries in 16 minutes through Kalosipani Hopoate, Sergis and Cassey Tohi-Hiku who pushed up in support of her outside backs to dive over and bring the score to 20-0 at the break.
Not content to let the left edge have all the fun, right winger Grace Lee-Weekes put the finishing touches on some brilliant lead-up play by halfback Raecene McGregor, who showed a little in-and-away before throwing a looping ball to put Weekes over in the corner.
The high-flying Bears ran in five more tries, with Tohi-Hiku joining Sergis in scoring a double to bring the final score to 48-0 to reinforce their premiership credentials ahead of the Semi-finals.
Click here for more NSW Women's Premiership results.
