Some of the headlines from around the grounds on the opening weekend of the NSWRL’s Junior Representative competitions for 2024.
Young Storm share the spoils in opening round
The Melbourne Storm Under 17s marked their first appearance in the NSWRL’s UNE Harold Matthews Cup with a 12-all draw against North Sydney Bears at Hills Grammar on Saturday.
The visitors pounced in the 10th minute when lock Micah Warena ran onto a flat pass close to the line, from hooker Lockyer-Azile Foliola.
A few minutes later Foliola took on the line to produce a try of his own. Halfback Waka Hammond converted his second for the day as the Storm led 12-0.
The Bears fought back in the second half with tries for lock Blake Van Drie and fullback-captain Ben Stringer. Winger Benjamin Askew had no problems off the boot to secure the draw for his side.
Click here for other results from the UNE Harold Matthews Cup.
Ominous start for reigning Daley Cup champions
The Illawarra South Coast Dragons have begun their 2024 premiership defence in dominant fashion after a 48-6 win over Riverina Bulls in Round One of the SLE Laurie Daley Cup.
The Dragons had seven try-scorers for the match, including second-rower Dreau Clark and five-eighth Aaymon Fitzgibbon each scoring a double.
Halfback Levi Valesini amassed 16 points on his own with a 44th-minute try and six from nine conversions, while Bulls centre Darcy O’Toole scored a late consolation by catching a chip over the top at halfway and racing to the line for the try.
Click here for other results from the SLE Laurie Daley Cup.
Ison helps Panthers to flying start in Fiaola Cup
It was a day out for Panthers centre Hannah Ison in the first round of the Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup on Saturday, scoring a hat-trick of tries in Penrith’s 36-0 win at BlueBet Stadium to kick off the 2024 season.
The opening try in the seventh minute came from a 35-metre scrum play as Ison charged onto the ball and evaded six defenders to score under the uprights.
Ison added to the tally early in the second half with a hit-up from her own end, before running away to score after shrugging off a pair of tackle attempts.
The No.3 later finished off the final try of the match when she grabbed hold of a late offload from back-rower Natia Gallagher to cross the try-line untouched.
The remaining try-scorers for Penrith included Jade Elford (two), Fatafehi-Marie Mahe and Alyssa Gibbons.
Click here for other results from the Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup.
Click here for results from the Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup.
Click here for results from the SLE Andrew Johns Cup.
Click here for results from the UNE SG Ball Cup.
