Some of the headlines from around the grounds for Round Three of the NSWRL’s Junior Representative competitions.
Sharks win in field goal thriller
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and Canberra Raiders battled it out in Round Three of the UNE Harold Matthews Cup and the match, streamed live on NSWRL TV, certainly didn’t disappoint.
The Sharks came away with a 19-18-win courtesy of a 58th minute field goal to five-eighth Callum Grantham.
The Sharks showed plenty of resolve after finding themselves down 12-nil after just 13 minutes. The home side were able to wrangle back momentum with back-to-back tries, including an incredible 70-metre team effort that was finished off by Blake Watman.
It was clutch moments galore at PointsBet Stadium as Raiders lock Jack Milne slotted a conversion from the sideline to bring scores level with less than 10 minutes remaining.
However, eight minutes later Grantham was able to get himself in position and slot a field goal to secure the Sharks second win of the season.
Tigers hold off fast-finishing Knights
Wests Tigers defeated Newcastle Knights 22-18 in Round Three of the Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup at St Johns Oval, Newcastle.
After finding themselves behind 22-0 after 36 minutes, the Knights had a point to prove and they looked to their right edge of Maronay Smuts, Evie Purukamu and Makenzi Nelson, who combined for three straight tries to get them back in the fight.
Despite a frantic final 13 minutes, the Wests Tigers fourth try back in 35th minute to Alavina Tu’ifua off the bench proved to be the difference allowing the visitors to hang on.
Western Sydney rivals battle it out
Penrith Panthers and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs couldn’t be separated after 70 minutes, resulting in a 22-all draw in Round Three of the UNE SG Ball Cup.
The wingers from both sides had a field day early in the game with tries to Harry Wald and Poutoa Hotere-Papalii from the Panthers and Chelden Hayward from the Bulldogs.
While it was the outside backs who scored the points, both sets of halves were impressive with plenty of points coming from the boots of Panthers halves Jett Cleary and William Herbert, alongside Bulldogs halves Alex Conti and Player of the Match in the 2023 Harold Matthews Cup Grand Final, Mitchell Woods.
Both sides now sit at one win, one loss and one draw.
