Some of the headlines from around the grounds for Round Six of the NSWRL’s Junior Representative competitions, and the opening weekend of the Jersey Flegg Cup.
Jersey Flegg season underway as Dogs show their muscle
The opening round of the Jersey Flegg Cup (Under 21s) kicked off on Saturday, as reining champions the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs took on the Parramatta Eels at Eric Tweedale Stadium.
But it was the Bulldogs who started their premiership defence with a bang, running out 30-6 victors over their traditional rivals.
The Dogs raced out the blocks with two tries in five minutes courtesy of outside backs Braye Porter and Danny Gabrael.
Parramatta did their best to ease the scoring rate until the 21st minute when Canterbury-Bankstown were in again, with winger Porter crossing the stripe for a double and the Bulldogs leading 12-0.
Just shy of halftime the Eels opened their account through No.9 Ryley Smith, before fullback Te Hurinui Twidle added the extra two points to trail by a converted try.
The second half saw the two sides go without a try for more than 20 minutes, but the Bulldogs eventually pushed ahead with three quick tries for back-rower Lajuan Vito, hooker Reuben Moyle, and Gabrael with his second.
Click here for other results from the Jersey Flegg Cup.
Sea Eagles halt Bulldogs’ undefeated run
The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles have produced a narrow 20-18 victory over Canterbury-Bankstown in Round Six of the Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup, ending the Bulldogs five-match winning streak.
Coming off consecutive draws the Sea Eagles would have been looking to end up on the right side of the scoreboard, and they did just that with three converted tries and late penalty goal from lock forward Lili Boyle.
The Bulldogs started strongly after an early double for second-rower Hannah Makira, scoring in the ninth and 12th minute.
Facing a 12-0 deficit at the break, the Sea Eagles hit back immediately in the second half through No.19 Mere Rasaku. Minute later interchange forward Indiana Russell-Lia scored a double of her own as Manly Warringah led 18-12.
Centre Isla Talau helped the Bulldogs level the scores but the result ultimately came down to the boot of Lili Boyle, who steered through a penalty goal in the 56th minute for the victory.
Click here for other results from the Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup.
Raiders score opening win in Harold Matthews Cup
The Canberra Raiders survived a 62-point shootout with the Penrith Panthers to secure their first win of the UNE Harold Matthews Cup season, coming away with a 34-28 victory at Raiders Belconnen on Saturday.
Although the Panthers were first to score in the early stages through halfback Jhett Sydir, the Raiders put the foot down with hooker Jack Leighton, five-eighth Jamie Cowling, fullback Cooper Johnston and winger Kruger Roache all finding the try-line before the 25-minute mark. Lock forward Jack Milne converted each of the four tries to lead 24-6 at halftime.
After the change of ends Penrith’s No.14 Jodeci Vaha'akolo-Fifita responded for the visitors to lessen the margin, only for Raiders back-rower Lachie Ellard to score within five minutes.
Only 20 minutes remained but the match wasn’t over yet for Penrith, who scored three unanswered tries via centre Marcellus Iakapo, five-eighth Cameron Bamblett and prop Charbel Kheirallah, bringing the scoreboard to 28-all.
With two minutes remaining the Raiders were back in attacking range, as centre Preston Smallwood skipped across one defender and drew in another pair, before flicking out to the right edge for Roache to score his second try and the matchwinner.
Click here for other results from the UNE Harold Matthews Cup.
Click here for results from the Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup.
Click here for results from the Westpac Regional Lisa Fiaola Cup.
Click here for results from the UNE SG Ball Cup.
