In this week's edition, we're wrapping all the action from a big day of Semi-finals in our regional Junior Representatives competitions. Find out which sides made their way to Grand Final day at GIO Stadium on Saturday 29 March.
Westpac Regional Lisa Fiaola Cup Semi-finals
Bulldogs survive arm-wrestle to earn Grand Final appearance
North Coast Bulldogs continued their undefeated run in the Westpac Regional Lisa Fiaola Cup, claiming a 12-8 win over Northern Rivers Titans at Port Macquarie Regional Stadium to progress to the Grand Final on Saturday 29 March.
The rainy conditions set the tone for what became an arm-wrestle throughout, and points were certainly at a premium as both sides managed just a try apiece going into halftime.
The Bulldogs were first to score in the 18th minute through fullback Milla Swain’s individual brilliance from 40 metres out, busting through a handful of tacklers and stepping past her opposing number to lead 4-0.
Five minutes before the main break the Titans found themselves only metres from the try-line with No.14 Chloe Siverwright capitalising and sneaking through from dummy-half (4-4).
Play began to open up in the second half and Northern Rivers five-eighth Elsie Wilkinson took advantage with a dummy to slice through and score to put the Titans 8-4 ahead.
But with the rain teeming down again with 15 minutes left, the Bulldogs managed to find a way to a 12-8 win courtesy of tries from centre Keira Donovan and winger Belle Cockeram.
Tigers race away with win to make second-straight Grand Final
The Northern Tigers exacted some revenge with today’s Westpac Regional Lisa Fiaola Cup Semi-final win, running away with a 28-12 victory over last year’s Grand Final opponents and eventual 2024 Premiers, the Western Rams.
While the scores at halftime remained locked at 6-6, the Tigers found another gear with four more four-pointers to the Rams’ one in the second half – prop Jayda Cohen finishing with a hat-trick.
A crash play for Cohen saw the Tigers draw first blood, before the Rams hit back through No.14 Matilda Harper muscling over the line from dummy-half.
The Rams led early in the second half when halfback-captain Millah Hutchins scored off her own grubber kick, then the Tigers responded as centre Mia Cloake found open pasture from her own half before scoring two plays later to trail 12-10.
Cohen’s second try put the Tigers back in front and they never lost the lead from there, with Cloake’s second successful conversion putting them up 16-12.
They pushed further ahead when Cohen found a gap off an inside ball from halfway and offloaded for Mikayla Skinner to score, then the prop deservedly put the finishing touch on the 28-12 win with her third try for match. Cloake also ended up with three from five off the boot.
SLE Laurie Daley Cup Semi-finals
Dragons too strong in the end for valiant Knights outfit
A strong second half from Illawarra South Coast saw the Dragons march through to the SLE Laurie Daley Cup Grand Final with a 31-18 win over the Newcastle Maitland Region Knights.
Dragons skipper Archie Wheeler opened proceedings in the 11th minute when he dived on a well-placed grubber from five-eighth Beau Baldock, followed at the 25-minute mark by winger Jack Coster also pouncing on a grubber in the right corner – this time off the boot of No.1 Jack Talbott. The fullback landed both conversions to lead 12-0.
The Knights weren’t to be held scoreless even with five minutes left, working their way into attacking territory before Fletcher O’Doherty crashed over the line from Diesel Hagan’s flat pass. The hooker played another key role just shy of the break when Hagan sent bench forward Ethan Jarmain steaming through under the sticks for a try. All of a sudden, along with Hagan’s pair of conversions, the scores were levelled 12-all at halftime.
The home side had all the running to start the second half, scoring three tries unanswered. The first came through Talbott accelerating into a tackle from 10 metres out and carrying four Knights with him, soon followed by Baldock’s penalty tap from close range catching the defence napping, then Wheeler toeing through a Knights knock-on and touching down for his second (30).
While the Knights gave themselves some hope when centre Kyran Blair crossed with nine minutes remaining, it was Talbott who had the final say with a late field goal to close out the Dragons’ 31-18 win and secure their first Grand Final appearance since 2023.
Tigers snare victory over Bulldogs in closely fought battle
In the later Semi-final it was Macarthur Wests Tigers who came out top in a closely fought 18-12 win against North Coast Bulldogs at Port Macquarie Regional Stadium.
Slippery conditions were on the cards from the opening exchanges as both sides ended the first half with a try each.
The first try came within three minutes via Tigers second-rower Teancam Epati with winger Aidan Richards adding the extras, then the Bulldogs found the scoreboard in the 14th minute through their crafty five-eighth Rielly Laverty. An unsuccessful conversion from Toby Batten saw the Tigers take 6-4 lead to the halftime break.
Seven minutes into the second half Bulldogs winger Aidan Langham scored to put the hosts in the lead. Batten’s conversion, and penalty goal two minutes later, extended their lead to 12-6.
Macarthur returned serve when Richards scored in the 53rd minute, then centre Patrick Toomalatai followed up with a try of his own in the 60th. Richards continued his 100 percent conversion rate to lead 18-12 as the Tigers held on for a place in the Grand Final.
SLE Andrew Johns Cup
Titans leave it late to mark return to Grand Final stage
A late try from prop Nixon O’Connor has helped the Northern River Titans to their first SLE Andrew Johns Cup Grand Final appearance in two seasons with a 20-14 win over Illawarra South Coast Dragons.
The Titans, who last held the Johns Cup in 2022, will head to the decider once again after turning around a 10-4 halftime deficit, regaining the lead in the dying minutes and hanging on for the victory.
The Dragons looked like joining their Laurie Daley Cup counterparts on Grand Final day after two early tries to winger Kruz Efaraimo and back-rower Preston Ruiz, but the Titans stayed in the game when No.11 Max Palmer barged over the try-line after 18 minutes (10-4).
Northern Rivers struck first in the second half with a right-side shift for fullback Jaylon Russell to score, then again with an acrobatic finish from winger Julean Woods (14-10).
The home side tied things up when centre Hunter Berghuis crossed in the 48th minute, but O’Connor and the Titans took their chance 10 minutes later when the prop powered past the Dragons’ defence to score beside the uprights. Daniel Russell added the two points, which was enough seal the 20-14 win.
Flying start sets the Knights to victory
The Newcastle Maitland Region Knights exploded out of the blocks with two tries in five minutes as they defeated Macarthur Wests Tigers 22-18 at Cessnock Sportsground, punching their ticket to the 2025 SLE Andrew Johns Cup Grand Final.
Hooker Chase Firman began the try-scoring with a burrow under the posts from dummy-half, with fullback Rico Elers adding to the scoresheet on the right edge from close range. Firman scored a second in the 21st minute, as five-eighth Ty Ennis converted two from three for a commanding 16-0 lead at halftime.
Tigers fullback Llanden Granger scored the visitors’ first points early in the second half, before back-rower Koby Harvey crossed for a fourth Knights try in the 46th minute (22-6).
In the final 10 minutes the Tigers did their best to fight back with four-pointers through winger Sebastian Taylor and prop Noah Vaotangi, yet it wasn’t enough to overcome a strong start by the Knights.
Click here for results from the Westpac Regional Lisa Fiaola Cup.
Click here for results from the SLE Laurie Daley Cup.
Click here for results from the SLE Andrew Johns Cup.
