By Claire Stegbauer
UNE Harold Matthews Cup
Roosters Stun Warriors with Comeback Win to Secure Finals Advantage
The Warriors lost their seat in the top spot in a thrilling Round Nine encounter of the UNE Harold Matthews Cup at Navigation Home Stadium in Pukekohe, just a week out from finals, falling to the Roosters in a high-stakes showdown.
The result sees the Roosters lock in a guaranteed place in Week Two of the finals, while the Warriors will now have to fight it out in the opening round.
The match looked all over early, with the Warriors dominating the first half through powerful attacking sets and clinical finishes. Soane Ma’asi got the home side on the board in the seventh minute, followed by a flurry of tries from Lucian Mikaele (23’, 31’) and Jeremiah Lemana (25’), with Alapati Tusa Soagia converting all four to give the Warriors a commanding 24-6 lead by the 32nd minute.
The Roosters, however, sparked their fightback just before halftime, with Charlie Webb crossing in the 35th minute and Lachlan Metcalfe adding the extras to reduce the deficit to 24-12 at the break.
The second half belonged entirely to the visitors. Kalen Cashin ignited the charge with a try just after the restart (40’), then backed it up with a second in the 52nd minute, both converted by Metcalfe to bring the score to 24-22.
In the dying stages of the match, with time running out and the Warriors holding onto a slim lead, it was Lachlan Metcalfe who sealed the deal for the Roosters. His 58th-minute try pushed them ahead for the first time in the match, completing a stunning comeback. Although the conversion was missed, it didn’t matter – the Roosters had done enough to secure the two points.
Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup
The Bulldogs finished the season as minor premiers, going undefeated with seven wins and a draw. Just behind them are the Central Coast Roosters, whose only loss came narrowly across the campaign.
Sharks Clinch Narrow Win Over Tigers in Finals Preview
The Tigers came out firing with early tries to Saige Tautalafua (4') and Mia Tonga (11'), jumping out to a 10-0 lead and putting Cronulla on the back foot. But the home side responded swiftly with three unanswered tries in the space of ten minutes. Heni Mayers (15’), Tyra Lee (19’) and Charlotte Teplicanec (25’) each crossed the line, with Tahli Weigand nailing all three conversions to give Cronulla an 18-10 lead at the break.
Wests Tigers tightened up their defence in the second half and found a way back into the game when Tautalafua bagged her second in the 52nd minute, bringing the margin to just four points. However, a missed conversion kept the Sharks in front, and they managed to hold their composure through the closing stages to seal the win.
With three tries apiece, it was Weigand’s accurate kicking that ultimately proved the difference. Although sitting at 4th and 5thboth teams will be in week one of finals.
Panthers sneak into the final with a commanding win
The Penrith Panthers have delivered a dominant performance in Round Nine of the Westpac Lisa Fiola Cup, shutting out the St. George Dragons 46-0 at Jubilee Stadium, Sydney. This win put Penrith into sixth spot after pushing to make the finals in previous weeks.
Penrith wasted no time getting on the board, with Violet Hiku crossing in the fifth minute. Isabella Ferguson followed with a try of her own and kicked five goals in a standout display, helping her side to a 22-0 halftime lead.
The Panthers carried that momentum into the second half, with Betsy Fifita and Patricia Heihei both bagging doubles, while Rihanna Petelo crossed twice in the final 15 minutes to complete the rout.
Despite making several interchanges to find rhythm, the Dragons were unable to generate any attacking opportunities, ultimately finishing the match scoreless as Penrith’s defensive line held firm.
UNE SG Ball Cup
The UNE SG Ball Cup ladder is officially locked in after Round Nine, and there’s been a late shake-up at the top ahead of finals.
The Eels finish the regular season as clear frontrunners, undefeated with eight wins and a draw.
Raiders Outgun Magpies to Secure Top-Two Finish in SG Ball Classic
The Canberra Raiders have locked in a top-two finish in the UNE SG Ball Cup with a 48-30 victory over the Western Suburbs Magpies at Raiders Belconnen.
It was the Magpies who struck first through Saint Fuatimau (6’), but the Raiders quickly took control with a dominant burst of four tries in 20 minutes. Luke Tuialii (13’), Sylas Simon (15’, 33’, 37’), and Chaev Kolone (19’) all crossed, with Braydan Darmody nailing each conversion to give Canberra a 24-14 lead at the break.
The Raiders extended their lead early in the second half when Darmody (39’) powered over before Luke Cannon bagged a late double (60’, 64’), putting the game out of reach. Cooper Johnston converted both to round out the Raiders' tally.
The Magpies mounted a spirited fightback in the final quarter with tries to Fuatimau (55’), Riley Oitmann (57’) and Lorima Cosgrave (68’), but it wasn’t enough to reel in the deficit as the Raiders sealed a clinical and confident win to head into finals full of momentum.
Click here for results from the UNE Harold Matthews Cup.
Click here for results from the Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup.
Click here for results from the UNE SG Ball Cup.
Click here for results from the Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup.
