Bulldogs defence stands tall

Robert Crosby

A 74th minute Kiah Cooper try has seen the Newcastle Knights post their third win of 2019 in the Canterbury Cup NSW, outlasting the Wentworthville Magpies 24-20 at McDonald Jones Stadium.

In an entertaining affair between two teams clinging onto places in the top eight, Cooper proved the hero for the home side in a match with several lead changes.

Looking to post back-to-back wins for the first time this season, Wentworthville got off to a perfect start with Ethan Parry capitalising upon a Newcastle error to open the scoring within 90 seconds of play.

Hitting back moments later to level the scores at 6-apiece, Knights fullback Jacob Gagai showed great skill to beat Greg Leleisiauo with speed to touch down in the left corner.

Taking the lead in the 14th minute after withstanding a Magpies attacking raid at the other end, promising playmaker Phoenix Crossland regathered his own grubber close to the line to give the home side a 12-6 advantage.

With both sides keeping the scoreboard attendant busy over the opening quarter, Magpies back-rower Andrew Davey was the next to cross following a quick tap close to the goal line in the 20th minute.

Opting to break the deadlock with eight minutes remaining in the first 40 through a Brad Keighran penalty goal, the Knights took advantage of a 35-metre penalty goal from Mason Lino on halftime to head into the sheds locked at 14-all.

Showing plenty of enthusiasm upon the resumption of play, incumbent Jersey Flegg Player of the Year, Beau Fermor, touched down in the 48th minute for his fourth try of the season to give the Knights an 18-14 lead.

Threatening to retake the lead with 15 minutes to play following a 70-metre Bevan French burst, a rush of blood from Fijian international Salesi Fainga’a let the home side off the hook, only for Davey to bag his second try minutes later to put Wentworthville up 20-18.

Finding touch from the ensuing kick-off, Newcastle winger Cooper bagged the match-winner with a 74th minute sideline touch down to give the Knights a hard-fought 24-20 win.

Next week Newcastle travel to Auckland on Saturday morning to take on the Warriors, while Wentworthville host the Dragons at Bankwest Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Western Suburbs Magpies v Newtown Jets

Kristy Harris

Late tries to Dylan Smith and Kauri Aupouri-Puketapu has given the Western Suburbs Magpies a 32-22 victory over the Newtown Jets at Lidcombe Oval on Sunday. 

It was a fittingly hard-fought contest as both sides challenged for the Tommy Raudonikis Cup although it would be the Magpies who prevailed with rapid-fire tries in the closing stages proving the difference.

The Jets were made to rue the loss of Kyle Flanagan in the lead-up to kick-offalthough Luke Polselli impressed in his absence with a starring display in a losing side. 

Western Suburbs were relentless in the opening exchanges with three unanswered tries in the first 10 minutes – Jacob Liddle with the first try in just the third minute before Kane Bradley followed suit shortly after. 

David Nofoaluma gave his side a healthy 16-point buffer with a try in the 10th minute, but the Jets would gained a surge of confidence when Matt Evans crossed just 10 minutes later. 

Evans got his second try just five minutes before half-time following some great lead-up play from James Segeyaro to reduce the deficit to just four at the break. 

Tries to Isaac Lumelume gave the Jets an unlikely lead but it was short-lived as  Kane Bradley picked up his second try of the afternoon and put Wests back in front. 

With 20 minutes to go there was a two-point difference between the teams, until Jets centre Jackson Ferris broke the deadlock with a try in the 61st minute. 

Just moments later, Tyson Gamble and Jets halfback Braydon Trindall went head to head in pursuit of a Segeyaro kick which eventually lead to the match-winning try to Dylan Smith. 

In the end, it was a battle of desperation Magpies prevailed with a try to Aupouri-Puketapu. They’ll look to maintain this momentum when they verse the Bears next week while Jets take on an in-form South Sydney Rabbitohs side.

Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles v Mounties 

By Stewart Moses

Mounties maintain their hold on top spot in the Canterbury Cup NSW after overcoming a Blacktown side down on troops but not on spirit, to record a convincing 44-22 win at Lottoland.

The 11th-placed Blacktown side minus key players, Trent Hodkinson, Lachlan Croker and Kelepi Tanginoa, led 16-10 and 22-20 at various stages of the game.

But the class of Mounties, despite missing Luke Bateman, shown in the end, with halves Aiden Sezer and Ata Hingano instrumental in the win, while back-rower Hudson Young also had a day out, scoring a hat-trick.

Blacktown got off to the worst possible start, conceding possession in good attacking position in their first set and were made to pay in no uncertain terms.

A loose Blacktown pass was swooped upon by prop Corey Horsburgh, who found his fullback steaming off his left shoulder to streak away on a 70m run to score underneath the posts to give Mounties a dream 6-0 lead after just three minutes.

A late tackle penalty conceding in Mounties’ next set allowed the visitors to extend the lead to ten in the seventh minute, after winger Andre Niko finished off a sweeping backline movement involving Hingano and Sezer to score in the left corner.

Back-to-back penalties allowed the home side to open their account in the 14th minute when prop Taniela Pasaka proved to be unstoppable from close range, giving fullback Abbas Miski the easiest of conversions in the process, to reduce the gap to four.

Just as Mounties looked set to extend their lead with an attacking set on Blacktown’s line, a pass which looked to have been touched by a Workers’ hand, was overlooked by referee Damien Briscoe, with recent recruit from Penrith, Sam Smith streaking away on a 95m run to score under the posts and suddenly the competition leaders found themselves down 12-10 midway through the half.

The home side continued their mini-scoring spree to score their third try in eight minutes, after second rower Haumole Olakau’tau crashed over out wide from close range to push the lead out to six in favour of Blacktown.

A 70m intercept from Aiden Sezer with Blacktown on the attack proved pivotal with Mounties levelling the scores, off the next play with a sublime pass from Simonsson putting backrower Hudson Young over out wide.

Blacktown had one last chance to regain the lead on the stroke of halftime when Zach Dockar-Clay pushed his way over the try line from dummy half only to lose possession in attempting to put the ball down, leaving scores locked up at 16-all at the break.

Early second half pressure exerted by Mounties on Blacktown’s try line proved telling when Sezer’s grubber kick ricocheted into the waiting arms of Young to score his second of the afternoon to put the visitors back in front, 20-16.

But in keeping with the see-sawing nature of the game, Blacktown were soon in front when Pasaka scored his second of the afternoon.

Another loose pass from Blacktown in good attacking position allowed Mounties to work play downfield before regaining the lead through a grubber kick and chase effort from Hingano, converted from out wide by Niko, midway through the second half.

The try proved to be a key moment of the game, as the visitors managed to score their second try in as many minutes, after an attacking foray down Mounties right edge ended with centre Reubenn Rennie putting his winger, Tony Satini over in the right corner and with the sideline conversion, Mounties led by ten once more.

Mounties continued their points scoring spree late in the game with Young completing his hat-trick, before a try on the siren to Rennie off an inside kick from Satini, saw the visitors run out comfortable 44-22 winners.

Next up for Mounties is a home game at Aubrey Keech next Sunday against Penrith, while Blacktown return to Lottoland again next Saturday, when they host the Bulldogs.

Mounties 44 (H Young 3, B Simonsson, A Niko, A Hingano, T Satini, R Rennie tries; A Niko 6 goals) def Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles 22 (T Pasaka 2, S Smith, H Olakau’atu tries; A Miski 2, V Mapesone goals)

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v Warriors

Kristy Harris

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have held off a resurgent Warriors outfit with a 22-16 victory at Belmore Sports Ground on Sunday afternoon.

Sitting tenth and eleventh on the competition ladder respectively, the gritty affair seemed fitting as both sides were looking to overturn their recent misfortunes but it was the Bulldogs who prevailed with their first win since Round 3. 

Their defiant defence proved the difference as they held off countless attacking raids by the Warriors in the dying stages. 

Bronson Garlick impressed in a tireless 80-minute performance with 108m and 27 tackles while Marcelo Montoya also starred with a try and 140m of his own. 

Wariors five-eighth ADam Keighran admitted that there were plenty of positive signs despite the loss but there is plenty of scope for improvement in the weeks to come. 

“It was a frustrating game, to be honest, there are positives there but negatives as well with not completing our sets.” He told nswrl.com.au

“We have to work on that and make sure we finish the game off and not just play half the game.”

In their second encounter from 2019, the squads for both sides were completely different to that of their Round One clash, with instrumental players such as Harris-Tavita for the Warriors and Nick Meaney for the Bulldogs called on by their NRL head coaches in recent weeks. 

Brandon Wakeham made his explosive on-field debut for the 2019 season after suffering a syndesmosis injury to his right ankle in pre-season. The halfback didn’t hold back in his efforts and was a cause for their numerous breaks in the New Zealand defensive line. 

Brutal defence by Jack Nelson and Bronson Garlick was also key for the blue and white to push back against the big bodies of Warriors Leivahu Pulu and Ligi Sao, with debutant Jackson Frei also coming off the bench in support.

Both teams went back-and-forth with glimpses of positive play, but it was the Bulldogs who struck first through Tuipulotu Katoa in the 10th minute.

Marcelo Montoya crossed just over 10 minutes later courtesy of a Tony Matautia before the Warriors broke their deadlock when Setu tu crashed over. 

A try to Morgan Harper extended their lead at the half-hour mark but Adam Keighran stamped his dominance with a four-pointer in the moments before half-time. 

Connelly Leumelu gave his side a 12-point advantage with a try shortly after the break but a pinpoint kick from Keighran gave Sam Cook a vital try with just 20 minutes remaining. 

Although the Warriors had plenty of changes to salvage a late comeback, the Bulldogs defence held strong to help record a crucial victory. 

North Sydney Bears v St George Illawarra Dragons

By Hannah McGrory

The St George Illawarra Dragons have orchestrated an attacking masterclass to record a dominant 50-24 victory over the North Sydney Bears at North Sydney Oval on Friday. 

Not much could separate the two sides throughout the early exchanges but it was Dragons five-eighth, Jai Field who built momentum and impressed with brilliant footwork to lead his side to a 26-point victory. 

The visitors took control late in the second half as Jackson Ford and Tristan Sailor each crossed for two tries to help the Dragons record their fourth consecutive win. 

Jai Field admits he was impressed with the defensive efforts of his opposition following his team’s win.

“They are a really good side and the fifty points doesn’t show. Their defence is very highly cracked they got a lot of inside pressure but we completed high in the second half to run away with it,” Jai Field told NSWRL.com.   

Field says he was also satisfied with the combination he has created alongside halfback Adam Clune in just three weeks. 

“I’ve played a lot of footy with Adam and he’s a quality half and makes my job easy. He’s definitely really really really smart, he’s someone I love playing with and love combining with and tonight definitely showed,” stated Jai Field.

“We bounce off each other, we’ve played a bit of footy together and we know what works for each other and hopefully we continue to do that.”

The Dragons were first on the board after a strong attacking set through Jai Field before the Bears responded quickly and capitalised off a penalty. After receiving back to back penalties, the Bears were in again through Fletcher Baker who had a strong impact scoring a couple of minutes into his first stint.

Dragons responded five minutes later, with a kick from Jai Field at the halfway mark before fullback Tristian Sailor showed terrific athleticism, chased it down and scored. Momentum was in favour of the Dragons as they scored down the right side of the field through centre Charly Runciman.

The Dragons continued to dominate in the second half with the men in white and red scoring six tries. Halfback Adam Clune took control and set up back-to- back tries to help his side secure their fourth win of the season.

The Dragons will play the Wentworthville Magpies next week with the North Sydney Bears coming up against the Western Suburb Magpies at North Sydney Oval.

Penrith Panthers v South Sydney Rabbitohs

Jye Campbell

A Billy Burns hat-trick was the difference as the Canterbury Cup Panthers defeated South Sydney Rabbitohs 20-18 at Panthers Stadium on Friday night.

The Rabbitohs rallied late to set up a tense finish, but Burns’ three tries, all assisted by Jarome Luai, ultimately got the Panthers over the line for their second-consecutive victory.

The Panthers led 12-0 at halftime, a margin which would have been greater had they taken advantage of their numerous opportunities in the first 20 minutes.

The elusive first try came in the 26th minute when Brian Too cut inside and barged over after some good lead-up work by Luai and Burns. Edwards added the goal to make it 6-0.

That margin was doubled shortly before halftime when Burns pounced on Luai’s deft grubber in behind the defence, with Edwards’ conversion making it 12-0.

Four minutes into the second half, Luai and Burns linked up again for a carbon copy of the previous try, taking the Panthers out to a 16-0 lead.

Luai set his sights on the Rabbitohs’ right edge on the Panthers’ next two attacks, but an obstruction and a knock on undid his work on either occasion.

The Rabbitohs first genuine chance came in the 56th minute when Jacob Gagan dived for the line, but Burns was the hero again as he slid across to get underneath the ball.

The Panthers defence was finally pierced in the 63rd minute when Billy Brittain darted from dummy half, and the goal from Mawene Hiroti closed the gap to 10 points.

Burns latched onto a short ball from Luai to run in for his hat-trick, seemingly putting the game to bed at 20-6 with 13 minutes remaining.

However, the Rabbitohs rallied late to set up a grandstand finish as Dean Britt and Mawene Hiroti scored two tries in the final five minutes.

The Panthers survived the scare, however, hanging on for their second consecutive victory.