The Sydney Roosters Junior Reps teams had a day to remember last Saturday at TG Milner with both teams putting on a Rugby League clinic against the North Sydney Bears. The young Roosters riding on the back of the excitement around the club for the World Club Challenge were relentless and both teams kept their winning record intact for season 2014.
An early start for the enthusiastic Harold Matthews squad had the boys in early against a willing North Sydney Bears outfit. After 3 early tries to the young Roosters, the games settled into an arm wrestle with North Sydney controlling the ball and field position. This dominance led to their first try and it looked like the Bears were mounting a comeback. The Roosters hit back on the stroke of halftime to take a 22 points to 6 lead into the break. After the break the Roosters gained the upper hand and raced in a further 6 tries to have them run out comfortable winners 54 points to 16. With good performances all over the park Brandon Tavae caused havoc on the edges in both attack and defense. Lachlan Lam again showed his class and Jai McGrath in his first start scored a double. Stephan Blair had a big impact on the score board with 7 goals and try.
Sydney Roosters 54 (Jai McGrath 2, Jaya Yoannidis 2, Alex Spooner, Lachlan Lam, Stephan Blair, Charles Taufa, Caine Matthews-Wood, Victor Radley tries. Stephan Blair 7 goals) def North Sydney Bears 16 (Cameron Yates, Jayden Lonergran, Cameron Clark tries. Toby Westcott 2 goals).
The SG Ball sounded a warning to all other teams with a dominant performance against the overwhelmed Bears. In a ferocious display of power, speed and skill the Roosters were unstoppable with and without the ball. The Roosters powered their way to an 18 point to nil lead in the first 10 minutes and that trend continued as the raced in another 2 converted tries to take a 30 points to nil lead into the halftime break. The avalanche of points continued in the second stanza as they raced away with another 7 converted tries to take out the game 72 points to 4. It was a pleasure to what the attacking skills across the park, but I’m sure coach Tony Barnes was more pleased with the defense in conceding just the 1 try from a kick. There were a number of standout performances on the day with Travis Edwards conducting the team in attack and having a personal bag of 28 points including 12 from 12, which takes his season tally to 19 from 19 in the goal kicking department. Ryan King was strong at lock and Grant Garvey again was busy at dummy half.
Sydney Roosters 72 (Latrell Mitchell 3, Grant Garvey, Ryan King, Travis Lowe, Joseph Manu, Shaquai Mitchell, Paul Momirovski, Chad O’Donnell, Reuben Porter, Darryn Schonig tries; Travis Lowe 12 goals.) def North Sydney Bears 4 (Connor Johnston try)
Round 3 has the boys heading out to Campbelltown Stadium to take on the equally undefeated Western Suburbs Magpies in a top of the table clash for both teams. With no NRL trials this weekend Campbelltown is the place to get your Roosters footy fix this weekend.
Round 3: Sydney Roosters vs Western Suburbs Magpies
Venue: Campbelltown Stadium, Campbelltown.
Kick Off: Harold Matthews (6:00pm kickoff) / SG Ball (7:30pm kickoff)
