Juniors Report Round 4: Sydney win battle of Roosters juniors
Sydney Roosters are just one of three undefeated teams in the Harold Matthews Cup after defeating Central Coast Roosters in a fierce battle between the Club’s junior sides.
In a showcase of the Club’s emerging talent, Sydney winger Cooper Toy scored a hat-trick to lead his side to an 18-12 win.
Toy scored two tries in the opening half, but Central Coast enjoyed a 12-8 lead at half-time due to a late try from Noah Goodman and Hayden Ritchie continuing his good goal-kicking form.
Sydney snatched the lead with an early try from Josh Durkin and a successful conversion from Cassius Tia, and another try just minutes later to Toy was enough for Sydney to take the win.
The result means Sydney is now third on the Harold Matthews Cup ladder, with Penrith and Manly just above on points difference. A win against Cronulla in round 5 will give Sydney a two-win gap between the Tricolours and teams just inside the top six.
The loss would have been frustrating for the Central Coast Roosters, who started the season with two strong wins but have failed to score in second half of its last two games, which has resulted in consecutive losses.
Central Coast have the bye in round five, but will looking to use the break to improve. Sitting just outside the top six, Central Coast need to perform well during the final four rounds of the season to make the finals.
Another highlight involving local and Roosters-developed Central Coast juniors on the weekend was the Club’s massive SG Ball win against the Victorian Thunderbolts in Melbourne.
Comprised of Sydney- and Central Coast-based juniors after combining the two teams in 2021, the Roosters put in a ruthless display to thrash the Thunderbolts 40-6.
Jordan Swann gave the Tricolours the perfect start, scoring the first of his three tries in the opening minute.
The Roosters had a 22-0 lead at half-time, and continued to put the foot down by never letting the Thunderbolts get into the game in second half.
The massive winning margin could be vital towards the end of the season for the SG Ball squad, who currently fill the final spot inside the top six.
A win in round 5 against the fifth-placed Sharks will also go a long way to helping the squad play finals football in 2021.
After a weekend off in round four, the Tarsha Gale side will return to action in round 5. The girls are still in top six, and a win against the Sharks help consolidate a spot in the top six and climb up the ladder.
The Central Coast Roosters continued their undefeated start to the Laurie Daley Cup and Andrew Johns Cup with narrow wins against NR Titans in Lismore.
With scores level late in the game, Jake Elliott scored a try with 5 minutes remaining to earn the Andrew John Cup side a 14-10 win.
In the Laurie Daley Cup game, Tyler Moriarty scored his second try of the game with 10 minutes remaining to put the Roosters up by 10, with the Tricolours taking a 22-18 win due to a very late try from the Titans.
The Roosters are on top of the Laurie Daley Cup and Andrew Johns Cup, which is impressive considering the squads have had two tough road trips to Harden and Lismore over the past two weeks.
Both sides will be looking forward to playing at Wyong this weekend against the North Coast Bulldogs.
ROUND 4 SCOREBOARD
TARSHA GALE CUP
Sydney Roosters: BYE
Next Round: Cronulla Sharks, 12:30pm at Bill Hicks Oval, Wyong
HAROLD MATTHEWS CUP
Sydney Roosters 18 (Cooper Toy 3, Josh Durkin tries; Cassius Tia goal) def Central Coast Roosters 12 (Ethan Strange, Noah Goodman tries; Hayden Ritchie 2 goals)
Next Round: Sydney Roosters vs Cronulla Sharks, 2pm at Bill Hicks Oval, Wyong. Central Coast Roosters have a bye
SG BALL CUP
Sydney Roosters 40 (Jordan Swann 3, Nicholas Fenton, Joshua Wong, Sione Vaenuku, Alan Holten tries; Huge Savala 6 goals) def Victorian Thunderbolts 6
Next Round: Cronulla Sharks, 3:30pm at Bill Hicks Oval, Wyong
LAURIE DALEY CUP
Central Coast Roosters 22 (Tyler Moriarty 2, Jacob Smeaton, Lachlan Mears-Crabbe tries; Jesse O'Neill-Pethebridge 3 conversions) def NR Titans 18
Next Round: North Coast Bulldogs, 11:20am at Morry Breen Oval, Wyong
ANDREW JOHNS CUP
Central Coast Roosters 14 (Tyreece Arama, Aymn Hamilton, Jake Elliott tries; Jarrod Dann goal) def NR Titans 10
Next Round: North Coast Bulldogs, 10am at Morry Breen Oval, Wyong
