Norths etched their place in the 2022 NSW Cup finals series with a close win over Western Suburbs in the Jason Taylor Cup, while the Jersey Flegg side were pipped by the Tigers in a close affair.
Bears Pip Wests to Solidify Finals Spot
It was a relieving victory for the North Sydney Bears on Sunday afternoon against the Western Suburbs Magpies as the side claimed a 24-20 scalp along with the Jason Taylor Cup.
Match: Bears v Magpies
Round 23 -
home Team
Bears
4th Position
away Team
Magpies
11th Position
Venue: North Sydney Oval, Sydney
The visitors struck first but Sandon Smith ensured that the Bears would get on the board after putting Ben Marschke in before the teams went tit-for-tat once more as Ethan King touched down in the corner for a 10-all halftime score.
Wests took the lead just a few minutes in from the resumption, but King was swift to reply after another left-hand shift before backrower Jordin Leiu weaved his way over the line for a six-point lead with half an hour remaining.
Round 23 NSW Cup Highlights: Bears vs Magpies
The Magpies would not go die wondering as they returned serve to level the scores as the final quarter passed, however it was the red and black holding on in the final fifteen minutes to claim the result after Jacob Preston scored.
The North Sydney Bears will host Mounties in the final round of the regular season before the NSW Cup finals begin.
North Sydney Bears 24 (Ethan King 2, Ben Marschke, Jordin Leiu, Jacob Preston tries; Kieran Hayman 2 goals) def Western Suburbs Magpies 20
Flegg Pipped Against Wests in Courageous Effort
A single conversion was all that split the Sydney Roosters and Wests Tigers at Waverley Oval in Round 23 of the Jersey Flegg Cup as the Tricolours were downed 22-24 in a tightly-fought contest.
Both sides scored four tries apiece, with the Roosters running in twice in the first eight minutes through Vuate Karawalevu and Zac Montgomery to establish a handy 10-nil lead.
Wests struck back in similar fashion with a quickfire double of their own, before Luke Knight crossed one minute before the break, giving his side a handy 16-12 lead.
Match: Roosters v Wests Tigers
Round 23 -
home Team
Roosters
1st Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
4th Position
Venue: Waverley Oval, Sydney
The Tigers then took the lead just three minutes from the break, before hooker Tyler Moriarty returned serve with the Red, White and Blue back in front, however a fourth converted try saw them facing a two-point deficit.
With just under 20 minutes remaining, neither side was able to breach the line, eventually leading to a 22-24 defeat for the Roosters heading into the final round of the regular season.
The Sydney Roosters Jersey Flegg Cup side will travel to Melbourne to face the Victoria Thunderbolts next Sunday before the finals begin.
Sydney Roosters 22 (Vuate Karwalevu, Zac Montgomery, Luke Knight, Tyler Moriarty tries; Jack Mossman 2, Hugo Savala goals) def by Wests Tigers 24
