The Sydney Roosters NSW Cup team have impressively defeated competition leaders the Newcastle Knights to post a fourth win of the season and move to 3rd place on the competition table.
NSW Cup
The 5th placed Sydney Roosters have notched their fourth win of the season with a comprehensive 38-10 victory over competition leaders the Newcastle Knights at Wentworth Park on Sunday, after the Roosters led 20-6 at half time.
The Roosters went into the match slightly under strength with the NRL team playing the same day and injuries to winger Junior Tupou and prop Makahesi Makatoa, but they were boosted by the inclusion of NRL squad members Egan Butcher (prop) and Benaiah Ioelu (bench hooker), whilst Blake Steep (left back row) suited up for his second NSW Cup game of the season.
However, the Roosters put on 30 points or more for the fifth time this season (from six games), running in seven tries to condemn the Knights to just their second loss of the season.
The Roosters opened the scoring in the 4th minute of the game when right winger Tom Rodwell scored in the corner after five eighth Reece Foley and fullback Owen Flaherty combined to create the space for Rodwell to get on the outside of the Knights defence. After conceding a try to second rower and former Rooster Asu Kepaoa in the 22nd minute, the Roosters fell 6-4 behind when Matthew Hunter converted the Kepaoa try.
However, in a brilliant six minute period the Roosters ran in three late first half tries, two of which were converted by halfback Toby Rodwell. The first of these, to Tom Rodwell, his second of the day and sixth of the season, was created by bench hooker Benaiah Ioelu, who dashed down the short side to link with right edge forward Max McCathie, who in turn passed to Rodwell to score in the corner.
The next went to left winger Junior Pauga in the corner off a nice cut out ball from Foley, before a strong line break by Toby Rodwell down the left side left numerous Knights defenders behind, before Rodwell found fullback Flaherty in support to score near the posts. The Roosters had raced to a 20-4 lead, which they took into half time.
The Knights opened the scoring in the second half when right winger James Schiller, grandson of Roosters great Bill Mullins, broke through some feeble Roosters defence, 14 minutes into the half, to bring the Knights to within 10 points of the Roosters, who were now leading 20-10.
With 21 minutes remaining, Junior Pauga scored his second try of the day after quick passing saw him score in the left corner and with the Toby Rodwell sideline conversion the Roosters half time lead was restored, with the Roosters leading 26-10 entering the final 20 minutes.
The Roosters put the icing on the cake with two late tries adjacent to the posts to lock Egan Butcher, both from close range off passes from Benaiah Ioelu, to give the Roosters a well-deserved 38-10 victory.
With that win, the Roosters move to 3rd place on the ladder ahead of their Round 8 clash with 4th placed St George/Illawarra at Collegians Sporting Complex, Wollongong next Sunday.
Jersey Flegg Cup (Men’s Under 21s)
The 12th placed Sydney Roosters have lost their fourth game of the season, after being defeated 48-10 by last placed Newcastle Knights at Wentworth Park on Sunday, after the Knights led 24-4 at half time.
The Roosters continue being under strength with a relatively long injury list and players on NSW Cup duty. However, they did welcome back from injury for this game hooker/lock Josiah Fesolai and right centre Enzo Griffier (for his first match of the season). Unfortunately, Griffier, the French international, suffered an arm injury late in the game and had to leave the field. Flegg Cup debuts were given to Central Coast S.G. Ball Cup player Seymour Stowers-Smith (right edge forward) and former Panthers lock Jack Ewer (interchange). NRL squad member Jake Elliott was also a late inclusion in the team as five eighth for his first Flegg Cup of the season.
Despite going into the match in last position, the Knights were far the better side, running in eight tries to two. The Roosters opened the scoring in the 6th minute when left centre Jackson Stewart sliced through the Knights defence to score wide out, after halves Bo Peisley and Elliott combines to create the space for Stewart to break the line.
Unfortunately, the Roosters posted only one more try on the afternoon when interchange forward Charles Barnes dived over near the posts 11 minutes into the second half. It was a match the Roosters would rather forget.
As a result of that loss the Roosters drop to 13th place on the ladder ahead of their Round 8 clash with competition leaders St George/Illawarra at Collegians Sporting Complex, Wollongong next Sunday.
NSW Women’s Premiership
The competition for the Central Coast Roosters doesn’t commence until Saturday, 13th June.
Ron Massey Cup
The 3rd placed Glebe Dirty Reds have lost their second match of the season after going down 16-6 to 5th placed Canterbury-Bankstown at Wentworth Park on Sunday, after the Dirty Reds led 6-0 at half time.
Roosters N.S.W. Cup squad members Will Malloy (left centre), Kyron Fekitoa (right centre), Rhys Dakin (prop) and Michael Coleman (hooker) all suited up for Glebe.
Glebe opened the scoring in the 24th minute when former Roosters NSW Cup player Jade Anderson, filling in for current Roosters NSW Cup squad member, Trey Peni, on the left wing, showed great strength to beat multiple defenders to the line, after a smart backline shift to the left.
However, after taking that 6-0 lead into half time, the Dirty Reds were outplayed by the Bulldogs in the second half, conceding three tries to five eighth Zane Walker, centre Baxter Warner and lock Melikiseteki Nacaginimasei.
With that loss the Dirty Reds drop to 5th place on the ladder ahead of next Sunday’s clash against 7th placed Hills Bulls at Crestwood Oval, Baulkham Hills.
Sydney Shield
The 6th placed Glebe Dirty Reds have returned to the winners list in style with a thumping 58-16 win over 9th placed Moorebank Rams at Hammondville Oval on Saturday.
Roosters Jersey Flegg Cup squad members Micah Leaupepe-Perkins (left centre), Jonti Morshead-Feidel (right wing) and Jacon Tinsley (hooker) all turned out for Glebe, with Leaupepe-Perkins kicking 9 goals from 10 attempts.
In an extraordinary first half the Dirty Reds scored 7 tries to go to the break leading 40-0. Right edge forward Jake Sheridan scored a first half hat trick, whilst halfback Jayden Evans scored the first and final tries of the first stanza. That first try of the match followed an outstanding 85 metre run from left winger Justin Talemaira, who fielded the ball in his own in-goal before beating three defenders and linking with Evans who scooted 20 metres to score a sensational Glebe try.
Glebe just won the second half 18-16 but Glebe interchange forward Kea Stevenson crossed for a double and Ratu Isireli Tuvana Vesikula become Glebe’s third bench player to score a try, after Sasha Popovic scored late in the first half. The win was Glebe’s second of the season, following two successive losses leading into the match.
With that win the Dirty Reds move to 3rd place on the ladder ahead of next Sunday’s clash against 6th placed Hills Bulls at Crestwood Oval, Baulkham Hills.
See the latest results below for all the Senior Representative and Affiliate club sides
| Competition | Home Team | Away Team | Match Info | Next Round | Ladder |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW Cup | Sydney Roosters (38) | Newcastle Knights (10) | Match Stats | v Dragons | 3rd |
| Jersey Flegg Cup | Sydney Roosters (10) | Newcastle Knights (48) | Match Stats | v Dragons | 13th |
| NSW Women | Competition commences on Saturday 13th June | ||||
| Ron Massey Cup | Glebe Dirty Reds (6) | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (16) | Match Stats | v Bulls | 5th |
| Sydney Shield | Glebe Dirty Reds (58) | Moorebank Rams (16) | Match Stats | v Bulls | 3rd |
