The Sydney Roosters N.S.W. Cup team have piled on seven second half tries to put the sword to the St George Illawarra Dragons at their home patch in Wollongong.
NSW Cup
The 3rd placed Sydney Roosters have notched their fifth win of the season with a 48-28 win over 4th placed St George Illawarra Dragons at Wollongong on Sunday, after the Dragons led 16-12 at half time.
The Roosters opened the scoring when Junior Tupou, returning from an ankle injury, playing left centre, crossed in the 7th minute when halves Reece Foley and Toby Rodwell linked with fullback Cody Ramsey, returning to the team from NRL duty, who tapped on to give Tupou a clear run to the line. With the Toby Rodwell conversion the Roosters led 8-0.
Some poor defensive misses led to the Dragons scoring the next two tries and after 15 minutes the Dragons led 10-6. When Egan Butcher crashed over near the posts ten minutes from half time the Roosters were back in front 12-10 and set to take that lead into the break. However, a third Dragons try, and a second to their returning back rower Dylan Egan, right on half time saw the Dragons take a 16-12 lead into the second half.
The Dragons extended their lead to 22-16 when their right winger Toby Rumble scored off a neat grubber and the Roosters were under great pressure.
However, the Roosters kept their composure and regained control of the game. So much so that they crossed for seven tries in a 27 minute period to completely blow the Dragons away. Left winger Junior Pauga scored a double, fullback Cody Ramsey a scintillating solo try, right edge back rower Aston Warwick (who came into the game inside the first 18 minutes for Hayden Barton, who did not return) grabbed a bomb in fine style, five eighth Reece Foley slipped through untouched, whilst props Kanaan Magele and Taylor Losalu both charged over from short range. After being behind 22-16 after 44 minutes, the Roosters were in from 48-22 with seven minutes remaining. A late Dragons try did not diminish the quality of the second half Roosters performance.
The Roosters fifth win of the season was highlighted by another strong game from Cody Ramsey and much better ball control in the second half. Right centre Tommy Talau seemed to injure his right knee early in the second half and was eventually replaced late in the game.
Despite the win, the Roosters remain in 3rd place on the ladder ahead of their Round 9 clash with 13th placed Canberra Raiders at Wentworth Park next Sunday.
Jersey Flegg Cup (Men’s Under 21s)
The 13th placed Sydney Roosters have lost their sixth game of the season, after being defeated 34-26 by competition leaders St George Illawarra at Wollongong on Sunday, after the Dragons led 28-12 at half time.
It was a brave performance by the Roosters against the ladder leaders, particularly after the Dragons led 28-12 at half time, after Roosters first half tries to right edge back rower Lance Tovia and interchange prop Julius Mitchell.
The Roosters comeback saw them score the first three tries of the second half; the first to left winger Dom Farrugia, the second to hooker Jaxson Allen and the third to five eighth and captain Jake Elliott. Elliott converted just one of those tries but with 17 minutes remaining the Dragons led just 28-26.
Unfortunately, the Roosters didn’t get a lot of opportunities in the last 15 minutes, due to poor ball control and limited time deep in the Dragons territory, and the Dragons sealed the game in the final minute with a converted try of their own under the posts to win 34-26.
Despite the loss the Roosters have risen to 12th place on the ladder ahead of their Round 9 clash with 8th placed Canberra Raiders at Wentworth Park next Sunday.
NSW Women’s Premiership
The competition for the Central Coast Roosters doesn’t commence until Saturday, 13th June.
Ron Massey Cup
The 5th placed Glebe Dirty Reds have lost their Round 5 clash with 7th placed Hills Bulls 50-12 in their Round 5 clash in Baulkham Hills on Sunday, after the Bulls led 24-6 at half time.
Roosters N.S.W. Cup squad members Rhys Dakin (prop) and Michael Coleman (lock/hooker) both suited up for Glebe.
The Bulls ran in ten tries to Glebe’s two, in a totally dominant performance. It is Glebe’s third loss of the season and as result the Dirty Reds drop to 8th place on the ladder ahead of next Sunday’s clash against 9th placed Blacktown at Wentworth Park on Sunday.
Sydney Shield
The 3rd placed Glebe Dirty Reds have lost their Round 5 clash with 6th placed Hills Bulls 34-30 in Baulkham Hills on Sunday, after the Bulls led 22-6 at half time.
Roosters Jersey Flegg Cup squad members Micah Leaupepe-Perkins (left centre), Jacob Tinsley (hooker) and Zac Gillett (bench hooker) all turned out for Glebe.
At very stages through the match the Dirty were well behind on the scoreboard, behind 22-6 at half time and 34-18 inside the final ten minutes, Glebe was able to score a couple of late tries, but it was the Bulls’ day.
The match was held up for a considerable period of the second half when Bulls fullback Kailayn Reyahem was badly injured.
With that loss the Dirty Reds drop to 6th place on the ladder ahead of next weekend’s clash with 5th placed Blacktown.
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 | St George Illawarra Dragons (28) |
Sydney Roosters (48) | Match Stats | v Raiders | 3rd |
| Jersey Flegg Cup | St George Illawarra Dragons (34) |
Sydney Roosters (26) | Match Stats | v Raiders | 12th |
| NSW Women’s Premiership | Competition commences on Saturday, 13th June | ||||
| Ron Massey Cup | Hills Bulls (50) | Glebe Dirty Reds (12) | Match Stats | v Workers | 8th |
| Sydney Shield | Hills Bulls (34) | Glebe Dirty Reds (30) | Match Stats | v Workers | 6th |
