Both Sydney Roosters senior lower grade teams have been defeated by Melbourne sides that were sitting below the Roosters on their respective competition ladders.
NSW Cup
The 4th placed Sydney Roosters have suffered a shock 60-6 loss to last placed Melbourne Storm in Melbourne last Saturday, after the Storm led 24-0 at half time.
The team went into the match without Egan Butcher, Cody Ramsey and Reece Foley (NRL duty), and injured players Tommy Talau (calf), Ben Johnson (knee), Hayden Barton (shoulder), Blake Steep (knee), but the Storm were also down on personnel.
The Storm ran in 10 tries in the comprehensive victory, and regular tore the Roosters defence, particular its left side, apart. With 11 errors, a 65% completion rate and 47 missed tackles it really was a match to forget for the Roosters.
Hooker Benaiah Ioelu, with 49 tackles and right winger Tom Rodwell, with 183 metres gained, led the Roosters player stats for the match. The Roosters only try came early in the second half when S.G. Ball Cup Premiership Captain, Darcy Smith, at left edge, ran a very nice line, off a pass from half Toby Rodwell, to score his first NSW Cup try.
It was just the Storm’s third win of the season. Former Bondi United and Roosters five eighth Josh Durkin played a major role in the Storm victory, having a hand in a number of Storm tries and kicking nine goals from as many attempts.
With that loss, the Roosters drop to 6th place on the ladder, ahead of a clash with 2nd placed North Sydney Bears at Wentworth Park next Sunday.
Jersey Flegg Cup (Men’s Under 21s)
The 11th placed Sydney Roosters have suffered a second successive loss, going down 28-16 to 12th placed Melbourne Storm in Melbourne last Saturday, after the Roosters led 16-0 at half time.
The team went into the match without Lachlan Dooner, Enzo Giffier, Jackson De Lisle, Jackson Pennell, Lui Lee, Peter Benjamin Uini and Aholoka Toia, who remain on the injured list, whilst other Jersey Flegg Cup eligible players Kanaan Magele, Jaxson Allen, Rex Bassingthwaighte, Jake Elliott, Reece Foley, Darcy Smith and Charleston Te Rore were required in higher grade matches on Saturday.
Despite that, the Roosters began in fine style, with two tries to right winger E.J. Mahu-Delamere and one to fullback and captain Zac Sarfati in the first half to give the Roosters that 16-0 half time lead. For Mahu-Delamere, the dual S.G. Ball Cup premiership winger, it was his second double from as many games.
The first try by Mahu-Delamere came in the Roosters first set of the match after nice lead up work from halfback Carter Mareko, right edge James Finegan, and right centre and fellow Kiwi Jackson Stewart. His second, in the 20th minute, also featured lead up work by Mareko and Stewart, soon after Mahu-Delamere was put into the clear by Stewart and dashed 70 metres downfield, to be pulled down just short of the tryline.
The Sarfati try came in the last few minutes of the first half after left winger Kade Maguire broke into the backfield and positioned the captain perfectly on his inside for Sarfati to find the line.
Unfortunately, as dominant as the Roosters were in the first half they wee as poor in the second half. A lack of defensive aggression, poor ball control and discipline, simple missed tackles and a lack of field position allowed the Storm to totally dominate the second half, where they ran in five unanswered tries. The Roosters also had three players sent to the sin bin in the second half, although two of those were in the final three minutes of the game.
Two Roosters debutants from the S.G. Ball Cup premiership team made their Jersey Flegg Cup debuts in this clash; left centre Brooklyn Heath, a dual Ball Cup premiership winner, and Australian Schoolboy hooker Liam Bell.
With that loss, the Roosters drop to 12th place on the ladder, ahead of a clash with 14th placed Kaiviti Silktails in Fiji next Saturday.
NSW Women’s Premiership
The competition for the Central Coast Roosters doesn’t commence until Saturday, 13th June.
Ron Massey Cup
The 9th placed Glebe Dirty Reds have had their Round 9 clash with 10th placed Manly Leagues postponed due to the state of the ground. The match has been rescheduled to Lionel Watts Park, Frenchs Forest at 7.00 pm on Friday.
The Dirty Reds remain in 9th place on the ladder, ahead of the that postponed match against Manly on Friday.
Sydney Shield
The 7th placed Glebe Dirty had the bye on the weekend and with the Sydney Shield on hiatus over the King’s Birthday weekend, the Dirty Reds won’t play again until Saturday, 13th June. Glebe remain in 7th spot on the ladder following the completion of this weekend matches.
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 | Melbourne Storm (6) | Sydney Roosters (60) | Match Stats | v Bears | 6th |
| Jersey Flegg Cup | Melbourne Storm (16) | Sydney Roosters (28) | Match Stats | v Silktails | 12th |
| NSW Women's Premiership | Competition commences on Saturday 13th June | ||||
| Ron Massey Cup | Glebe Dirty Reds () | Postponed | Postponed | v Sea Eagles | 9th |
| Sydney Shield | Glebe Dirty Reds () | Bye | Bye | No Matches | 7th |
