Catch up on every result from round two of the NSWRL junior reps, plus check out our photo gallery from the weekend, as Canterbury made it back-to-back sweeps in big day at Redfern Oval.
ROUND two of the Harold Matthews, SG Ball and Tarsha Gale Cups is underway with some big results already taking place.
A thrilling round of NSWRL junior reps action is playing out as contenders stamped their authority across all grades.
Here’s how the weekend has gone so far:
BRILLIANT BULLDOGS SWEEP RABBITOHS
CANTERBURY’S hot start to the NSWRL junior reps season continued with another strong showing against South Sydney at Redfern Oval.
The Bulldogs came away with a clean sweep on the day, keeping them in lofty positions in all grades, highlighted by a masterclass from young Harold Matthews Cup captain and half Mitchell Woods.
In his second year in the competition, Woods showed poise beyond his years to lead his team back from a 10-0 deficit to claim a 36-20 victory.
A first-half double to the halfback capped three tries in six minutes for the visitors to send them into the sheds up 18-10.
Souths started strongly to again take the lead with 20 minutes to play, before another three-try blitz put the result beyond doubt.
Woods said
“During the pre-season we spent a lot of time on our fitness and we always knew that would kick in,” he said.
“We just had to match it with them, and at times we couldn’t, but in the second half of each half we backed ourselves and that’s why we came through.
“It’s a great start (to the year). Last year wasn’t our best year and the boys have come here ready. I got good experience playing last year and really want to kick on.”
The big day for the visitors started in the Tarsha Gale Cup with a come from behind 30-16 victory to keep them on top of the ladder.
In a half of momentum swings, the home side held a 10-4 advantage, before Canterbury turned the screws in the second.
Quick tries to Waimarie Martin and Ebony Raftstrand-Smith turned the tide, before a contentious four-pointer Litia Fusi pushed the lead out further.
Souths hit back through Shanelle Lyons, but failed to regather the ensuing kick off, with the Bulldogs crossing again to quell any hopes of a resurgence.
“It was tough. We weren’t as disciplined as we planned to be, but it was a good hit out and the Rabbitohs really gave it to us,” captain Chelsea Makira said.
“The first half was a bit sloppy. The coach got into us at half time.
“We’ve been working really hard so it’s all paying off now. Hopefully we can make the GF, but we’ve still got a lot of work to do.”
Just like their counterparts, the Bulldogs SG Ball side found themselves down early, before piling on four unanswered tries to come away with a comfortable 32-14 win.
A 10-minute stretch in the second half saw them bounce back from four points down to take a commanding advantage late in the contest.
Jonathan Su’a finished with a double and a 16-point haul for the afternoon.
MAGPIES/TIGERS TAME GUTSY DRAGONS
Reigning Harold Matthews Cup premiers Wests Magpies outlasted the Dragons 16-8 to maintain their perfect start after two rounds.
In sticky conditions at Cabramatta, St George enjoyed the better of the early exchanges but it was Wests who drew first blood through Ali Hicham Karnib, the opportunist winger racing an intercept 60m for the opening try.
And they doubled the margin to 8-0 in the sixth minute following a rib-rattling hit by centre Heamasi Makasini. Winger Riley Oitmann swooped on the broken play and scooted over in the left corner.
Unforced errors continued to hurt the Dragons, and another saw Hicham Karnib grab a first half double as Wests opened a handy 12-0 halftime lead.
Dragons replacement Tukia Taufa powered over shortly after the break to get Saints within eight points, but it was quickly counted by Oitmann’s second, before a late try by Dragons backrower Cyrus Stanley-Traill rounded out the final score.
Wests’ extended their perfect start to the SG Ball season, holding off a fast finishing Dragons 18-10.
Coming off a big round one victory, it was difficult to see how the Magpies could improve, but they did, essentially on the back of hooker Tallyn Da Silva.
After missing the opening round, the classy dummy-half kept the persistent Dragons at bay with two pieces of brilliance either side of the break to open a 12-0 lead.
A magic inside ball saw prop Jordan Miller crash over before the interval. Then straight after the break, he did it all himself, scoring under the posts in a set that followed a Dragons forward pass.
In what became a shoot out, skipper Nick Quinn stepped up for the Dragons. First sending Nicholas Tsougranis across the stripe, then with his side trailing by 12, the half gave his side hope with a 60m dash to the line.
It would be as close as the Dragon would get, as Wests did enough to hold on in the final nine minutes.
The cardiac Tigers have pipped the Dragons 18-14 in a thrilling six-try Tarsha Gale Cup contest at Cabramatta.
Coming off last week’s devastating late loss to Manly, halfback Imogen Lowe proved the hero, posting the match winning four pointer with just five minutes to play.
Dena Nuuialii bagged a double for the Dragons, but with three tries to each side, Imogen Hope’s three conversions proved the difference.
EELS FIGHTBACK DOWNS SEA EAGLES
Parramatta have overrun last week’s heartbreakers, the Manly Sea Eagles, opening their season account with a stirring 16-8 win at Kellyville in the Tarsha Gale Cup.
In familiar scenes, hulking Manly prop Tafao Asaua opened the scoring just as she did last week, before another five minutes before the interval by halfback Shahana Lasini-Rite saw Manly open an 8-0 advantage.
Eels centre Caitlin Peadon halved the deficit inside a minute after the restart, and with winger Alysha Bell’s conversion, Parramatta trailed by two.
Bell did it all on her own with 15 minutes on the clock, her try put the Eels in front and when hooker Ashlee Pottinger crossed for Parramatta’s third, it rounded out a memorable victory.
Parramatta have downed the Tigers 20-18, with Eels winger Lorima Rokosuka crossing for the match winner in the shadows of full-time.
In a thrilling end-to-end Harold Matts contest, the Tigers hit the front 18-16 after hooker Soteila Fatui scored eight minutes from the final hooter.
With Hayden Elkris in the sin bin, the Tigers were forced to dig deep with 12 defenders in the closing stages. They almost held on, but it was Parra’s day, and Rokosuka’s late strike rounded out their first win of the year.
A slick Eels SG Ball outfit continued their impressive start to the season, brushing aside the Tigers 28-10 at Kellyville.
Cody Parry had another day out on Parra’s left edge, the evasive winger adding two tries to the four he bagged against the Roosters.
The Tigers only trailed by four points at halftime, but fell away after the break conceding another four tries.
BEARS BOILOVER OVER HOT SHARKS
The North Sydney Bears have stunned the Sharks 24-16 in a round two boilover of the SG Ball Cup at Kenthurst.
Coming off last week’s 50-point hiding to the Knights, the Bears overcame a 10-point halftime deficit to inflict Cronulla’s first defeat of the season.
Sharks winger Talanoa Penitani crossed in the opening minute as the Shire boys threatened a repeat of last week’s rapid opening.
Norths regained their composure and struck back with a try to Bradley Avery, but back-to-back tries to prop Felix Faatili and Jacob Taulani saw Cronulla regain control at 16-6.
From there, it was all North Sydney as the Bears scored three unanswered second half tries to cap a memorable morning in stifling conditions in Sydney’s north west.
The Harold Matts Sharkies rolled the Bears 26-10, and just like last week, overcame a second half deficit to maintain their unbeaten run.
A vastly improved North Sydney brushed aside last week’s heavy defeat to Newcastle, and they led 10-8 at the break following tries to winger Blake Pasfield and fullback Ben Stringer.
A try to towering centre Nilkora Williams put Cronulla in front with 15 minutes remaining, and with renewed urgency, they went on with the job scoring another two through hooker Daniel Louka and backrower Beau Watson.
The Sharks and Bears couldn’t be separated in a 10-all Tarsha Gale Cup slugfest at Kenthurst.
In hot and oppressive conditions, Cronulla overcame a six-point halftime deficit to lead 10-6 following tries to Mercydes Metcalf and centre Sage Gray.
Bears speedster Callie Morris levelled the scores with a try in the 53rd minute, and that’s how it would finish after an unsuccessful conversion attempt.
RAIDERS DROP THE HAMMER ON ROOSTERS
Canberra’s young men have kept their hot start to the season alive with a pair of big wins over the Sydney Roosters at Henson Park.
Brock Apolevski finished with a double as the Raiders led from start to finish to solidify their position as genuine contenders with a 34-12 win.
The SG Ball was a high-scoring affair, with Canberra coming out on top 38-28.
Four tries in the opening 20 minutes opened up a big 24-6 lead that the home side just couldn’t reel in.
Samuel Gash scored a try and kicked five goals for an impressive personal haul.
The Roosters Indigenous Academy salvaged some pride for the day, turning it on to claim a huge 38-6 victory.
Skyla Adams and Brooke Talataina ended the day with doubles.
PENRITH, KNIGHTS SHARE THE SPOILS
Newcastle is off the mark in the Tarsha Gale Cup with a 18-8 win over the Penrith Panthers at Windsor.
Leading 12-0 at the break, a double to Kirby Maslin got the Panthers back into the contest, before captain Leah Ollerton sealed the game inside the final four minutes.
Penrith secured its first Harold Matthews win after comfortably accounting for the Knights 46-16.
Casey McLean brought up a double within the first 10 minutes as his side raced in eight tries.
A second-half Riley Pollard double has lifted the Panthers to a 22-12 win in the SG Ball, their second success of the season.
Nick Murphy scored for the home side within the opening five minutes, setting the tone for the rest of the afternoon.
Originally published as NSWRL junior reps round two: All the action and highlights from round two of the NSWRL season
