All the results and scorers' details from the 22nd week of the VB NSW Cup.
Wests Tigers 22 (C Peni 2, N Milone, K Rowe tries; J Drinkwater 3 goals) draw with Newtown Jets 22 (N Gardner 2, D Abou-Sleiman, T El Masri tries; T Murphy 3 goals)
SUMMARY: Wests Tigers and Newtown Jets keep their slim Finals hopes alive after a 22-all draw to split the the two competition points. The two sides traded blows throughout the match as the Jets lead 22-16 until Kurtis Rowe crossed for the Wests Tigers to earn the result in the final two minutes. Wests Tigers and the Jets sit one point outside the top eight with the North Sydney Bears and Illawarra Cutters ahead of them and can pull away with wins this weekend.
Penrith Panthers 30 (E Aiona, S Scarlett, C Smith, M Filino, K Moss tries; C Harawira-Naera 5 goals) bt Mounties 22 (J Hawkins, B Lee, S Duggan, J Rokoqo tries; Duggan 3 goals)
SUMMARY: The Penrith Panthers fought back from a 16-0 deficit after 10 minutes to return to the top of the table. Despite missing several key players, the Panthers were more than up to the task as they consolidated a valuable top-four position with three games remaining.
North Sydney Bears 32 (K Auva'a 2, C Walker 2, J Reddy, E Murphy tries; D Nicholls 4 goals) bt Warriors 22 (D Bhana, K Hurrell, S Rapira, T Aoake tries; M Lino 3 goals)
SUMMARY: North Sydney Bears continue their exceptional run of form with a convincing 32-22 win over the New Zealand Warriors. Kirisome Auva’a and Cody Walker piled on the points early with two tries each, before an inspirational Bears defensive effort in the final 20 minutes denied a potential Warriors comeback.
Newcastle Knights 32 (K Holland, H Tuha, C Mata'utia, G Ndaira, J Feeney, B Tupou tries; Holland 4 goals) Illawarra Steelers 16 (A Clune, P Botiki, A Tumavave-Gerrard tries; B Wallace 2 goals)
SUMMARY: The Newcastle Knights scored a 32-16 win over Illawarra Cutters in warm conditions at Hunter Stadium. Five tries in the first half set up the win for the Knights as they led by 20 at the break. The late inclusion of Jake Mamo lifted the home side to the 16-point victory.
Canterbury Bulldogs 29 (J Graham 2, L Dodd, C Thompson, T Tasi tries; Dodd 4 goals) bt Wyong Roos 22 (Y Gordon 2, M Williams, L Puli tries; T Cornish 3 goals)
SUMMARY: The Bulldogs were down 10 nil early but came back to lead by four points at the break. Locked up at 22 all with five minutes to go, Matt Frawley put the Bulldogs in front with a well-delivered field goal. A try near full time wrapped the hard-fought 29-22 win for the visitors.
Manly Sea Eagles 34 (D Williams 2, D Berryman, J Hodges, J Littlejohn, D Reardon, M Rudolph tries; D Kelly 3 goals) bt Wentworthville Magpies 20 (N Davis, J Tuatahi, B Crooks, H Lavaka tries; B Henry 2 goals)
SUMMARY: Manly Sea Eagles scored 22 unanswered points to overcome a 16-12 halftime deficit and convincingly defeat the Wentworthville Magpies 34-20. The contest between wingers David Williams and James Tuitahi was an astonishing sight, while Sea Eagles fullback Dom Reardon proved hard to handle. The Sea Eagles dominated the forwards battle, which ultimately proved to be the difference.
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