STEELERS CLAIM BRAGGING RIGHTS
The Steelers-Dragons derby was a main focus heading into Round 6 of the Junior Reps season, but it was Illawarra who came up trumps with a whitewash of victories across all three grades on the weekend.
Their dominance started with the Harvey Norman Tarsha Gale Cup squad winning 52-38 in a high-scoring affair at Jubilee Oval, with Lily Rose-Bennet continuing her blistering form with four tries of her own.
That was before their Harold Matthews squad bounced back to form with a commanding 40-6 victory, while their SG Ball side put in a strong second-half performance to run away with a comfortable 30-16 victory.
BALMAIN BOUNCE BACK
Balmain have endured a roller-coaster UNE SG Ball season, coming off heavy back-to-back losses that saw them linger towards the bottom of the competition ladder.
But a clinical performance in Round 6 saw them claim their second win of the season, with a dominant 64-0 whitewash over a disappointing West Coast Pirates outfit on Saturday morning.
The scintillating 12-try blitz saw rampaging back-rower Uellington Seve cross for three tries, while dynamic fullback Joshua Risk crossed for two of his own, one of which was a stunning 100-metre effort.
They will be brimming with confidence ahead of their clash with the ladder-leaders Manly next weekend.
ROOSTERS AND PANTHERS REMAIN UNDEFEATED
The Sydney Roosters and Penrith Panthers have enjoyed a perfect start to their respective 2018 campaigns, having both recorded their sixth straight victory in Round 6 of their UNE SG Ball season.
The Roosters got the better of their rival foundation club, with a dominant 44-10 win over South Sydney. Star forward Egan Butcher has been a shining light for the competition leaders, with his barnstorming work with the ball in hand matched with his tireless defensive efforts.
The Roosters now hold the best attacking and defensive records in the competition so far.
Meanwhile, the Panthers held-off a valiant comeback from the Bulldogs with a gutsy 26-20 victory, with five-eighth Matt Burton continuing his stellar form this season, backing up his four-try performance against the Knights in Round 5 with another four-pointer in their hard-fought win.
TOP OF THE POPS
The Illawarra Steelers have dominated the Tarsha Gale Cup so far in 2018, remaining undefeated across their first six games with their attacking prowess the cornerstone of their victories.
While their relentless attacking raids have been an even share across the squad, the formidable combination of Lilly Rose-Bennett, Keeley Davis and Maddison Weatherall has proven instrumental in their strong start to the season.
The dynamic trio have combined for 41 tries this season, with Rose-Bennett leading the competition with 15 to her name, while Davis and Weatherall sit second and fourth with 14 and 12 four-pointers respectively.
Photo: Bryden Sharp
