By Claire Stegbauer
Another thrilling round of Junior Representatives football delivered across NSW, with tight finishes, standout individual performances and momentum swings highlighting the depth of talent emerging through the NSWRL pathways.
Andrew Johns Cup
Bulldogs break Titans with buzzer-beater in Lismore
The North Coast Bulldogs produced an unforgettable finish to defeat the Northern Rivers Titans 22-17 in a dramatic Round Three Andrew Johns Cup clash at Crozier Oval, Lismore.
With rain settling over the ground early, the Bulldogs handled the conditions best to strike first in the 14th minute. After earning a repeat set on the Titans’ line, North Coast built sustained pressure. The Titans’ defence held firm initially, but Cooper Berry eventually barged his way over to open the scoring. Tobias Rowlatt converted to give the visitors a 6-0 lead.
Northern Rivers responded in the 25th minute through persistence. Cooper Buchanan launched a high, floating kick that was spilled by the Bulldogs, and Tyghe Maher reacted quickest to clean up the loose ball and score. The conversion attempt went wide, narrowing the margin to 6-4.
The Bulldogs regained control early in the second half. After forcing a repeat set, North Coast opted to kick early in the tackle count, catching the Titans off guard. The ball was directed towards the right corner where Lachlan Polson flicked it back inside to Tobias Rowlatt, who crossed untouched in the 32nd minute. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful, but the Bulldogs extended their lead.
Momentum continued in their favour soon after. With confidence building, Oliver Haydon backed himself out of dummy-half and powered over just right of the posts in the 35th minute. Rowlatt converted to stretch the advantage to 16-4.
In the 41st minute, Cahyll Foster capitalised on a lapse in concentration, darting from dummy-half on the first tackle and slicing through the defensive line to score. Zaden Nipperess converted to bring the Titans back within striking distance.
Northern Rivers then went back-to-back in the 50th minute, shifting quickly to the right where Nate Suckling dummied and burst through the Bulldogs’ defence to level the contest. Nipperess converted to square the scores at 16-all and set up a thrilling final quarter.
With tension rising and both sides trading sets, the Titans finally edged ahead in the 58th minute. Harry Prichard stepped up under immense pressure and slotted a superb one-point field goal, splitting the uprights to give Northern Rivers a 17-16 lead, their first of the afternoon, sending the home crowd into raptures.
It appeared the Titans had done enough. But the Bulldogs had one final play.
After earning a repeat set in the dying seconds, North Coast launched a last-gasp attacking raid. With just 10 seconds remaining, Arlie Atchison hoisted a kick towards the right edge. The ball dropped perfectly into the hands of Tobias Rowlatt, who drew in the Titans winger before delivering a pass to Lachlan Polson. Polson grounded the ball as the siren sounded, sealing an extraordinary buzzer-beating victory.
Rowlatt added the conversion from out wide to complete a stunning 22-17 triumph.
In a match that swung repeatedly and finished in breathtaking fashion, the Bulldogs’ composure under pressure ultimately proved the difference in one of the most dramatic contests of Round Three.
Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup
Tanaki hat-trick lifts Panthers in Round Two thriller
The Penrith Panthers claimed a narrow 20-18 victory over the South Sydney Rabbitohs in an entertaining Round Two Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup clash at St Marys Leagues Stadium on Saturday.
After 12 minutes of strong defensive efforts from both sides, it was South Sydney who opened the scoring. Fullback Cobi Ryan-Last sparked the movement with a flashy run, creating an overlap on the right edge before snapping a short ball to Emmaline Falepapalangi, who barged her way over in the 12th minute. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful, giving the Rabbitohs a 4-0 lead.
Penrith responded in the 19th minute through a well-constructed right-edge shift. Abbey-Lee Larcombe laid the platform with a powerful carry before halfback Aliyah Waipouri produced a moment of class, drawing in defenders and sending the ball wide to Leisiliva Tanaki, who crossed on the right wing. Isabella Ferguson added the conversion to put the Panthers ahead 6-4.
South Sydney hit back in the 22nd minute in dramatic fashion. Under heavy pressure, Selene Koi-Ngaruhe juggled possession but remarkably regathered before crashing through the defensive line to score just right of the posts. The conversion was missed, but the Rabbitohs reclaimed the lead at 8-6.
The visitors extended their advantage in the 35th minute through Anabelle Khoury. After Lauren Trasler launched a spiralling kick downfield, Khoury tracked it perfectly and produced a brilliant solo effort, weaving past the Penrith fullback and finishing in the left corner. Again, the conversion was unsuccessful, sending South Sydney into half-time ahead 12-6.
Penrith shifted momentum early in the second half. On the last tackle in the 40th minute, Liannah Amete spotted space and chipped a grubber towards the right edge. Tanaki reacted quickest, collecting the kick and grounding the ball to bring the Panthers back into the contest. Ferguson converted to level the scores at 12-all.
The Panthers continued to build pressure and found further reward in the 44th minute. With space opening on the left edge, the ball moved through Amete and Polu before reaching Isabella Ferguson, who stepped through defenders with ease to score and give Penrith the lead at 16-12.
Tanaki completed her hat-trick in the 47th minute following one of the plays of the match. Waipouri dummied and sliced through the line to set up field position, before Chelsey Toby-Smith delivered a superb cut-out pass to Tanaki, who crossed untouched to extend the Panthers’ advantage to 20-12. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful.
South Sydney refused to fade and produced a remarkable individual effort in the 56th minute. Dropping back to defuse a last-tackle kick, Cobi Ryan-Last not only secured the high ball safely but accelerated down the left touchline, burning past defenders in a 60-metre sprint to score left of the posts. Bronte McKee converted to reduce the deficit to 20-18 and set up a tense finish.
Despite late pressure and line-breaks on both sides, the Panthers held firm in the closing stages to secure a hard-fought two-point victory in one of the standout matches of Round Two.
UNE Harold Matthews Cup
Sea Eagles hold off Bears in 4 Pines Park thriller
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles secured a hard-fought 24-18 victory over the North Sydney Bears in Round Two of the UNE Harold Matthews Cup at 4 Pines Park on Saturday, with momentum swinging throughout an entertaining contest.
Manly struck in the first minute through a strong right-edge shift. After two powerful carries from prop Billy Miller to set field position, the Sea Eagles spread the ball wide where Jett Watkin stepped a defender and reached out to plant the ball down for the opening points. Zac Gedz added the conversion to give the hosts an early 6-0 lead.
The Bears responded in the 13th minute after working their way into attacking territory. With their set play stalling slightly, the ball was shifted wide to Jozaiah Fakalangi, who muscled his way over in a strong display from the winger. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful, leaving the Sea Eagles ahead 6-4.
Manly capitalised on a momentum swing in the 24th minute, gifted a six-again call near halfway. Setting up deep on the left edge, Jayden Richards punched through the line before offloading to Mitchell Peterson, who reached out to score just right of the posts. Gedz converted to extend the lead to 12-4.
North Sydney struck back in the 29th minute through Karhys Morseu, narrowing the margin to 12-8 heading into halftime after the conversion attempt went wide.
The contest tightened further early in the second half. In the 44th minute, Sea Eagles forward Carlito Vesely was sent to the sin bin, giving the Bears a one-man advantage and a prime opportunity deep in attacking territory.
North Sydney capitalised almost immediately. In the 45th minute, the ball was shifted left where Morgan Carter drew the defence before dropping the ball back inside to Brayden Pearsall, who crossed untouched to level the scores at 12-all. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful.
Manly responded strongly despite being down to 12 men. In the 50th minute, five-eighth Mitchell Peterson led a composed attacking set before linking with Jett Watkin, who produced a one-handed finish in the left corner to reclaim the lead. Watkin converted his own try to make it 18-12.
Momentum stayed with the Sea Eagles, and in the 55th minute they struck again. Billy Miller burst through the line to score, with Gedz adding the extras to extend the lead to 24-12.
The Bears refused to go away and produced the final try of the afternoon in the 59th minute. With little appearing on, Daniel Lyons placed a perfectly weighted grubber under the posts, linking up with halves partner Morgan Carter, whose chase was timed to perfection. Elijah Lowe converted to reduce the deficit to six points.
Despite late pressure from North Sydney, the Sea Eagles held firm in the closing stages to secure a competitive Round Two victory.
Click here for more results from the Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup.
Click here for more results from the UNE Harold Matthews Cup.
Click here for more results from the UNE SG Ball Cup.
Click here for more results from the Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup.
Click here for more results from the Andrew Johns Cup.
Click here for more results from the Westpac Regional Lisa Fiaola Cup.
Click here for more results from the Laurie Daley Cup.
