The North Sydney Bears and Central Coast Roosters extended their winning streak on the weekend with solid victories, while the Sydney Roosters Jersey Flegg just fell short in an entertaining, high-scoring match.
Bears Best Knights in Newcastle
The North Sydney Bears backed up their Anzac Day effort against the Dragons with a 34-18 victory over the Newcastle Knights in strong fashion.
In the six-try performance, it would be the home side who opening proceedings fourteen minutes in, but the Bears got into gear with three tries of their own in quick succession to wing pairing Moala Graham-Taufa and Sione Hopoate with Naufahu Whyte crossing as well.
Despite their opponents crossing on the stroke of half-time, the Bears took an 18-12 lead at the break, but the second half would prove to be fruitful for the men in red and black.
Halfback Josh Ralph extended the lead with a long-range effort, and while the Knights managed another four-pointer, Whyte's double coupled with a try to Shannon Gardiner rounded off another win for the mighty Bears.
The North Sydney Bears will once again play in the curtain-raiser before the NRL, taking on the Parramatta Eels at Bankwest Stadium at 5:25pm on Friday night.
North Sydney Bears 34 (Naufahu Whyte 2, Sione Hopoate, Josh Ralph, Shannon Gardiner tries; Adam Keighran 4, Tom Carr goals) def Newcastle Knights 18
First Half Exhibition Sets Up Central Coast Roosters
The Central Coast Roosters set up victory with a first-half blitz scoring four tries in in the first half against the Wentworthville Magpies at Ringrose Park on Sunday afternoon.
Tries to Yasmin Meakes and Jayme Fressard in the first ten minutes on the edges set up a strong 12-nil lead in as many minutes, and the Tricolours found themselves ahead of the clock when Hannah Southwell and Shawden Burton went over just minutes later.
Match: WV Magpies v CC Roosters
Round 8 -
home Team
WV Magpies
away Team
CC Roosters
Venue: Ringrose Park, Sydney
Setting up for another big win, the Roosters were in cruise control before Wentworthville got on the scoresheet to close the deficit.
In what was a battle of field position in the second half, the Red, White and Blue managed to remain undefeated in the Harvey Norman Women's Premiership, with Jasmin Strange finishing off the scoring five minutes before full-time.
The Central Coast head to Redfern Oval on Saturday afternoon to take on the South Sydney Rabbitohs at 4:00pm.
Central Coast Roosters 26 (Yasmin Meakes, Jayme Fressard, Hannah Southwell, Jasmine Strange, Shawden Burton tries; Hannah Southwell 3 goals) def Wentworthville Magpies 4
Tricolours Fall Short In High-Scoring Affair
The Sydney Roosters Jersey Flegg Cup were gallant in defeat, going down 36-28 in an eleven-try contest down in Melbourne on Sunday afternoon.
Both sides wrestled for the lead throughout the match, with the home side scoring in the fifth minute before the Roosters replied through halfback Max Batty.
Winger Corey Fenning continued his try-scoring ways with a four-pointer in the 27th minute, but the Thunderbolts hit back with just a minute left before half-time, with the scores level at 12-all as the sides headed into the sheds.
Match: Storm v Roosters
Round 8 -
home Team
Storm
10th Position
away Team
Roosters
8th Position
Venue: Clearwood Drive Reserve, Truganina
Two quick-fire tries on resumption from the Thunderbolts saw them jump out to a 24-12 point lead, but the Roosters would go one better scoring three tries in the space of nine minutes, which saw centre Jack Mossman go over for a double and second rower Jacob Preston putting the Tricolours in front with fifteen minutes left.
Unfortunately, Victoria would go on to score twice in the final ten minutes, with a penalty goal in the final minute putting the result beyond doubt.
The Sydney Roosters Jersey Flegg Cup side will take on the Parramatta Eels at Ringrose Park at 5:30pm on Saturday afternoon.
Sydney Roosters 28 (Jack Mossman 2, Max Batty, Corey Fenning, Jacob Preston tries; Corey Fenning 4 goals) def by Victoria Thunderbolts 36
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