TARSHA GALE FIGHT BACK TO NARROW LOSS
The Sydney Roosters Indigenous Academy Under 18s girls had a big game on their hands going against the favourites of the Tarsha Gale competition in round 2 against the St George Dragons.
It was a slow start for the girls and as a result, the Dragons found themselves with an early lead.
The Dragons were there to play, and the Roosters were struggling to keep up in the early stages.
There were some great try saving tackles from our girls before the first half siren sounded and they were still in the game trailing 18-4 at the break, with Shataya King the lone scorer.
The Dragons took control of the game in the third quarter as they found themselves leading 30-8.
Dakota Blacklock changed the game with some courageous efforts on the defensive end, making four tackles in a row to create an error that gave the girls some enthusiasm to finish the game.
The girls lifted their energy levels in the fourth quarter and started to fight back which rattled the Dragons outfit.
The game ended in a narrow 40-34 scoreline.
If only they started like that in the first half, we would have seen the girls take away the win.
It was a great finish and performance heading into round 3 against Illawarra.
TRIES: Summer DANN (16m), Dakota BLACKLOCK (19m), Brandii DAVIS-WELSH (22m), Robyn DRAPER (24m), Shataya KING (27m), Brandii DAVIS-WELSH(27m), Shataya KING (28m)
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Kyla Gordon (3 points), Lillyann Mason (2 points), Georgia Minors and Summer Dann (1 point)
COURAGEOUS EFFORT FROM HAROLD MATTHEWS
After a tough performance last week against the Bulldogs, the Harold Matthews squad had something to prove in Round 2.
Though they weren’t able to get the win, it was a courageous effort as they fell 18-12 against a tought Dragons side.
There were some good signs for the young Roosters throughout the contest as they led 8-4 early in the match.
Tries were scored on the back of players working hard together with great ball movement across the backline.
Their errors cost them the game in the end and the coach wasn’t afraid to tell them the game stats at full time, making the boys aware that they can’t compete with high error rates.
It was a tough afternoon for the Under 16s, but they'll no doubt be looking forward to next week against Illawarra.
TRIES: Jordan SWANN (7m), Joshua-Vaa KERESOMA(15m), Vince RACO (53m)
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Darcy Clifton
S.G. BALL ROOSTERS TOO CLASSY
The Under 18s Roosters put on a massive showing to close the afternoon on Saturday, out-enthusing the Dragons to claim an impressive 64-6 win.
In what was a physical first 15 minutes for the boys, they showed a lot of courage with six penalties against them and the dragons relentlessly attacking their line.
Their efforts were tough throughout the onslaught and they didn’t let any points in, which gave them the momentum for the rest of the game.
The second half would see the Roosters run riot over the Dragons as they clicked into gear to score tries across the park.
Egan Butcher’s first game was impressive as he made his mark on the competition in just 25 minutes.
Mackenzie Baker and Latham Hutchinson-Walters were outstanding, scoring three tries each throughout the contest.
The Under 18s were too strong on this occasion and their work ethic had a noticeable impact on the result.
TRIES: McKenzie BAKER (15m), Harry LARKIN (19m), Lathan HUTCHINSON-WALTERS (26m), Lathan HUTCHINSON-WALTERS (29m), Duwayne FUIMAONO (36m), Luke SOMMERTON (40m), Asu KEPAOA (43m), McKenzie BAKER (45m), McKenzie BAKER (48m), Luke SOMMERTON (51m), Lathan HUTCHINSON-WALTERS (54m)
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Mackenzie Baker
